Babson College

Babson College

(Babson)

Wellesley, MAPrivateBusinessNCAA D3Admissions

Babson College is a private business school in Wellesley, Massachusetts, ranked number one in entrepreneurship education for over 25 years. Its distinctive curriculum requires all students to launch an actual business during their first year, creating a campus culture centered on innovation, venture creation, and practical business experience.

Mascot: Beaver

Notable Alumni

Arthur Blank (co-founder of Home Depot)Akio Toyoda (chairman of Toyota)Roger Enrico (former CEO of PepsiCo)

At a Glance

Acceptance Rate
17%
SAT (Optional)
1410–1500
Avg GPA
3.92
Enrollment
2.5K
Setting
Suburban
Founded
1919

Cost

Tuition$59K
Room & Board$22K
Est. Annual Total$81K

Published sticker prices for 2025-2026. Actual cost after aid varies.

Top Programs & National Ranking

Approximate national ranking based on departmental rankings, research output, and program reputation.

Highlights

#1 in entrepreneurship
All students start a business
Strong alumni startup network

Athletics

Division
NCAA Division 3
Conference
New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference
View on NCAA.com

Campus Experience

Social Life
Moderate
Academic Pressure
Moderate
Greek Life
Small Presence
Campus Beauty
Attractive

Every freshman literally starts a business in their first year, so the campus culture is less 'college social scene' and more 'startup incubator that happens to have dorms.' Greek life exists (about 21% participate) but the suburban Wellesley location doesn't help the party scene — students who want nightlife take the commuter rail into Boston. The consortium with Wellesley and Olin adds social options.

A well-maintained 370-acre suburban campus in Wellesley with a mix of traditional New England and modern business-school architecture. Pleasant and green but lacks a signature architectural identity.

Based on Niche reviews, Princeton Review surveys, student forums, and institutional data.

Safety

Campus SafetySafe

Babson College Police Department operates 24/7 with electronically secured dorms, safety escort service, and a daily crime log. Most incidents are alcohol-related disciplinary actions.

Neighborhood SafetyVery Safe

Wellesley is one of the safest communities in Massachusetts, with violent crime rates far below national averages.

Based on Clery Act data, student surveys, and local crime statistics.

Plan Your Visit

Guided Tour

Schedule: Weekdays during the academic year; select Saturdays

Duration: ~90 minutes (info session + student-led campus tour)

Information session covers academics, campus life, career outcomes, and admission. Followed by a student-led walking tour of the New England campus. Contact ugradadmission@babson.edu or (781) 235-1200.

Book a Tour
Self-Guided Tour

Park at the Lunder Undergraduate Admission Center or Knight Parking Lot and follow the audio-linked self-guided walking tour at your own pace. Audio stops cover key buildings and campus landmarks.

Tour Resources
Insider Tips
Find the Babson Globe in Kerry Murphy Healey Park — a 28-foot rotating globe surrounded by 100 flags representing the nationalities of Babson students. It's the ultimate campus photo op and a symbol of Babson's global focus.
Tour the Weissman Foundry, a 24/7 makerspace shared with Olin College of Engineering and Wellesley College — woodshop, digital fabrication, 3D printing, and textile studios where students prototype actual startup products.
Ask a student about FME (Foundations of Management and Entrepreneurship) — every freshman literally launches a real business with real revenue in their first year. The stories are fascinating and unique to Babson.
Walk the off-road trail network surrounding campus (part of Wellesley's 30-mile trail system) for a quick nature break between visits — the wooded paths are a hidden gem that most visitors miss.
Take the commuter rail into Boston from nearby Wellesley Hills station (1 mile from campus) — Babson students regularly make this trip for nightlife and city access since the suburban campus is quiet on weekends.
Best Time to Visit

October through November when campus is at peak energy and New England foliage is stunning, or March through April. The Babson Rocket Pitch and entrepreneurship showcases in spring are worth timing your visit around. Avoid mid-December through January and summer when enrollment events are limited.

Getting There

Free visitor parking at the Lunder Admission Center and Knight Parking Lot on campus. The campus is 14 miles west of Boston in Wellesley, MA. From I-95, take Route 16 West to campus. Commuter rail from Boston's Back Bay Station to Wellesley Hills (~30 min). Logan Airport is about 40 minutes by car; rideshare runs $50-70.

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