Forbes Names Babson College No. 1 for International Students

MBA Blog / 5th October 2016

Babson College has been named the No. 1 college in the country for international students in Forbes’ inaugural ranking of the 50 Best U.S. Colleges For International Students 2016. According to Forbes, the ranking is “the only one of its kind” and was “especially created for foreign students and their families” to guide their decision-making for undergraduate education in the United States.

Babson College is lauded as “the original incubator of entrepreneurial studies” and tops a list that includes schools such as Columbia University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Princeton University, University of Pennsylvania, and Georgetown University.

“Babson College is one of the most intentionally diverse colleges in the United States, providing an innovative and transformative undergraduate business education for scholars from around the globe,” said Babson President Kerry Healey. “Together, students of all nationalities live and learn in a supportive and exciting environment that helps them develop a truly global mindset and prepares them to create great social and economic value everywhere.”

Babson College is a catalyst for the development of entrepreneurial leaders with a global mindset. Babson students are prepared to be responsible and respectful citizens of the world whose mindfulness of the complexities of identity and culture enable them to successfully create value in any context, anywhere. Babson College enjoys a long tradition of supporting international students and educational programming, including the following:

Babson’s International Student Population

Babson College’s international students come from more than 80 countries around the world and make up 25 percent of the undergraduate student population. Babson is increasingly attracting top students globally; 29 percent of the class of 2020’s first year students are from outside the United States, and an additional 10 percent of the first year class are U.S. students who hold dual passports.

Global Scholars Program

Each year, a highly talented group of international students is awarded need-based scholarships as part of our Global Scholars Program. Students selected for the Global Scholars Program receive four-year, full-tuition scholarships. Global Scholars with greater levels of financial need are also awarded additional grant funds, in varying amounts based on need, to help with room and board, books and supplies, health insurance, and travel expenses.

Education Abroad

Although Babson offers a global experience right here on campus, 48 percent of Babson undergraduates study abroad with equal participation rates by domestic and international students. By studying in more than 40 countries around the world, Babson undergraduates gain further experience and perspective, and prepare to lead an increasingly global community. Babson students also have the opportunity to participate in Babson Electives Abroad, short-term courses that combine classroom instruction with company site visits and cultural excursions. Led by Babson College faculty, these courses also include in-country lectures given by partner school faculty and distinguished guest speakers.

The International Consulting Experience at Babson College takes the consulting experience global by providing three to four student teams the opportunity to work on project assignments with international corporate sponsors. The program begins with pre-departure sessions focused on consulting methodology and intercultural competencies during the fall semester. Travel to the company site takes place over winter break, at which time students develop the engagement contract and begin on-site primary research. Project work is completed over the spring semester and ends with the team’s written and oral presentation of their findings and recommendations to their sponsor company.

Student-Led Conferences on Global Affairs

Annual student-led conferences bring together hundreds of students and renowned executive speakers from around the world. The Babson Latin American Club Forum, Babson Asia Entrepreneurship Forum, and Babson India Symposium provide a stage for business leaders, future entrepreneurs, and academics to share their experiences concerning economic opportunities, global business, and entrepreneurial possibilities in international regions.

Babson’s Institute for Family Entrepreneurship (IFE)

Nine out of ten international students come to Babson from family business backgrounds. Each is supported by unique course offerings and tenured professors focused on the needs of multi-generational family businesses, as well as Babson’s Institute for Family Entrepreneurship (IFE), a campus resource dedicated to family entrepreneurial research, education, and exchange directed by Associate Professor Matt Allen.

Global Entrepreneur in Residence Program

Babson College is the first private college to offer a Global Entrepreneur in Residence program, enabling international entrepreneurs to qualify for an H-1B visa through an initiative driven by Babson’s unique vision to harness the global power of entrepreneurship.

Global Alumni Clubs

More than 38,000 alumni worldwide make up a strong and global Babson College network.

Forbes Ranking Methodology

Forbes rated four-year private and public schools based on the metrics “that matter most to a global audience,” including whether or not a school is ranked a top college in the United States, how many international students are on campus, whether that number is going up, and if they are graduating on time. Finally, Forbes looked at what each school offered in terms of “a best-in-class education in the most popular majors for international students,” specifically STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and math) as well as business and entrepreneurship.

The formula includes five general categories and weights: quality (50 percent) + total percentage of international students (20 percent) + percentage increase of international students (5 percent) + graduation rate for international students (10 percent) + majors/programs of interest to international students (15 percent).