Frequently Asked Questions

The Lesley Dividend . . . an investment in your future.

• What is the Lesley Dividend?
• A free semester of graduate study sounds almost too good to be true. Why is Lesley doing it?
• Who is eligible for the Lesley Dividend?
• I didn't realize that Lesley College offered Master's degrees. Will I find a program that meets my needs?
• As a transfer student, can I take advantage of the Lesley Dividend?
• What if I'm thinking about pursuing one of Lesley's accelerated Bachelor's/Master's programs? Can I still take advantage of the Lesley Dividend?
• How much money am I saving with the Lesley Dividend?
• Will financial aid still be available to me at the graduate level?
• What do I gain by staying at Lesley for a Master's degree?
• What Master's degree programs are offered?
• Now that I know the basics of the Lesley Dividend who can I contact if I have further questions?

Q: What is the Lesley Dividend?

A. The Lesley Dividend provides a Lesley College student the opportunity to earn up to 12 course credits toward a Lesley Master's degree at no additional cost --- in other words, one free semester of graduate study. Assuming of course, the student has been granted acceptance to one of over 30 Lesley Master's degree programs.

Q: A free semester of graduate study sounds almost too good to be true. Why is Lesley doing it?

A. Lesley is committed to making higher education more affordable to outstanding students, and to responding to the need for training the very best professionals --- especially in the fields of education, human services, and the arts. For many of our students, a Master's degree is a necessary credential. The Lesley Dividend provides Lesley College and AIB students the opportunity to earn up to 12 course credits toward a Lesley Master's degree at no additional cost.

Q: Who is eligible for the Lesley Dividend?

A. To qualify for the Lesley Dividend a student must:

• Be enrolled full-time in Lesley College or AIB for a minimum of six consecutive semesters.
• Have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.6 or higher at the time of graduation.
• Be accepted to one of Lesley's on-campus, semester- based Master's degree programs.
• Begin the Master's program at the next possible start date (as determined by Lesley) after graduation from Lesley College.

The dividend is paid out over your first two semesters of study in six credit installments. You must be a full-time student in each of your first two semesters of graduate study to be eligible.

Q: I didn't realize that Lesley offered Master's degrees. Will I find a program that meets my needs?

A. We're certain that you will! There are over 30 on-campus Master's degree programs available to you as part of the Lesley Dividend. You may not realize that Lesley University has more than 10,000 students, the majority of whom are in Master's degree programs both here in Cambridge, and also in 21 different states throughout the country. We've always said that Lesley College students have the best of both worlds --- all the benefits of a small college experience with the resources and opportunities of a large and successful comprehensive university.

Q: As a transfer student, can I take advantage of the Lesley Dividend?

A. Transfer students who enroll in Lesley College or AIB and require six full-time semesters or more to complete the bachelor's degree can take full advantage of the Lesley Dividend. Transfer students with less than six semesters to complete the undergraduate program can receive six credits of free graduate tuition through the Lesley Dividend, provided they have enrolled in continuous full-time study and have earned a cumulative GPA of 3.6 or higher.

Q: What if I'm thinking about pursuing one of Lesley's accelerated Bachelor's/Master's programs? Can I still take advantage of the Lesley Dividend?

A. Absolutely. Students who are accepted to one of Lesley's Dual Degree Programs are able to reduce the cost of their graduate education even more dramatically. If you are enrolled in one of the Dual Degree Programs and have achieved a cumulative grade point average of 3.6 or higher at the point that you complete 120 credits, you will qualify for the Lesley Dividend --- up to 12 credits of free tuition. For some Dual Degree programs, this means that your graduate degree will be almost half-price!

Q: How much money am I saving with the Lesley Dividend?

A. One semester, or 12 credits, of graduate tuition would cost over $8,000. The Lesley Dividend offers substantial savings --- in fact a 1/3 savings on most of our Master's programs. If you are enrolled in one of our Dual Degree Programs, the savings are even greater.

Q: Will financial aid still be available to me at the graduate level?

A. You may still apply for federal, state, or private financial assistance programs that are available for graduate study. Institutional scholarship money for students enrolled in graduate programs is quite limited.

Q: What do I gain by staying at Lesley for a Master's degree?

A. There's no doubt that even students graduating from Lesley with a Bachelor's degree are successful . . . in fact, consistently, over 95% of our students find jobs in their field within six months of graduation. With a Master's degree however, you have simply increased your earning power and your professional qualifications.

Q: What Master's degree programs are offered?

A. The following on-campus, semester-based Master's degree programs are available to qualified Lesley Dividend students.

School of Education

• Consulting Teacher of Reading
• Curriculum and Instruction
• Early Childhood Education
• Educational Leadership
• Elementary Education
• Intensive Special Needs
• Middle School Education
• Reading, Consulting Teacher of Reading
• Special Needs Education
• Technology in Education

Graduate School of Arts and Social Sciences

• Art Education
• Clinical Mental Health Counseling
• Counseling Psychology
• Creative Arts in Learning
• Expressive Therapies
• Intercultural Relations
• Interdisciplinary Studies

Note: The College reserves the right to adjust the list as necessary in the future.

Q: Now that I know the basics of the Lesley Dividend, who can I contact if I have further questions?

A. Prospective students should contact their respective admissions offices for more information. Current students should contact their respective Dean's Offices:

Prospective Lesley College Students- 617-349-8800, lcadmissions@lesley.edu

Prospective AIB Students- 617-585-6700, admissions@aiboston.edu

Current Lesley College Students- 617-349-8912, sloomis2@lesley.edu

Current AIB Students- 617-585-6723, mward3@aiboston.edu