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Babson College Guide

The Ivy Scholars guide to Babson College’s culture, admissions, and other essential information for prospective students and their families.

Location: Wellesley, Massachusetts

Mascot: Biz E Beaver

Type: Private Business School

Population: 3,100 (2,300 undergrads)

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About Babson College

Founded to offer an education which prepared students for roles as executives, not mere cogs in the workforce, Babson has focused on the practicalities of business since its inception. With only a single major and degree offered, Babson remains devoted to preparing students for the world of business, though they have greatly expanded their Liberal Arts course offerings.

Babson College Statistics

Year Founded: 1919

4 Year Graduation Rate: 89%

Gender Distribution: 53% male, 47% female

Acceptance Rate: 19%

Residency: 27% in state, 43% out of state, 30% international

Location Type: College Town

Schedule System: Semesters

Student/Faculty Ratio: 14:1

Average Class Size: 20

Demographics: 40% Other/unknown, 33% Caucasian, 12% Hispanic, 11% Asian, 4% Black

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National Rankings

US News Rankings:

  • #1 in Entrepreneurship Programs
  • #30 Business Program

Independent Rankings:

  • #12 Best Career Placement per The Princeton Review
  • #22 Best Colleges for Business per Niche
  • #25 Best Value Colleges per Niche
  • #45 Best Value Colleges per The Princeton Review
  • #52 Private Colleges per Forbes
  • #62 Top Colleges per Forbes
  • #68 Top Private Universities per Niche
  • #124 Best Colleges per The Times of Higher Education

Babson College Admissions Information

Application Deadlines:

  • Early Decision I: November 1st
  • Early Decision II: January 3rd
  • Early Action: November 1st
  • Regular Decision: January 3rd
  • Transfer Deadline: April 1st

Notification Dates:

  • Early Decision I: Mid-December
  • Early Decision II: Mid-February
  • Early Action: January 1st
  • Regular Decision: Mid-March

Acceptance Rates:

  • ED I: 35%
  • ED II: 26% 
  • EA: 25%
  • RD: 26%
  • Transfer: 37%

Average Applicant Pool: 6,400

Average Number of Applicants Accepted: 1,700

Average Number Enrolled: 600

Application Systems: Common App

Average GPA: 3.86 weighted

SAT Scores: 25th% – 1270, 75th% – 1450

ACT Scores: 25th% – 28, 75th% – 32

*Test mandatory, writing sections required. Babson is test-optional until 2024.

Demonstrated Interest: Babson College does consider demonstrated interest.

How to demonstrate interest.

Recommendation Letter Policies:One letter from a counselor and one letter from a teacher are required.

Babson College Essay Prompts:

  • Common App personal statement (650 words)
  • Your moment has arrived. Share with us the moments or experiences that have led you to apply to Babson College. You are invited to respond to the writing supplement with either a traditional essay (500 words maximum) OR a one-minute video. Whichever you choose, no preference is given to either format in admission decisions.
  • (Optional): Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences. (250 words)

Babson Essay Writing Tips

Special Notes:

  • Interviews are available, but not required.
  • They recommend students have math experience through pre-calculus at a minimum.

Transfer:

  • Applicants must have completed at least one semester of undergrad before transferring.
  • The Common App is the only platform they use.
  • They require a letter of recommendation from a professor, and a counselor report.
  • Standardized test scores are required, as are official transcripts.
  • The same essays are required as first-year admissions.

Babson College Academics

Schools:

  • The College
  • Only one school and one major exist at Babson.

Core Requirements:

  • Babson requires all students participate in core programs. These are Foundations of Management and Entrepreneurship, Coaching for Leadership and Teamwork, First Year Seminar, and Arts and Humanities/History and Society Foundation.
  • Comprehensive Information

Courses of Study: 

AP Credit Policies:

  • Babson awards course credit for scores of 4 or 5. They grant credit for scores of 5 or higher on IB exams. They allow a maximum of 16 credits from testing.
  • Comprehensive Test Credit Information

Special Programs

Honors Programs:

  • The Honors Program allows advanced students to take more challenging courses, undertake an honors project, and study abroad. Students may only apply to join the Honors Program after their first year, and it requires a minimum GPA of 3.4.
  • Senior Awards are presented to graduating seniors in recognition of their achievements at Babson.
  • Undergraduate Awards are presented to any undergraduate student who has distinguished themselves in the Babson community.
  • Graduation Honors are available to graduating students who meet GPA requirements.

Research Availability:

Study Abroad: 

Business Options: 

  • Babson College is a business school, meaning all of its offerings are, at their core, business related.

Pre-Med Options:

  • There is no pre-med major, concentration, or advising department. Students interested in pre-med may take the required courses at a partner institution.
  • The Healey Center is dedicated to the intersection of healthcare and entrepreneurship.

Pre-Law Options:

  • There is a Law concentration offered, which includes a limited amount of pre-law advising as well.

Computer Science Options: 

Additional Specialty Programs: 

Programs for High Schoolers:

  • Summer Study offers rising juniors and seniors a 3.5 week hands-on opportunity to experience college life, and explore their interests in business and entrepreneurship.

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Student Life at Babson College

School Motto: Life, Sweetness, Hope

Mission and Values:

  • Mission: Babson College prepares and empowers entrepreneurial leaders who create, grow and steward sustainable economic and social value—everywhere.
  • Values: Integrity, Collaboration, Diversity, Innovation, and Excellence
  • Additional Information
  • Student Testimonials (Niche, Unigo, Cappex)

House System:

Residence halls come in a variety of shapes and sizes, offering both traditional dorm-style housing and suites. There is also special interest housing available, where students can join a living learning community. Female-only housing is available. All first-year students are required to live on-campus. Housing is not guaranteed for transfer students. Students are permitted to live on-campus for all four years. There are 17 different residence halls available.

Housing Statistics:

  • 100% of Freshmen live on campus
  • 76% of undergrads live on-campus at any given time

Campus & Surrounding Area:  

Transportation:

  • Babson offers a shuttle between their campus and neighboring college campuses of Olin and Wellesley.
  • They recommend students walk or use public transportation if they don’t have a car.
  • Parking Information

Traditions:

  • Founder’s DayStudents gather to enjoy food and events and celebrate Roger babson. The event has a focus on philanthropy as well.
  • Back to BabsonAlumni are invited back to campus in the fall to reminisce about their time at Babson, and catch up with old friends.
  • Friends and Family Weekend – Students’ families are invited to campus for a weekend of food, celebrations, and performances each fall, so they can see how you’re doing at college.
  • Late Night BreakfastRight before final exams at the end of Fall semester, the dining hall opens late for breakfast, served by faculty and staff.

Student-Run Organizations: 

Sports:

Greek Life: 

  • 21% of students are members of Greek life, including social, service, and academic organizations.

Nightlife:

  • There are frat or apartment parties most weekends, especially hosted by upperclassmen.
  • The school is just 15 miles from Boston, a large city with a vibrant nightlife scene, with most areas of the city accessible by public transit.

Financial Information

Yearly Cost of Attendance:

  • Total: $76,410
  • Tuition: $54,944
  • Room: $11,910
  • Meal Plan: $6,324
  • Books and Supplies: $1,218
  • Personal: $1,964

Financial Aid: Around 50% of all students receive some form of financial aid. Babson is need blind, and commits to meeting 100% of demonstrated financial need. They will meet this same level of need each year, as long as there isn’t a major change in the family’s financial situation. International students are eligible for limited financial aid.

Additional Financial Aid & Student Loan Information

Scholarships: While the majority of aid dollars are devoted to financial need, Babson also offers merit-based scholarships. Many of these scholarships are awarded when students first enter the college, but some are awarded in later years to students who show remarkable academic achievements.

Fun Facts

  • The school started with just 27 students, in the former home of Roger Babson, its founder.
  • Students were originally required to punch in and out with a time-card, and had personal secretaries to help with typing.
  • Notable alumni include Olympic gymnast and gold medalist Aly Raisman and Terrell Braly, founder of Quiznos.
  • The dining halls only carry Pepsi products, as a  former CEO of Pepsi attended the school, and the company is still a major donor.
  • The founder, Roger Babson, is buried on campus between his first wife, Grace Babson, and his mistress-turned-second-wife, Nora Babson.
  • There is a descendant of Isaac Newton’s apple tree on campus.
5/5
Wendy Y.
Parent
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5/5
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Student
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5/5
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Parent
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