What do you want to make today?

Apply for one of our 10 BFA programs, or a BA in Art.

A one-of-a-kind art degree that can take you anywhere.

Lesley’s College of Art and Design prepares students for lifelong careers in animation & motion media, photography, graphic design, interactive design, digital filmmaking, fine arts, illustration, visual effects, game design & immersive technologies, visual narrative, and other creative fields.

At Lesley, working artists will support your art and mentor your development. You'll receive instruction and critique from faculty and visiting artists, as well as get hands-on experience with apprenticeships in places like Warner Bros., Nickelodeon, Hero4Hire, TaketheCake Productions, and more.

Graduate ready to succeed in the rapidly-growing creative economy in film, television, game design, commercial art, and more.

Apply Now for Fall 2022

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8 Types of Designers You Could Be

Wondering what a career in design could look like? We talked with faculty and graduates from our College of Art & Design who are working in the field to explain 8 different design roles.

Learn more about different design roles.

5 Reasons to Apply

In addition to being a small art school within a larger university that also has a liberal arts curriculum, here are 5 other reasons to come to Lesley University.

1. Location

Boston/Cambridge is one of the most dynamic college atmospheres in the country.

2. Professional Experiences

Every student completes at least one internship.

3. Visual Effects

Our animation and digital filmmaking majors can access our state-of-the-art VFX facilities.

4. Money for Grad School

Finish your bachelor's degree and keep going. Get 12 free credits toward your Lesley master's degree with The Lesley Dividend. That's a savings of up to $13,000.

5. A Way to Become an Art Educator

Combine your BFA with an M.Ed. in Art Education in one accelerated program, saving you time and tuition.

Apply Today

Applying to Lesley University couldn’t be easier. There’s no fee and you'll have an answer within three weeks.

We know that a standardized test can't sum up your accomplishments and abilities. That's why we are SAT Optional.

1. View the application requirements for U.S. students or for international students.
2. When you're ready, apply here.
Contact our Admissions Counselors at 617.349.8800 or admissions@lesley.edu if you have any questions.

Fill out your FAFSA form

Our goal is to break down financial barriers so that if you want to learn at Lesley University, you can. It starts with being one of the most affordable private universities in New England. But we also customize our aid packages based on each student's needs. And, more than 98% of our full-time undergraduate students receive some form of financial aid.

So if you haven’t already, complete your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form. The sooner you do, the sooner we can create your customized tuition plan.

Students Create Film for Nonprofit

Students in the course Community Animation Studio worked with Massachusetts nonprofit Rescuing Leftover Cuisine to create a film that promotes their cause.

students present work on large tv screen in full classroom

92% Placement Rate

We're one of only 3 Association of Independent Colleges of Art & Design (AICAD) art schools in a larger university. As a BFA student at Lesley, you'll develop industry-specific skills within a broader liberal arts education. And our 92% placement rate for 2020—the percentage of our bachelor's degree graduates who are employed or in graduate school—is one of the highest of any AICAD school in the country.

Applying to Lesley

Lesley University is SAT Blind

We know that a single standardized test can't sum up your accomplishments and abilities. That's why we don't require SAT scores when you apply. Instead, we'll focus on the strength of your application, including your essay and activities.

A New Home for the Arts in Cambridge

In 2015, the newly renamed Lesley University College of Art and Design moved into the Lunder Arts Center, comprising new studio, gallery, and classroom spaces.

Small Art School, Big University

We're a premier art and design school of about 700 students, but we're also part of a dynamic university with a liberal arts college. This means you'll have the small studio, hands-on experience of a professional art school where you'll gain industry-specific knowledge. And, you'll benefit from a broader perspective of a liberal arts educational experience—something most art schools can't provide.

Come meet us virtually

The best way to get a feel for life at Lesley is to see it for yourself. For the Fall 2022 semester, we are running several virtual Open Houses, Information Sessions, and other events for future undergrads like you.

Check out virtual options and sign up.

Alumni Story

James M. Del Ponte

In his short psychological thriller 'Stay,' Lesley digital filmmaking graduate James M. Del Ponte '20 explores an unsettling "what if" scenario and wins at IndieX Film Festival

Areas of Study

Art & Design Programs

At Lesley, you can get your BFA in:

Animation & Motion Media / Digital Filmmaking / Fine Arts / Game Design & Immersive Technologies / Graphic Design / Illustration / Interactive Design / Photography / Visual Effects (VFX) / Visual Narrative

We also offer a BA in Art and 25 liberal arts majors. Combine your BFA with a second major or one of our 45+ minors—in art & design or a liberal arts subject—to expand your career opportunities.

Cambridge is our campus. Boston is our neighbor.

Cambridge is one of the most creative cities in the country. In fact, there are about 96 art and culture events happening in the Greater Boston area every day. And while you'll benefit from our dynamic surroundings, you'll also be a big part of them. You'll take art and design classes in our $48 million Lunder Arts Center. And our $7 million Visual Effects (VFX) studio—a state-of-the-art facility where our VFX curriculum comes alive—is the only one of its kind in New England.

Find out more about Cambridge and Boston.