At Lesley, you’ll discover bold ideas about what a university can be. A
community of scholars committed to helping others. A laboratory for tackling
issues of social justice. And a place where creativity and imagination thrive.
Our mission
Lesley prepares socially responsible graduates with the knowledge, skills, understanding, and ethical judgment to be catalysts shaping a more just, humane, and sustainable world.
Our story
Edith Lesley started the school in 1909 to train kindergarten teachers. Since then, it has grown to include two undergraduate colleges and two graduate schools.
Our values
Founder Edith Lesley believed that an education should include not only intellectual development but also social and spiritual growth. These values define a Lesley education.
Lesley University was founded in 1909 and is recognized as a nonprofit organization under Massachusetts law and as a tax-exempt organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Lesley University is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). Many individual programs are also accredited or endorsed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and other organizations. See school-by-school accreditation information below.
The Massachusetts Board of Higher Education has granted Lesley University degree-granting authority for the following degrees: Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor, Master, Master of Fine Arts in Visual Arts, and Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing, Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study in the fields of professional education and related educational services, general education, human services, mental health, management and organizational behavior, Associate in education and human services, Doctor of Philosophy in Expressive Therapies, Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Studies, and Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling and Psychology
2019 Rankings
Lesley University is ranked #183 in National Universities. Schools are ranked according to their performance across a set of widely accepted indicators of excellence.
#183 (tie) in National Universities
#237 (tie) in High School Counselor Rankings
