Head-to-head comparison
Lasell University vs Lesley University: which has better ROI?
Option A Newton, MA
Lasell University
- Net price / year
- $27,511
- Earnings, 10 years
- $49,705
- Payback
- 81.8 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 81.8 years at Lasell University, on median earnings of $51,173 vs $49,705 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Lasell University | Lesley University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $27,511 | $31,152 |
| Total net cost | $110,044 | $124,608 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $49,705 | $51,173 |
| Median debt | $26,000 | $21,000 |
| Payback | 81.8 yrs | 44.3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$83,144 | -$68,348 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Lasell University or Lesley University?
Lasell University, at $27,511 a year after aid versus $31,152 — a gap of $3,641 a year, or $14,564 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 Lasell University or Lesley University graduates earn more?
Lesley University graduates report a median $51,173 ten years after entry, $1,468 more than the $49,705 at Lasell 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, Lasell University or Lesley University?
Lesley University: its completers carry a median $21,000 in federal loans versus $26,000 at Lasell University, a difference of $5,000. 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?
59% of students finish at Lasell University, 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.