Head-to-head comparison
Fisher College vs Lesley University: which has better ROI?
Option A Boston, MA
Fisher College
- Net price / year
- $26,649
- Earnings, 10 years
- $49,669
- Payback
- 81.4 yrs
Option B Cambridge, MA
Lesley University
- Net price / year
- $31,152
- Earnings, 10 years
- $51,173
- Payback
- 44.3 yrs
Lesley University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $124,608 in 44.3 years versus 81.4 years at Fisher College, on median earnings of $51,173 vs $49,669 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Fisher College | Lesley University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $26,649 | $31,152 |
| Total net cost | $106,596 | $124,608 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $49,669 | $51,173 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $21,000 |
| Payback | 81.4 yrs | 44.3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$80,416 | -$68,348 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Fisher College or Lesley University?
Fisher College, at $26,649 a year after aid versus $31,152 — a gap of $4,503 a year, or $18,012 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Fisher College or Lesley University graduates earn more?
Lesley University graduates report a median $51,173 ten years after entry, $1,504 more than the $49,669 at Fisher College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Fisher College or Lesley University?
Lesley University: its completers carry a median $21,000 in federal loans versus $25,000 at Fisher College, a difference of $4,000. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
58% of students finish at Lesley University, against 28% at Fisher College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.