Lesley University vs. Manhattan School of Music

Comparable Facts

Compare Lesley University in Cambridge, MA with Manhattan School of Music in New York, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Lesley University is larger than Manhattan School of Music based on total student enrollment (2,557 students vs. 1,084 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Lesley University is located in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting); Manhattan School of Music is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
• Lesley University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Manhattan School of Music is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Lesley University 10:1; Manhattan School of Music 6:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Manhattan School of Music are 9.4% lower than at Lesley University ($18,050 vs. $19,920).
• Out-of-state tuition is 66.5% higher at Manhattan School of Music than at Lesley University (about $22,794 more per year; $57,050 vs. $34,256).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Lesley University than at Manhattan School of Music (100% vs. 87%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Manhattan School of Music students is 35.7% larger than aid received by Lesley University students ($26,001 vs. $19,167).

Admissions details

• SAT or ACT scores are test-free at both Lesley University and Manhattan School of Music.
• Typical fall application deadline: Manhattan School of Music Dec 1, 2026.
• Enrolled first-year students at Manhattan School of Music average a 3.55 high school GPA, 0.24 higher than at Lesley University (3.31).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 7.9% at Lesley University vs. 25.3% at Manhattan School of Music.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, Manhattan School of Music graduates have a $570 lower median loan debt than Lesley University graduates ($23,750 vs. $24,320).
• Among borrowers, Manhattan School of Music graduates have an estimated $6 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Lesley University graduates ($245 vs. $251).
• More Manhattan School of Music graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Lesley University students, three years after graduation (65% vs. 63%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.