History in the Making

When the Class of 2019 arrives on campus this fall, its members already will be part of Babson history by being the class that will graduate the year we celebrate our Centennial. That in itself is worthy of celebration, but even before arriving, the Class of 2019 has made history of its own.

The first sign this class was shaping up as one that would rewrite the record books began when Babson received an amazing 7,516 applications—an incredible 21 percent increase from a year ago. Clearly interest in a Babson education never has been higher nor our institutional reputation more well-regarded. The story gets better. While applications soared, so did the quality of applicants. The average SAT score for the Class of 2019 is 1936, another record and an increase of 28 points over last year’s score, the previous high. The competition for one of the 500 or so seats was as intense as it has ever been, and we experienced a record low acceptance rate of 26 percent.

For the first time in Babson history, the incoming class will be a majority of women, with 53 percent representation. As Babson’s first female president, I find this exciting and gratifying, and I’m thrilled to welcome so many aspiring women leaders and entrepreneurs into our community.

In addition to its robust academic profile, the Class of 2019 also reflects Babson’s commitment to diversity of all kinds. Students hail from 37 U.S. states, and 49 countries are represented, making the class 27 percent international. The class also includes 10 Global Scholars representing Egypt, Georgia, Hungary, Kenya, Kosovo, Morocco, Pakistan, Romania, Rwanda, and Turkey. Since launching in fall 2013, the Global Scholars program has raised nearly $6 million to attract some of the most promising entrepreneurial students from around the world. Their impact is evident throughout our community and made possible by the generosity of so many of you. We hope all students will benefit from living and learning alongside others from different backgrounds, cultural norms, and life experiences.

The Class of 2019 is ready to start their journey with an eye toward joining the more than 38,000 alumni from 114 countries that make up the global Babson network. Our official welcome of the Class of 2019 also marks the unofficial countdown to our Centennial anniversary. When it comes, we look forward to the impact this class will have as Babson’s newest generation of entrepreneurial leaders. They are eager to build on your legacy.

Kerry Healey