32 Years in a Row: Future-Focused Babson Tops MBA Entrepreneurship Rankings Again
For the 32nd consecutive year, Babson College’s F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business has been named the No. 1 MBA program in entrepreneurship by U.S. News & World Report. The recognition underscores Babson’s commitment to providing the next generation of entrepreneurial leaders with cutting-edge education.
“This continued excellence in graduate education is a testament to the global reputation of the F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business and our committed faculty of thought leaders and practitioners,” said President Stephen Spinelli Jr. MBA’92, PhD. “Babson College has proudly served as the flagship institution for entrepreneurship education at both the undergraduate and graduate levels since the early inception of entrepreneurship as an academic discipline.”
The U.S. News & World Report ranking comes amid a blockbuster year of high-profile accolades and prominent, campus-wide advances that further ensure Babson graduates possess the skills to drive meaningful change. In addition, Babson’s emphasis on real-world application and experiential learning continue to solidify its reputation as an entrepreneurship pioneer.
“Today’s graduate students continue to show the world what is possible with the power of a Babson education,” Spinelli said. “It brings me pride to see today’s students continuing to elevate Babson’s graduate experience to new heights.”
Babson’s Future Focused
Babson’s sustained leadership in entrepreneurship education is not just about maintaining a legacy but also about constantly evolving to meet the demands of the future. New initiatives, such as the creation of the C. Dean Metropoulos Institute for Technology and Entrepreneurship and the launch of the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program, have further cemented Babson’s status as a leader in entrepreneurial education.
Babson has always looked forward, and the Metropoulos Institute, DBA and other initiatives will ensure students anticipate upcoming shifts in technology, capital markets, and venture creation, according to Richard Goulding, interim associate dean of graduate programs.
“The world of 30 years ago has changed a lot,” said Goulding, also an associate Professor of practice. “For the last 15 to 20 years, everything was in the entrepreneur’s favor—technology was reshaping business models, private capital was readily available, and barriers to entry were lowering. Now, as technology continues to outpace capital and the nature of work evolves, Babson is at the forefront of preparing students for these emerging challenges.”
The Metropoulos Institute, founded last year, is focused on fueling breakthroughs in fields like CleanTech, Cybersecurity, FinTech, HealthTech, and other emerging technologies including generative AI. Babson’s DBA, which begins classes in the fall, will cultivate interdisciplinary, entrepreneurial leaders equipped to tackle today’s dynamic business challenges and amplify post-graduation impact through engaged scholarship.
The effort shows that Babson remains committed to tackling global issues that markets have conceded or ignored, such as food insecurity and climate change.
“We’re focused on equipping students with the skills to break down complex problems and create innovative solutions,” Goulding said. “That’s where Babson’s future lies. It’s about taking big issues that the markets don’t seem capable of solving at the moment, and making them solvable.”
Social and Economic Value Everywhere
Babson has achieved other notable rankings in the past year. The Wall Street Journal ranked Babson the No. 2 best college in the United States, highlighting its overall academic excellence. Furthermore, U.S. News & World Report recognized Babson as the No. 1 undergraduate school in entrepreneurship for the 28th consecutive time.
“The continued recognition from U.S. News & World Report accompanied by our historic Wall Street Journal ranking as the No. 2 best college in the country signals that the world is validating our community’s ability to create social and economic value everywhere,” Spinelli said.
Proof of Babson’s success is also evident in the remarkable outcomes of its MBA graduates. Babson MBAs on average earn more than $147,000 annually three years after graduation. They’ve secured roles across a variety of industries, with the finance industry seeing 30% more Babson MBA graduates on average than the previous year. The Class of 2024 also achieved strong placement in industries such as technology (20%), financial services (18%), consumer packaged goods and retail (12%), manufacturing (12%), and consulting (9%).
“Babson graduate alumni bring unique approaches to entrepreneurial leadership to an array of industries and creative ventures around the world,” Spinelli said.
Leading companies such as Amazon, HubSpot, and Wayfair continue to actively court recent MBA and master’s of science graduates from the College. Additionally, Babson has nurtured the next generation of entrepreneurial founders who are crafting their own opportunities through innovative startups.
“We will continue to build on this momentum as a community of aspirational entrepreneurial leaders,” Spinelli said.
