Fitchburg State vs. Lesley University

Deciding between Fitchburg State University 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.

Fitchburg State University
Lesley University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Fitchburg State Fitchburg, MA
  • Lesley University Cambridge, MA
  • Setting
  • Fitchburg State Midsize Suburban
  • Lesley University Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Fitchburg State 5,892
  • Lesley University 2,557
  • Type
  • Fitchburg State Public 4 Year
  • Lesley University Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Fitchburg State #573
  • Lesley University
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Fitchburg State -
  • Lesley University -
  • Status
  • Fitchburg State Non-profit
  • Lesley University Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Fitchburg State
  • Lesley University

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Fitchburg State $11,346
  • Lesley University $34,256
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Fitchburg State $17,426
  • Lesley University $34,256
  • Room & Board
  • Fitchburg State $15,452
  • Lesley University $19,920
  • Average Net Price
  • Fitchburg State $15,340
  • Lesley University $32,587
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Fitchburg State $11,539
  • Lesley University $19,167
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Fitchburg State 92%
  • Lesley University 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Fitchburg State 4,582
  • Lesley University 2,526
  • Admitted
  • Fitchburg State 3,983
  • Lesley University 2,447
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Fitchburg State 86.9%
  • Lesley University 96.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Fitchburg State 13.5%
  • Lesley University 7.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Fitchburg State 1150
  • Lesley University
  • Typical ACT score
  • Fitchburg State
  • Lesley University
  • Average High School GPA
  • Fitchburg State 3.29
  • Lesley University 3.31
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Fitchburg State B+
  • Lesley University B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Fitchburg State Moderate
  • Lesley University Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • Fitchburg State
  • Lesley University
  • ACT Range
  • Fitchburg State
  • Lesley University
  • SAT Range
  • Fitchburg State 1060/1230
  • Lesley University
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Fitchburg State Test optional
  • Lesley University Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • Fitchburg State
  • Lesley University

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Fitchburg State 11:1
  • Lesley University 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Fitchburg State
    • General Studies (16%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (14%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Health Professions (6%)
  • 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
  • Fitchburg State 47%
  • Lesley University 49%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Fitchburg State $44,000
  • Lesley University $38,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Fitchburg State 65%
  • Lesley University 63%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Fitchburg State $22,685
  • Lesley University $24,320
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Fitchburg State $234
  • Lesley University $251

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Fitchburg State 40%
  • Lesley University 23%
  • % Women
  • Fitchburg State 60%
  • Lesley University 77%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Fitchburg State Low
  • Lesley University Medium
  • HBCU
  • Fitchburg State No
  • Lesley University No
  • % White
  • Fitchburg State 73%
  • Lesley University 67%
  • % Asian
  • Fitchburg State 3%
  • Lesley University 4%
  • % Black
  • Fitchburg State 9%
  • Lesley University 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Fitchburg State 11%
  • Lesley University 10%
  • % Native American
  • Fitchburg State 0%
  • Lesley University 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Fitchburg State 0%
  • Lesley University 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Fitchburg State 3%
  • Lesley University 3%
  • % International
  • Fitchburg State 1%
  • Lesley University 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Fitchburg State 1%
  • Lesley University 6%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Fitchburg State 91%
  • Lesley University 62%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Fitchburg State 8%
  • Lesley University 34%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Fitchburg State Yes
  • Lesley University Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Fitchburg State No
  • Lesley University No
  • Meal Plan
  • Fitchburg State Yes
  • Lesley University Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Fitchburg State No
  • Lesley University Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Fitchburg State No
  • Lesley University No

Comparable Facts

Compare Fitchburg State University in Fitchburg, MA with Lesley University in Cambridge, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Fitchburg State University is larger than Lesley University based on total student enrollment (5,892 students vs. 2,557 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Fitchburg State University is located in Fitchburg, MA (Midsize Suburban setting); Lesley University is in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting).
  • Fitchburg State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Lesley University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Fitchburg State University 11:1; Lesley University 10:1.

Fitchburg State vs. Lesley University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Fitchburg State 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 Fitchburg State University than Lesley University ($15,340 vs. $32,587).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Fitchburg State University are 22.4% lower than at Lesley University ($15,452 vs. $19,920).
  • Lesley University is 201.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Fitchburg State (about $22,910 more per year; $34,256.00 vs. $11,346.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 96.6% higher at Lesley University than at Fitchburg State University (about $16,830 more per year; $34,256.00 vs. $17,426.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Lesley University than at Fitchburg State University (100% vs. 92%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Lesley University students is 66.1% larger than aid received by Fitchburg State University students ($19,167 vs. $11,539).

Fitchburg State vs. Lesley University Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Fitchburg State 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 Fitchburg State.

  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Fitchburg State University 1060/1230.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Fitchburg State - Test optional; Lesley University - Test-free.
  • Accepted freshman Lesley University students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.31) than students at Fitchburg State (3.29).
  • Lesley University has a higher acceptance rate (96.9%) than Fitchburg State (86.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.5% at Fitchburg State vs. 7.9% at Lesley University.

Fitchburg State vs. Lesley University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Fitchburg State 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).

  • Lesley University's six-year graduation rate (49%) is higher than Fitchburg State University's (47%).
  • Graduates from Fitchburg State University earn a median of about $5,400 more per year than Lesley University graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,000 vs. $38,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Fitchburg State University graduates have a $1,635 lower median loan debt than Lesley University graduates ($22,685 vs. $24,320).
  • Among borrowers, Fitchburg State graduates have an estimated $17 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Lesley University graduates ($234 vs. $251).
  • More Fitchburg State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Lesley University students, three years after graduation. (65% vs. 63%)

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.