Program Analysis
Starting salaries of $25,227/yr fall 26% below the $33,862 national median for Design and Applied Arts. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.
An earnings multiple of 4.4x means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition, but not by a dramatic margin. Returns are positive but modest.
Some AI exposure exists in Design and Applied Arts's typical career paths, with 38% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 8% gap from the optimistic case.
Median debt of $23,333 represents roughly 11 months of the $25,227 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.
Ranked #240 of 290 Design and Applied Arts programs, Lesley University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.
Five-year earnings of $51,256 show a 103% jump from the $25,227 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.