Home › Lesley University › Design

Design at Lesley University

Cambridge, MA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Design and Applied Arts
23 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
23
Optimistic
23
Base Case
30
Pessimistic
Earnings $25,227/yr (-26% vs median)
AI Risk High (38% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (101,000 openings/yr)
ROI 4.4x earnings multiple
Ranked #240 of 290 Design and Applied Arts programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Design graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $582K $575K $535K
Earnings Multiple 4.4x 4.4x 4.1x
Probability of Field Employment 63% 57% 46%
DegreeOutlook Score 23 23 30

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$131,120
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$127,220
3% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$23,333
11.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$51,256
103% growth from Year 1

About Lesley University

Lesley University has a 94% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, with a smaller student body of 1,252 in Cambridge, MA.

See all programs and financial aid at Lesley University →

Top Career Paths

Art directors $111,040/yr
Architecture teachers, postsecondary $101,480/yr
Special effects artists and animators $99,800/yr
View all 14 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 290 schools offering Design →

Design at Other Schools

Carnegie Mellon University ($66,274) University of Southern California ($64,846) University of Washington-Seattle Campus ($63,449) University of California-Los Angeles ($57,615) Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus ($52,694) University of Cincinnati-Main Campus ($52,526) Utah State University ($52,431) Interior Designers Institute ($51,188)

Other Majors at Lesley University

Business Administration, Management and Operations ($46,448) Psychology, General ($39,211) Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services ($38,516) English Language and Literature, General ($38,442) Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology ($38,404) Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods ($36,897) Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($35,658) Film/Video and Photographic Arts ($31,846)

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

Compare Design trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Design at Lesley University?
A score of 23/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Design. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Design careers?
With 38% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $534,818 in decade earnings vs $582,168 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Can you still earn well with Design from Lesley University?
First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →