Head-to-head comparison
Gordon College vs Lesley University: which has better ROI?
Option A Wenham, MA
Gordon College
- Net price / year
- $24,883
- Earnings, 10 years
- $52,119
- Payback
- 26.5 yrs
Option B Cambridge, MA
Lesley University
- Net price / year
- $31,152
- Earnings, 10 years
- $51,173
- Payback
- 44.3 yrs
Gordon College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $99,532 in 26.5 years versus 44.3 years at Lesley University, on median earnings of $52,119 vs $51,173 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Gordon College | Lesley University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $24,883 | $31,152 |
| Total net cost | $99,532 | $124,608 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $52,119 | $51,173 |
| Median debt | $26,250 | $21,000 |
| Payback | 26.5 yrs | 44.3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$24,352 | -$68,348 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Gordon College or Lesley University?
Gordon College, at $24,883 a year after aid versus $31,152 — a gap of $6,269 a year, or $25,076 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 Gordon College or Lesley University graduates earn more?
Gordon College graduates report a median $52,119 ten years after entry, $946 more than the $51,173 at Lesley University. 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, Gordon College or Lesley University?
Lesley University: its completers carry a median $21,000 in federal loans versus $26,250 at Gordon College, a difference of $5,250. 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?
69% of students finish at Gordon College, against 58% at Lesley University. 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.