Lesley University vs. Manhattan School of Music

Comparable Facts

Compare Lesley University in Cambridge, MA with Manhattan School of Music in New York, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Lesley University is larger than Manhattan School of Music based on total student enrollment (2,557 students vs. 1,084 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Lesley University is located in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting); Manhattan School of Music is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
• Lesley University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Manhattan School of Music is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Lesley University 10:1; Manhattan School of Music 6:1.

Lesley University vs. Manhattan School of Music Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lesley University or Manhattan School of Music? 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 Manhattan School of Music ($32,587 vs. $51,767).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Manhattan School of Music are 9.4% lower than at Lesley University ($18,050 vs. $19,920).
• Manhattan School of Music is 66.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Lesley University (about $22,794 more per year; $57,050.00 vs. $34,256.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 66.5% higher at Manhattan School of Music than at Lesley University (about $22,794 more per year; $57,050.00 vs. $34,256.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Lesley University than at Manhattan School of Music (100% vs. 87%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Manhattan School of Music students is 35.7% larger than aid received by Lesley University students ($26,001 vs. $19,167).

Lesley University vs. Manhattan School of Music Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Lesley University or Manhattan School of Music? 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 Manhattan School of Music and Lesley University.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Lesley University - Test-free; Manhattan School of Music - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Manhattan School of Music Dec 1, 2026.
• Accepted freshman Manhattan School of Music students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.55) than students at Lesley University (3.31).
• Lesley University has a higher acceptance rate (96.9%) than Manhattan School of Music (40.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 7.9% at Lesley University vs. 25.3% at Manhattan School of Music.

Lesley University vs. Manhattan School of Music Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Lesley University and Manhattan School of Music? 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).

• Manhattan School of Music's six-year graduation rate (76%) is higher than Lesley University's (49%).
• Graduates from Lesley University earn a median of about $1,200 more per year than Manhattan School of Music graduates about ten years after starting college ($38,600 vs. $37,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Manhattan School of Music graduates have a $570 lower median loan debt than Lesley University graduates ($23,750 vs. $24,320).
• Among borrowers, Manhattan School of Music graduates have an estimated $6 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Lesley University graduates ($245 vs. $251).
• More Manhattan School of Music 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.