Babson College: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Wellesley, Massachusetts · Private nonprofit · Highly selective · CDS 2024-2025
Admission at a glance
Common Data Set 2024-2025
- Test-optional
- Early Decision
- Early Decision II
- Early Action
- 9,381
- Applicants
- 1,603
- Admitted17%
- 625
- Enrolled
- 39%
- Yield rate
Selectivity
Highly selective17% admittedRanked #1 in Regional Universities North; Business Programs #39 (tie)U.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2027
Admission figures come from the 2024-2025 Common Data Set published by Babson College (see the source), read on 2026-06-15.
Is Babson College a reach, target or safety for your student?
Enter a GPA and course load and the calculator places Babson College against it in about a minute. No account needed.
Babson College is a private nonprofit university in Wellesley, Massachusetts that admits about 17% of applicants, making it a highly selective school. The average family pays about $40,514 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Business Administration, Management and Operations, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 93% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 7.0 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
Babson College is a private institution located in Wellesley, Massachusetts and one of the highly selective schools in the country. For the most recent reporting cycle, Babson College admits between 1 in 10 and 1 in 4 applicants, with an overall admission rate of 17%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT of 1460 and an ACT composite around 32. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $40,514 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What GPA does my child need for Babson College?
Most admitted students at Babson College present unweighted GPAs in the 3.85–4.0 range with five or more AP or honors courses across high school.
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What does Babson College weight in admissions?
Babson College reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2024-2025). What the weights mean
Very Important
8- Rigor of secondary school record
- Class rank
- Academic GPA
- Standardized test scores
- Application essay
- Recommendations
- Extracurricular activities
- Character/personal qualities
Considered
9- Interview
- Talent/ability
- First generation status
- Alumni/ae relation
- Geographical residence
- State residency
- Volunteer work
- Work experience
- Level of applicant's interest
Not Considered
1- Religious affiliation/commitment
SAT and ACT scores Babson College typically admits
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 720–790, with an EBRW midpoint near 675. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 31–34. Scores below the 25th-percentile mark are accepted occasionally, but the realistic submission target for most families is the school's middle-50 floor or higher.
| 25th percentile | 1410 |
| 50th percentile | 1460 |
| 75th percentile | 1500 |
| % submitting SAT | 22% |
| 25th percentile | 31 |
| 50th percentile | 32 |
| 75th percentile | 34 |
| % submitting ACT | 3% |
- • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
- • Policy detail: Considered if submitted
How much does Babson College actually cost?
Published tuition is $57,152 for in-state students and $57,152 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $21,550 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $40,514 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 16% of students receive Pell Grants.
| In-state tuition | $58,560 |
| Required fees | $0 |
| Room and board | $22,346 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $40,514 |
| Share of financial need metaverage, for students with need | 100% |
| Average need-based grant | $51,791 |
| Average merit award, no financial need27 first-year students received one | $27,174 |
| Graduates who borrowed | 35% |
| Average debt at graduationamong those who borrowed | $39,138 |
| Financial aid forms | FAFSA and CSS Profile (incl. noncustodial parent)College Board 2026-27 list |
| Application fee | $75 (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for Babson College
| Regular deadline | January 2 |
| Notification date | April 1 |
| Reply deadline | May 1 |
| Offers Early Decision | Yes |
| ED deadline | November 1 |
| Offers Early Decision II | Yes |
| ED II deadline | January 2 |
| ED acceptance rate (all rounds) | 28% |
| Offers Early Action | Yes |
| EA deadline | November 1 |
Will my child graduate from Babson College?
These predict outcomes at Babson College better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates
Most popular majors at Babson College
The most popular undergraduate programs at Babson College, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Business Administration, Management and Operations. Across all programs, Babson College confers roughly 564 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Business Administration, Management and Operations program report a median income of about $110,754 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 564 | $110,754 |
Is Babson College safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Babson College disclosed 19 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 7.0 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 4 violent offenses and 9 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
What is campus life like at Babson College?
About 76% of undergraduates at Babson College live in campus housing, making it a largely residential campus. In Greek life, 11% of men join a fraternity. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.
Other colleges in Massachusetts parents ask about
Next steps for Babson College
Common questions parents ask about Babson College
What GPA do I need for Babson College?
Most admitted students at Babson College present unweighted GPAs in the 3.85–4.0 range with five or more AP or honors courses across high school.
What SAT or ACT score does Babson College typically admit?
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 720–790, with an EBRW midpoint near 675. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 31–34.
How much does Babson College actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at Babson College after grants and scholarships is $40,514 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $57,152. Budget against the net figure.
Is Babson College realistic for my child?
Babson College admits 17% of applicants, so 720–790 SAT Math is target range and below 720 is a reach. Then check the $40,514 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at Babson College?
Babson College accepts about 17% of applicants out of roughly 9,381 who apply each year. That makes it a highly selective school.
Is Babson College test-optional?
Yes. Babson College is test-optional, so SAT and ACT scores are not required, but strong scores can still be submitted and will be considered.
What is the graduation rate at Babson College?
About 93% of students at Babson College graduate within six years, and 84% finish in four years. 95% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
Does applying Early Decision improve my chances at Babson College?
Babson College's Early Decision acceptance rate is about 28%, compared with its overall rate of 17%. Applying ED can meaningfully improve admission odds, but it is a binding commitment to enroll if accepted.
What does Babson College look for in applicants?
Babson College rates course rigor, class rank, GPA and test scores as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is Babson College a public or private school, and where is it located?
Babson College is a private nonprofit institution located in Wellesley, Massachusetts.
What are the most popular majors at Babson College?
The largest undergraduate majors at Babson College by annual graduates are Business Administration, Management and Operations. The school awards about 564 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is Babson College safe? What is its campus crime rate?
Babson College reported 19 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 7.0 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
What is campus life like at Babson College?
At Babson College, 76% of undergraduates live on campus, 11% of men are in fraternities, according to its most recent Common Data Set.
Sources: the 2024-2025 Common Data Set submitted by Babson College, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers