How to Apply - Transfer

Transfer students often have transfer credits from one or more colleges, and as well as college-level learning from work and experience. We can help you receive credit for your prior learning and help you complete your bachelor's degree.

At Lesley, we provide four ways for you to earn credits toward your 120-credit degree: 

1. Transfer College Credit 

You can apply up to 90 credits earned from other schools (or 66 for BFA programs) to your Lesley degree. Credits are eligible for transfer if they meet the following criteria: 

• Must be from a regionally accredited institution.
• Must have received a grade of C- or better. (Note: If you have an Associate’s degree conferred, then the required grade is D- or better).
• An official transcript is required to process the credit transfer.

2. Life Experience Credit Through the Prior Learning Assessment Process 

You may apply for a maximum of 45 credits for learning experiences that took place outside of the classroom. This could include work experience, training programs, or volunteer service. 

• The Prior Learning Assessment program helps you identify and document what you’ve already learned. With the help of our faculty, you will develop a portfolio to show how your knowledge aligns with college-level work.

3. Standardized Examinations 

You may decide to take a standardized exam that tests college-level knowledge. Depending on your score, the test may show that you’ve met particular Lesley course requirements. We accept exam scores from the following nationally recognized exam programs: 

• College-Level Examination Program
• Excelsior College Examinations
• Thomas Edison College Examination
• DANTES Subject Standardized Test
• Advanced Placement Program
• Evaluated Non-College Sponsored Learning

4. Evaluated Non-College Sponsored Learning

• You may have gained college-level learning from non-college professional development programs, training offered by an employer, professional associations, community-based organizations, or military experience.
• Your non-college learning may have been evaluated for college credit by the American Council on Education’s College Credit Recommendation Service. If so, we can accept the recommended credits into your degree plan.
• If you have military training, the American Council on Education’s Military Guide recommends credits for courses and occupations offered by all branches of the military. These can also be accepted into your degree plan.
• If you have earned the 200-hour Yoga Alliance Yoga Teacher Certificate, you may be awarded 13 college credits at Lesley.

How it Works

During your initial advising appointment, your advisor will provide you with a transfer credit evaluation. To determine which credits may transfer, every effort is made to match courses with their Lesley degree equivalents. Courses taken for a pass/fail grade will be eligible for transfer credit only if the transcript indicates that the pass signifies at least a C- (or D- if you have an Associates Degree conferred).

No more than 45 of your transferred credits can come from Prior Learning Assessment. 

Whether you are a transfer student or adult learner, we'll help you maximize the credits that you bring in from other colleges. Log in to Transferology, add the courses you've taken, and see how they'll transfer here. We recommend that you make an appointment with a transfer admissions counselor for an individualized appointment for transfer credit evaluation.  

​Schedule your appointment with a transfer counselor

Apply using the ​​Lesley Transfer Application Form.

• Be sure to review the rest of the guidelines on this page so that you submit your application on time, and with all required supporting documents.

Be sure to submit your application and supporting materials in time to meet these important preferred deadlines.  

Early Action Deadline – Fall 2026: December 1 

• If you apply by December 1, we’ll let you know our decision by January 5 

  Note: Only applicable for Fall enrollment

Regular Decision Deadline – Fall 2026: February 17

Spring 2026 Deadline: January 5

​​​While these deadlines are important, Lesley offers rolling admissions. That means you can apply after the deadline and still be considered for admission.

We’ll notify you of our decision within two to three weeks of receiving your complete application.

Please submit the following required documents with your application.

Once you’ve submitted your application, we’ll assign you a self-service account where you’ll be able to review receipt of your admissions application and financial aid documents.  

To activate your account:  

1. Go to the Password Management page.
2. Click "Activate/Change Password" to change your temporary password.
3. Enter your Lesley credentials, as communicated to you in your application acknowledgment letter.
4. You'll be prompted to create a Password Profile.

5. After creating your Password Profile, you'll be able to change your temporary password to one that you choose, or you can let the system generate a password for you.

   If you have password problems, visit the Password Management page and choose "Reset my Password." If you have any difficulty using your Self-Service account, contact Information Technology at 617-349-8770 or it@lesley.edu.

To view the receipt of your application and financial aid documents and materials:  

1. Log in to Self-Service.
2. Enter your Lesley credentials in the form of username@lesley.edu and the password you chose when you activated your account.
3. In the Notifications section, select "View required documents."
   • To see more than outstanding items, click on "View All".
   • If you do not have a Notifications section, go to the User Options area, and select "Required Documents." View the status of your application materials.
   • "Received" or "Waived" indicates the completion of an individual requirement.
4. For Financial Aid-related information, select Financial Information > Financial Aid from the navigation bar or go back to the Home page and click on the Financial Aid tile.

At Lesley University, we’re committed to preparing students to become the world’s best practitioners in the fields of education, mental health and well-being, art and design, and liberal arts and business. Deep professional partnerships are a crucial part of how we deliver on that promise, and our Scholar Partner Program is how we make these partnerships real for our students, from day one, and the organizations who depend on them.

Learn more about our Scholar Partner Program