Lesley University

What Lesley University does

Lesley University is a private nonprofit university founded in 1909 by Edith Lesley, headquartered at 29 Everett Street in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and operating under Massachusetts nonprofit law with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. It serves approximately 3,100 students — 1,300 undergraduate and 1,800 graduate — across four core academic pillars: Education (BA through PhD with licensure pathways), Mental Health & Well-Being (counseling, social work, expressive therapies, mindfulness), Art & Design (studio-based and MFA programs), and Liberal Arts & Business, plus the specialized Threshold Programs for neurodiverse learners. Programs are delivered on-campus, online, and through low-residency formats, with SARA authorization enabling reach across 49 states plus DC, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands.

The university monetizes primarily through tuition and fees across undergraduate, graduate, certificate, and continuing-education offerings, supplemented by Scholar Partner Program contributions from employer partners that fund student financial aid packages. Its core technology stack is described as standard higher-education learning management and administrative systems with no proprietary AI or differentiated platform component disclosed. Go-to-market is sales-led through traditional admissions — website inquiries, campus visits, information sessions, and application cycles across undergraduate, graduate, transfer, international, and Threshold entry points — paired with a community-led partner channel via the Scholar Partner Program that links school districts, mental health nonprofits, and Greater Boston businesses to guaranteed internships upon admission and a Priority Job Matching Program for alumni placement.

The institution holds institutional accreditation from NECHE and a broad stack of programmatic accreditations including CSWE (BSW/MSW), ACBSP (Business), CAAHEP plus four expressive-therapy approvals (art, dance, drama, music), AICAD membership for Art & Design, and Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education sponsoring-organization status for educator licensure. Leadership is President Janet L. Steinmayer with COO Joanne Kossuth; the institution is governed by a Board of Trustees with no parent company, no VC/PE ownership, and no M&A history. No revenue, funding rounds, or financial statements were disclosed in the input.

Name

Lesley University

Legal name

Lesley University

Website

https://lesley.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1909

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Lesley University is a private nonprofit university founded in 1909 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, serving roughly 3,100 students across Education, Mental Health & Well-Being, Art & Design, and Liberal Arts & Business programs, with a Scholar Partner Program that guarantees internships upon admission.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131), Educational Services (61)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Comprehensive Doctoral Research Universities (Multi-Disciplinary) (EDAHABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Arts, Humanities & Creative Research Universities (EDAHABAG), Secular/Nonsectarian Liberal Arts Colleges (EDAHACAG), Online Nonprofit Universities (EDAHALAK)

Keywords

• Higher education
• Graduate programs
• Teacher licensure
• Counseling psychology
• Continuing education

Headquarters

HQ city

Cambridge

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Revenue generated from undergraduate and graduate degree programs, certificate programs, and threshold programs through tuition and fees charged to students.
2. Scholar Partner Program Contributions: Organizations provide financial partnership support for Lesley Scholars through the Scholar Partner Program, contributing to student financial aid packages.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Lesley University is a private nonprofit university that delivers undergraduate, master's, doctoral (PhD), and certificate academic programs across Education, Mental Health & Well-Being, Art & Design, and Liberal Arts & Business, with specialized Threshold Programs for neurodiverse learners. Revenue is generated primarily through tuition and fees charged to students enrolling in degree and certificate programs, with scholarships, financial aid packages, and Scholar Partner Program contributions supplementing funding. Programs are delivered on-campus in Cambridge, MA, through low-residency formats, and online across SARA member states.

Product overview

Lesley University offers a comprehensive suite of educational programs across four core pillars: Education, Mental Health & Well-Being, Art & Design, and Liberal Arts & Business. The university provides undergraduate, graduate (including Master's and PhD), and certificate programs, with a unique focus on preparing practitioners for real-world careers. The Scholar Partner Program connects students with guaranteed internships upon acceptance, while the Priority Job Matching Program facilitates employment connections between graduates and organizations. Specialized Threshold Programs serve neurodiverse learners. Continuing education and professional networks support lifelong career development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Education Programs Undergraduate, master's, PhD, and certificate programs in education that prepare students for careers as licensed teachers, school counselors, and education administrators across initial licensure, endorsement, specialist, and professional credential pathways.
• Mental Health & Well-Being Programs Graduate programs in counseling psychology, clinical mental health counseling, social work, expressive therapies (art, dance/movement, drama, and music therapy), and mindfulness that prepare students for careers as counselors, therapists, social workers, and mental-health practitioners.
• Art & Design Programs Undergraduate programs and MFA in Visual and Literary Arts covering visual arts, creative writing, and design disciplines for students pursuing careers as artists, designers, and creative professionals.
• Liberal Arts & Business Programs Undergraduate and graduate programs combining liberal arts education with business management, entrepreneurship, and professional studies for versatile career pathways.
• Threshold Programs Specialized post-secondary programs educating neurodiverse learners with support for independent living skills, employment preparation, and ongoing career mentorship delivered by Lesley faculty and staff.
• Scholar Partner Program Partnership program that connects Lesley students with internships upon acceptance through partner organizations in education, mental health, art and design, and business sectors, providing real-world experience and priority employment pathways.
• Priority Job Matching Program Curated network connecting qualified Lesley alumni in education, mental health, art and design, and business with organizations seeking to recruit talent from the university's graduate pool.
• Continuing Education Professional development and continuing-education courses for working professionals across Education, Mental Health & Well-Being, Art & Design, Liberal Arts & Business, and Threshold subject areas seeking career advancement.

Quantifiable outcome

• Goal to have all internships offered to students upon acceptance to Lesley

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• School Districts throughout Massachusetts and New EnglandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducation-focused partnerships through Scholar Partner Program where school districts receive guaranteed field placements for teacher licensure candidates. Students are hired as paraprofessionals or teaching assistants while taking Lesley courses. Districts agree to priority hiring upon program completion.
• Non-profit Mental Health OrganizationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership connecting mental health organizations with talented, motivated student interns. Organizations provide hands-on structured experience while Lesley faculty provide close mentorship. Financial partnership arrangements support student financial aid during internships.
• Businesses across Greater BostoncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness partnerships through Scholar Partner Program providing talented student interns who provide real value while becoming potential future employees. Guaranteed internships with Lesley faculty mentorship and priority hiring upon program completion.
• Area Employers for Neurodiverse EmploymentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership connecting neurodiverse learners from Threshold Programs to employment opportunities. Employers gain motivated employees who are closely supported and mentored by Lesley faculty and staff throughout internship and into full-time roles.
• Hospitals, Museums, Human Service OrganizationsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThrough Community Studios Program, Art & Design students partner with outside organizations on creative projects including rebranding, website design, photography, environmental graphics, and animated set designs.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Simmons University: Small private university in Boston with historic emphasis on undergraduate women, graduate education, social work, and health sciences. Highly comparable to Lesley in size, regional footprint, and practitioner-focused program mix in education and health professions.
• Emerson College: Boston-based private college specializing in communication, writing, and visual and performing arts, with comparable enrollment scale and a similar focus on practitioner preparation and creative disciplines, mirroring Lesley's Art & Design pillar.
• Regis College: Small Catholic-affiliated private university in Weston, MA offering undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs in nursing, health sciences, education, and liberal arts — directly comparable to Lesley in scale, regional footprint, and program mix.
• Bay Path University: Small private university in Longmeadow, MA focused on women undergraduates and graduate professional programs including education, counseling, and business — similar to Lesley in size, practitioner emphasis, and graduate professional offerings.
• Cambridge College: Small private institution in Boston offering graduate and undergraduate programs with strong online and accelerated formats in education, counseling, and management — directly comparable to Lesley's practitioner-oriented, working-adult-serving model.
• Endicott College: Small private college on the North Shore of Massachusetts combining liberal arts with professional programs in education, nursing, business, and visual arts — a similar comprehensive, practitioner-oriented private institution in the New England region.
• Curry College: Small private college in Milton, MA with strong programs in education, nursing, and liberal arts, plus a notable program for students with learning differences — directly comparable to Lesley in scale, geographic region, and inclusion-focused mission.
• Wheelock College (legacy): Historically a small Boston private college focused on education, social work, and child life; merged with Boston University in 2018. Closest legacy peer to Lesley's education and social work programs given shared practitioner focus and Boston footprint.

Broad incumbents

• Boston University: Large private research university in Boston with comprehensive programs in education, social work, arts, and counseling. Overlaps with Lesley across nearly every pillar but at vastly greater scale and with a research-university orientation.
• Northeastern University: Large Boston-based private research university with extensive co-op and experiential-learning model in education, counseling, health sciences, and arts — a broader incumbent competitor that shares Lesley's experiential-learning DNA but at national scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/lesley_u
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/lesleyuniversity/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/106868734794
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lesley-university
• Instagraminstagram.com/lesleyuniversity

Compliance11 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Lesley University