Lesley University vs Harvard
Lesley University and Harvard University, two esteemed institutions of higher learning, stand apart in their offerings and student experiences. Lesley, a private university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, prides itself on its small class sizes, personalized attention, and focus on undergraduate education. Harvard, an Ivy League research university in Cambridge and Boston, Massachusetts, is renowned for its academic rigor, world-class faculty, and extensive resources. While both universities share a commitment to excellence, they differ significantly in acceptance rates, popular majors, student body demographics, and graduation rates. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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       | 
          
        
          
             
          
          Harvard University | 
          
        
          
             
          
          Lesley University | 
      
|---|---|---|
    Overview | 
||
| Location | Cambridge, Massachusetts | Cambridge, Massachusetts | 
| Campus setting | City: Midsize | City: Midsize | 
| College type | 4 year | 4 year | 
| Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) | 
| Calendar system | Semester | Semester | 
| Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate | 
| Students retention rate | 96.0% | 75.0% | 
    
       
      Common app member
    
   | 
      Yes | Yes | 
| Religious affiliation | ||
| 
       | 
  ||
    Admission | 
||
| Acceptance rate | 4.0% | 86.9% | 
| Application fees | 
                         
            Undergraduate:
            $75
           
          
            Graduate:
            $105
           
                   | 
      |
| SAT range | 1480 - 1580 | N/A | 
| ACT range | 33 - 36 | N/A | 
| Students submitting SAT score | 54.0% | |
| Students submitting ACT score | 31.0% | |
| Total number of applicants | 57,786 | 2,942 | 
| Total number of admissions given out | 2,318 | 2,558 | 
| Admitted students who chose to enroll | 1,951 | 280 | 
| Yield rate | 84.2% | 10.9% | 
| Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A | 
| High school GPA | Not required | Required | 
| Recommendation letters | Required | Required | 
| High school transcript | Not required | Not required | 
| English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Not required | Required | 
| 
       | 
  ||
    Tuition and Fees | 
||
| Sticker price | $78,028 | $41,775 | 
| Average net price | $13,910 | $31,928 | 
| Tuition | $51,143 | $29,200 | 
| Room & board | 
                         
            Room/dormitory:
            $11,705
           
          
            Meal plan:
            $7,236
           
                   | 
      
                         
            Room/dormitory:
            $10,060
           
          
            Meal plan:
            $6,900
           
                   | 
  
| Available payment plans | 
                        
  | 
      
                        
  | 
  
| 
       | 
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    Financial Aid | 
||
| 
    Students receiving financial aid
     (Grants & scholarships)  | 
      
              
          56.0%
        
         Average amount $59,840  | 
      
              
          100.0%
        
         Average amount $16,316  | 
  
| Students receiving federal student loan | 
              
          3.0%
        
         Average amount $5,180  | 
      
              
          59.0%
        
         Average amount $5,124  | 
  
| Students taking out private loans | 
              
          2.0%
        
         Average amount $8,080  | 
      
              
          7.0%
        
         Average amount $15,411  | 
  
| 
       | 
  ||
    Students and Campus | 
||
| Undergraduate students | 
              
          9,579
        
        
           Men 49.0% Women 51.0%  | 
      
              
          1,757
        
        
           Men 23.4% Women 76.6%  | 
  
| Graduate students | 
              
          21,766
        
        
           Men 46.3% Women 53.7%  | 
      
              
          2,253
        
        
           Men 13.6% Women 86.4%  | 
  
| Racial/ethnic diversity | 
              
           Moderate 
    
    
    
       | 
      
              
           Low 
    
       | 
  
| Out-of-state students | N/A | N/A | 
| International students | 23.9% | 3.7% | 
| Campus local/setting | City: Midsize | City: Midsize | 
| Dormitory capacity | 12,874 | 799 | 
| First year students are required to live on campus? | Yes | No | 
| Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | New York California Texas Illinois New Jersey | N/A | 
| 
       | 
  ||
    Academics | 
||
| Popular study areas | 
              
  | 
      
              
  | 
  
| Students to faculty ratio | 7:1 | 10:1 | 
| Institutional accreditation | New England Commission on Higher Education | New England Commission on Higher Education | 
| 
       | 
  ||
    Outcome | 
||
| Graduation rate | 96.7% | 60.5% | 
| Dropout rate | 2.0% | 12.4% | 
| Transferred out | N/A | 26.3% | 
| Alumni salary by major (Top 10) | 
               
              
                
                  Statistics (Bachelor's Degrees)
                
              
               
                      
 
              
                
                  Law (First Professional Degrees)
                
              
               
                      
 
              
                
                  Business Administration, Management and Operations (First Professional Degrees)
                
              
               
                      
 
              
                
                  Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
                
              
               
                      
 
              
                
                  Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
                
              
               
                      
 
              
                
                  Public Health (Master's Degrees)
                
              
               
                      
 
              
                
                  Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology (Master's Degrees)
                
              
               
                      
 
              
                
                  Applied Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
                
              
               
                      
 
              
                
                  Education, General (Doctoral Degrees)
                
              
               
                      
 
              
                
                  Dentistry (First Professional Degrees)
                
              
               
                  
  | 
      
               
              
                
                  Education, General (Doctoral Degrees)
                
              
               
                      
 
              
                
                  Special Education and Teaching (Master's Degrees)
                
              
               
                      
 
              
                
                  Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
                
              
               
                      
 
              
                
                  Education, Other (Master's Degrees)
                
              
               
                      
 
              
                
                  Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Master's Degrees)
                
              
               
                      
 
              
                
                  Education, General (Master's Degrees)
                
              
               
                      
 
              
                
                  Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Master's Degrees)
                
              
               
                      
 
              
                
                  Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions (Master's Degrees)
                
              
               
                      
 
              
                
                  Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology (Master's Degrees)
                
              
               
                      
 
              
                
                  Design and Applied Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
                
              
               
                  
  | 
  
    
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