Babson College admits approximately 19.7% of applicants, meaning roughly 1 in 5 applicants receives an offer of admission. This places Babson in the highly selective category, with admission rates significantly below most four-year institutions. The peer median admission rate of 70.6% highlights the substantial difference between Babson's selectivity and typical college admission rates. This level of selectivity reflects the institution's specialized focus on business education and strong post-graduation outcomes that attract competitive applicant pools. Students should approach Babson as a reach or target school depending on their academic credentials, recognizing that even well-qualified applicants face meaningful admission uncertainty. The specialized nature of Babson's curriculum means applicants should demonstrate clear interest in business, entrepreneurship, or related fields. Building a balanced college list that includes less selective business programs or institutions with similar career outcomes represents sound application strategy for prospective students.
A directional estimate — not a prediction
Admitted students at Babson typically demonstrate strong academic preparation with SAT scores ranging from 1380 to 1500, representing the middle 50% of enrolled students. The SAT midpoint of 1435 indicates high academic achievement among the student body. Math scores range from 720 to 780, while verbal scores span 660 to 720, showing particular strength in quantitative reasoning appropriate for business study. ACT scores range from 30 to 33 with a midpoint of 32, reflecting exceptional standardized test performance. Compared to peer institutions with a median SAT of 1256, Babson students score 179 points higher, indicating academic credentials well above typical selective colleges. These ranges represent enrolled students rather than all admitted applicants—students scoring below the 25th percentile are admitted but represent a smaller portion of the class. Students whose scores fall within the middle 50% ranges should consider themselves academically competitive for admission, while those scoring below should expect to be at a disadvantage but are not automatically excluded. Prospective applicants should consider whether their academic profile aligns with these ranges when evaluating fit and building comprehensive college lists with varying selectivity levels.
Understanding institutional priorities and student support
Babson enrolls a student body that reflects moderate economic diversity within the context of selective private education. The college enrolls 14.2% Pell-eligible students and 14.9% first-generation students, indicating representation of students from lower-income and first-generation backgrounds, though at levels below many public institutions. Transfer students represent 6.4% of enrollment, reflecting limited transfer admission opportunities at this specialized institution. This composition suggests Babson attracts students from varied economic circumstances while maintaining concentration among families with higher educational and economic resources. The moderate Pell share indicates the institution does enroll students requiring significant financial aid, though the majority of students come from middle- and upper-income families. First-generation students should know that 14.9% of enrolled students share their background, providing peer support within the campus community. Students from lower-income families should consider the 14.2% Pell share when assessing social and economic fit alongside financial aid opportunities. The limited transfer enrollment suggests prospective transfer students should expect competitive admission processes with fewer available spaces.
Given Babson's 19.7% acceptance rate and specialized business focus, most applicants should consider backup options. The schools below offer comparable career outcomes with different admission profiles or program structures.
Strong options in your region with comparable outcomes.
Students who enroll at Babson demonstrate strong persistence and completion outcomes across demographic groups. The retention rate of 94.2% significantly exceeds the peer median of 83.1%, indicating effective institutional support for first-year student transition and academic success. The six-year graduation rate reaches 92.4%, substantially higher than the 70% peer median, reflecting strong degree completion across the student body. Pell-eligible students graduate at 92.1%, creating only a 0.3 percentage point gap compared to overall completion rates. This minimal Pell gap ranks among the smallest observed at selective private institutions, indicating effective support systems for lower-income students once enrolled. The strong retention and completion metrics suggest that students who gain admission can expect institutional support for degree completion regardless of economic background. Lower-income students should view the minimal Pell gap as evidence of effective academic and financial support systems. Prospective students should consider these completion rates as indicators of the academic environment and institutional commitment to student success they can expect to experience.
Similar quality tier in Northeast (#4348 ranked)
Schools with comparable admission profiles — useful for building a balanced list.
Higher acceptance rates with similar career outcomes.
Similar quality tier (#4337 ranked)
Similar quality tier (#4338 ranked)
Similar quality tier (#4340 ranked)
Similar quality tier (#4345 ranked)
Build a balanced list with schools at different selectivity and price points.
Explore More Schools