Help People Become Their Best Selves

Apply for a bachelor's degree program in counseling, psychology, social work, and other helping fields.

Nobody prepares you better.

Whether you dream of closing the opportunity gap or helping others reach their highest potential, Lesley University's unrivaled programs in counseling, psychology, expressive arts therapies, human services, and social work will prepare you for a career where you can make an impact.

With guidance and mentoring from our expert faculty and clinicians in the field, you'll gain experience and grow your skills in internships at places such as the Franciscan Hospital for Children, Artists for Humanity, Cambridge Public Schools, McLean Hospital, Horizons for Homeless Children, Massachusetts General Hospital, and more.

Transform lives and communities like our alums who are working as counselors, art therapists, social workers, human services professionals, and other helping professions.

Apply Now for Fall 2022

Undergraduate Programs

92%

of our 2020 graduating class is employed or furthering their education.

Watercolor painting of Amanda Nahodil with a sink and other household things painted on her chest and clothing lines hung from the side of her head.

Undergraduate art therapy senior offers ‘Art as Healing’

Amanda Nahodil’s art therapy Zoom sessions offer a place of healing during the quarantine.

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.

Small College, Big University

Within the dynamic environment of a larger university, you'll receive the personalized education of a small liberal arts college of 1,300 students. You'll benefit from the largest network of licensed mental health counselors in New England—with more than 1,000 Lesley counseling graduates in the last 5 years alone. Our undergraduate- and graduate-level faculty can help you explore how to use the arts to heal through the innovative Expressive Therapies field, which Lesley founded over 40 years ago.

Accelerated Bachelor's + Master's Options

If you enroll at Lesley University as an undergraduate, you can later apply for one of our accelerated bachelor's + master's options (also known as "dual degrees"). Get two degrees in one streamlined program, saving you time and tuition.

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.

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.

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

Colleen Shannon '04

Colleen Shannon ‘04 draws from her own hard experiences to help others find a way through their grief. As a program director at a non-profit clinic that helps children and adolescents process the grief of losing a loved one, Colleen hopes to normalize conversations about death.

As an art therapy major, Colleen was inspired by a faculty-mentor to pursue an internship at the clinic and was able to turn that into a full-time position.

Areas of Study

Psychology & Applied Therapies Programs

If you're interested in a career in the helping professions, our bachelor's degree programs in psychology & applied therapies can help get you there.

Art Therapy / Children, Youth, and Family Studies / Counseling / Expressive Arts Therapy / Holistic Psychology & Wellness / Human Services / Psychology / Social Work

Combine your major with a second major (we have 35+ of them) 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.

Whether you're pursuing art therapy, counseling, or another specialization in psychology, you'll take classes on our three beautiful Cambridge campuses near Harvard Square. You'll discover the Cambridge and Boston area—a dynamic hub of professional opportunity, service work, culture, and fun few other cities can match. You'll also build your résumé and make connections through internships with some of the most prestigious healthcare and community organizations in Greater Boston.

Find out more about Cambridge and Boston.