California College of the Arts vs. Lesley University

Deciding between California College of the Arts and Lesley University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

California College of the Arts
Lesley University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • California College of the Arts San Francisco, CA
  • Lesley University Cambridge, MA
  • Setting
  • California College of the Arts Large City
  • Lesley University Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • California College of the Arts 1,308
  • Lesley University 2,557
  • Type
  • California College of the Arts Private 4 Year
  • Lesley University Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • California College of the Arts
  • Lesley University
  • Religious Affiliation
  • California College of the Arts -
  • Lesley University -
  • Status
  • California College of the Arts Non-profit
  • Lesley University Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • California College of the Arts
  • Lesley University

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • California College of the Arts $60,226
  • Lesley University $34,256
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • California College of the Arts $60,226
  • Lesley University $34,256
  • Room & Board
  • California College of the Arts $22,099
  • Lesley University $19,920
  • Average Net Price
  • California College of the Arts $46,823
  • Lesley University $32,587
  • Average Grant Aid
  • California College of the Arts $32,953
  • Lesley University $19,167
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • California College of the Arts 96%
  • Lesley University 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • California College of the Arts 2,371
  • Lesley University 2,526
  • Admitted
  • California College of the Arts 2,160
  • Lesley University 2,447
  • Acceptance Rate
  • California College of the Arts 91.1%
  • Lesley University 96.9%
  • Enrolled
  • California College of the Arts 8%
  • Lesley University 7.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • California College of the Arts
  • Lesley University
  • Typical ACT score
  • California College of the Arts
  • Lesley University
  • Average High School GPA
  • California College of the Arts 3.34
  • Lesley University 3.31
  • Typical High School Grades
  • California College of the Arts B+
  • Lesley University B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • California College of the Arts Unavailable
  • Lesley University Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • California College of the Arts
  • Lesley University
  • ACT Range
  • California College of the Arts
  • Lesley University
  • SAT Range
  • California College of the Arts
  • Lesley University
  • Submit Test Scores
  • California College of the Arts Test-free
  • Lesley University Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • California College of the Arts
  • Lesley University

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • California College of the Arts 8:1
  • Lesley University 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • California College of the Arts
    • Visual and Performing Arts (77%)
    • Architecture (11%)
    • Communications Technology (4%)
    • Communication (4%)
    • English and Literature (2%)
  • Lesley University
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (21%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (20%)
    • Psychology (20%)
    • English and Literature (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • California College of the Arts 49%
  • Lesley University 49%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • California College of the Arts $43,500
  • Lesley University $38,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • California College of the Arts 62%
  • Lesley University 63%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • California College of the Arts $28,000
  • Lesley University $24,320
  • Median Loan Payment
  • California College of the Arts $289
  • Lesley University $251

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • California College of the Arts 33%
  • Lesley University 23%
  • % Women
  • California College of the Arts 67%
  • Lesley University 77%
  • Racial Diversity
  • California College of the Arts Very High
  • Lesley University Medium
  • HBCU
  • California College of the Arts No
  • Lesley University No
  • % White
  • California College of the Arts 27%
  • Lesley University 67%
  • % Asian
  • California College of the Arts 16%
  • Lesley University 4%
  • % Black
  • California College of the Arts 4%
  • Lesley University 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • California College of the Arts 14%
  • Lesley University 10%
  • % Native American
  • California College of the Arts 0%
  • Lesley University 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • California College of the Arts 1%
  • Lesley University 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • California College of the Arts 0%
  • Lesley University 3%
  • % International
  • California College of the Arts 31%
  • Lesley University 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • California College of the Arts 7%
  • Lesley University 6%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • California College of the Arts 34%
  • Lesley University 62%
  • % Out-of-State
  • California College of the Arts 27%
  • Lesley University 34%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • California College of the Arts Yes
  • Lesley University Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • California College of the Arts No
  • Lesley University No
  • Meal Plan
  • California College of the Arts No
  • Lesley University Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • California College of the Arts No
  • Lesley University Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • California College of the Arts No
  • Lesley University No
  • Learn More
  • California College of the Arts Details
  • Lesley University Details

Comparable Facts

Compare California College of the Arts in San Francisco, CA with Lesley University in Cambridge, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Lesley University is larger than California College of the Arts based on total student enrollment (2,557 students vs. 1,308 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • California College of the Arts is located in San Francisco, CA (Large City setting); Lesley University is in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting).
  • California College of the Arts is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Lesley University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: California College of the Arts 8:1; Lesley University 10:1.

California College of the Arts vs. Lesley University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, California College of the Arts or Lesley University? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Lesley University than California College of the Arts ($32,587 vs. $46,823).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lesley University are 9.9% lower than at California College of the Arts ($19,920 vs. $22,099).
  • California College of the Arts is 75.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Lesley University (about $25,970 more per year; $60,226.00 vs. $34,256.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 75.8% higher at California College of the Arts than at Lesley University (about $25,970 more per year; $60,226.00 vs. $34,256.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Lesley University than at California College of the Arts (100% vs. 96%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by California College of the Arts students is 71.9% larger than aid received by Lesley University students ($32,953 vs. $19,167).

California College of the Arts vs. Lesley University Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, California College of the Arts or Lesley University? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Lesley University and California College of the Arts.

  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: California College of the Arts - Test-free; Lesley University - Test-free.
  • Accepted freshman California College of the Arts students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.34) than students at Lesley University (3.31).
  • Lesley University has a higher acceptance rate (96.9%) than California College of the Arts (91.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 8% at California College of the Arts vs. 7.9% at Lesley University.

California College of the Arts vs. Lesley University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for California College of the Arts and Lesley University? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • The graduation rate at California College of the Arts is the same as at Lesley University (49% vs. 49%).
  • Graduates from California College of the Arts earn a median of about $4,900 more per year than Lesley University graduates about ten years after starting college ($43,500 vs. $38,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Lesley University graduates have a $3,680 lower median loan debt than California College of the Arts graduates ($24,320 vs. $28,000).
  • Among borrowers, Lesley University graduates have an estimated $38 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than California College of the Arts graduates ($251 vs. $289).
  • More Lesley University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former California College of the Arts students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 62%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.