Lesley University, a private institution in Cambridge, Massachusetts, holds accreditation from the New England Commission of Higher Education. In the 2018–2019 academic year, Lesley enrolled 6,593 students, including 2,707 undergraduates and 3,886 graduate students. Founded in 1909 by Edith Lesley at her home on 29 Everett Street, the university originally began as the Lesley School, also known as Lesley Normal School.
Initially a private women's school focused on training kindergarten teachers, it drew inspiration from Friedrich Froebel's educational philosophy. Froebel, who developed the concept of kindergarten as an extension of a mother’s care, influenced many early childhood educators, including Elizabeth Peabody, who opened Boston's first Froebel-inspired kindergarten in 1860. Central to Froebel's philosophy was the belief in the uniqueness and importance of each individual—a value still embraced at Lesley University today.
Campus
The South Campus, located in Harvard Square, features four residence halls, a dining hall, classrooms, Sherrill Hall, and the Graduate School of Arts and Social Sciences, where philosopher Charles Sanders Peirce was born. This campus provides a central hub for graduate studies and student life.
The Doble Campus, situated next to Cambridge Common, hosts residence halls, a dining hall, and classrooms, along with the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Marran Theater, and various administrative offices. It is a center for student life, featuring facilities like the Margaret McKenna Student Center, a 24-hour computer lab and study space called the Information Commons, and the campus fitness center. Named after benefactor Frank C. Doble, a former chair of the Lesley Corporation, the Doble Campus is integral to both academic and student activities.
The Porter Campus, based in Porter Square, houses most of the university's classroom space, the College of Art and Design, the Lunder Arts Center, and the Graduate School of Education. It also contains Student Administrative and Financial Services, the university bookstore, the Moriarty Library, and most of the university's art galleries, making it a major centre for the arts and education at the university.
What is the Lesley University US News National Rankings 2025?
The Lesley University ranks 342 according to the US News National Rankings 2025.
Lesley University Global Ranking
The University is still awaiting its official rankings from prominent organisations such as QS, Times Higher Education, and World Report. Despite its growing reputation and contributions to academia, the university has not yet been featured in the rankings published by these influential bodies. But it has been ranked at #342 out of 436 national universities of the U.S. News in 2025.
Although the University continues to develop its academic programs and research initiatives, it remains unranked by these major international ranking institutions. The absence of a ranking from QS, Times Higher Education, and US News does not reflect the quality of education or research output but simply indicates that the university has not been formally assessed by these specific agencies.
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Frequently Asked Questions on Lesley University Ranking 2025
1: Can someone visit the campus?
A: Yes! You can schedule a tour by emailing your request to: luadmissions@lesley.edu. Please include your program of interest.
2: How can someone know about the status of an application?
A: To see what application materials have been received, please login to the application portal. You will also receive an email once your application is complete.