Five Reasons Why International Students Call Babson College Home

Listen

A safe New England campus? Check.

A global student body, and educators who know how to make international students feel at home? Check, Check.

A school with an internationally known reputation? Yes, Babson has that, too.

Deciding where to go to college is a big deal for any student, especially when the choice involves moving across the world and studying internationally. And yet, for international students at Babson, it’s a familiar scenario. 28% of Babson undergraduates and 73% of full-time graduate students come to campus from other countries, navigating the world of visas, work sponsorships, and some culture shock as they dive into life at Babson.

With a world of colleges to choose from, what makes Babson College stand out? “We value the international students on our campus and continue to welcome them from around the world,” says Amir Reza, dean of Babson Academy and Global Education. He is an enthusiastic supporter of the College’s pro-student stance on recent visa and immigration policies. “Who better to lead the support for international students than Babson?”

Submit your application and prepare to join Babson’s global community.
Start Your Application

Here are five more reasons why so many international students make Babson their home away from home.

In Good Company

With so much of the student body coming to Babson from other countries, staff and faculty are experts at helping international students use Babson as a launchpad. The welcome and support international students receive includes U.S. job-search strategy sessions, access to immigration attorneys, events that celebrate both international and U.S. cultures, and more. The welcoming culture at Babson has been recognized by Forbes, where Babson made the list of top ten colleges for international students, and the 2019 Open Doors Report, where Babson ranked #6 in the U.S. for hosting international students. Additionally, Babson received the prestigious Paul Simon Award for Campus Internationalization in 2018.

STEM-Designated Programs for Extended OPT

Several Babson programs are STEM-designated, including the Master of Science in Finance, Master of Science in Business Analytics, and two new MBA concentrations: Quantitative Finance and Business Analytics and Machine Learning. Most graduating international students can work in the U.S. for a year, either for an employer or by starting their own business, through a program called Optional Practical Training (OPT). Graduates of STEM-designated programs may have the option to extend their OPT for an additional 2 years without needing visa sponsorship from their employer. And, 34% of the international students in the MBA class of 2018 interviewing for jobs landed positions in the U.S.

Institutional Support at the Highest Level

Last month, Babson joined more than 100 public and private universities and colleges in filing an amicus brief to defend the long-standing immigration program known as OPT. Separately, Keith Rollag, dean of the Graduate School, signed on to a letter with 50 other U.S. business school deans and 13 CEOs encouraging U.S. government leaders to re-examine current visa and immigration policies. In 2016, the College became the first private institution to launch a Global Entrepreneur in Residence program, creating a pathway for international entrepreneurs to apply for a cap exempt H1-B visa. Babson believes in, and supports, international students.

Leading the Way in Entrepreneurship Education

As the world gets smaller and jobs and entire industries evolve, entrepreneurial leadership is becoming a must-have skill. Babson has long been at the cutting edge of entrepreneurship education, ranked No. 1 for entrepreneurship for 26 years in U.S. News & World Report. Moreover, colleges and universities around the world send their faculty to Babson Academy to learn our method of teaching entrepreneurship.

A Safe and Welcoming Community

Nestled just 10 miles west of Boston in suburban Wellesley, MA, Babson College provides a safe and welcoming home away from home. Faculty genuinely care about their students, adding to the sense of safety and community on campus.

Posted in Community

More from Community »

Latest Stories

Warren Buffett
Buffett Retires: Babson Professors Highlight Lessons from a Historic Transition Warren Buffett’s retirement is more than a milestone, Babson thought leaders say. It’s also a masterclass in thoughtful succession and cultural continuity.
By
Hillary Chabot
Writer
Hillary Chabot
Hillary Chabot is a writer for Babson Thought & Action and Babson Magazine. An award-winning journalist, she is known for her insightful reporting and dedication to detailed storytelling. With a career spanning over two decades, she has covered a wide range of topics, from presidential campaigns and government policy to neighborhood issues and investigative series. As a reporter for The Boston Herald, Hillary earned a reputation for tenacity and integrity. Her work at Babson College fuels her passions—to learn something new every day and conduct thoughtful, empathic interviews. She’s thrilled to be at Babson College, where students, faculty, staff members and classes provide compelling copy daily.
May 30, 2025

Posted in Community, Insights

Zainabou Thiam ’28 sits at a table selling products to waiting customers
Paying Homage to One’s Ancestors Through Entrepreneurship Zainabou Thiam ’28 was raised in the values of Senegal. With the help of Babson, she’s growing her venture, Sunu Body, an African-inspired skin care and wellness brand.
By
John Crawford
Senior Journalist
John Crawford
A writer for Babson Thought & Action and the Babson Magazine, John Crawford has been telling the College’s entrepreneurial story for more than 15 years. Assignments for Babson have taken him from Rwanda to El Salvador, from the sweet-smelling factory of a Pennsylvania candy maker, to the stately Atlanta headquarters of an NFL owner, to the bustling office of a New York City fashion designer. Beyond his work for Babson, he has written articles and essays for The Philadelphia Inquirer, Notre Dame Magazine, The Good Men Project, and other publications. He can be found on Twitter, @crawfordwriter, where he tweets about climate change.
May 29, 2025

Posted in Entrepreneurial Leadership

The champion tennis players pose for a photo with their trophies alongside their coaches
Repeat Champs: Babson’s Doubles Team Nets Second Tennis National Title Olivia Soffer ’25 and Matia Cristiani ’26 captured their second consecutive NCAA Division III doubles national championship in women’s tennis.
By
May 28, 2025

Posted in Community