How to Apply to Economics at Babson College: There Is No Separate Economics Major, So You Apply to the Business Administration Degree and Add the Four-Course Economics Concentration, With Admission and Prerequisites for U.S., International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Applicants

Babson College is a business school in Massachusetts, and its main undergraduate degree is the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. The programs-of-study list in the undergraduate catalog shows one certificate, a Bachelor of Science, a Bachelor of Science in Analytics and AI, and the business administration degree, and no standalone economics major. Economics is offered as the Economics Concentration, run by the Economics division. This guide therefore covers how to apply to Babson and study economics inside it, for U.S. applicants, international applicants (including those from China) and transfer students, based on Babson’s published pages.

1. What the programs are

• The concentration: Babson says concentrations let students specialize or explore within the business administration degree, and a declared, completed concentration is noted on the transcript. The economics concentration takes four courses; the catalog shows “Total Credits: 14-16”, and the general concentration rules say four courses totaling 14–16 credits.
• Babson’s own wording: the economics concentration page says the courses are comparable to what is offered in an economics major or minor and similar to the electives in a BA in economics, but neither that page nor the catalog lists a separate economics degree. The web page title includes “Economics Degree”; the catalog degree list does not. Rely on the catalog.
• Concentrations are optional: the curriculum page says about 75% of students choose one in junior or senior year; up to two may be declared, and one course may count toward two concentrations.
• Course list (choose four of 18): Urban and Land Use Economics (ECN3600), Political Economy of Sustainable Development (ECN3601), Uses and Abuses of Financial Derivatives (ECN3606), Money, Banking and the Economy (ECN3615), Applied Econometrics and Causality Analysis (ECN3620), The EU Today (ECN3625), Industrial Organization and Public Policy (ECN3630), Business and Economic Policy in Developing Countries (ECN3645), Contemporary Economic Systems (ECN3650), Managerial Economics (ECN3655), International Trade and Theory (ECN3660), Political Economy of Latin American Development (ECN3662), Economics of Education (ECN3663), College Fed Challenge (ECN3664, 2 credits), International Finance (ECN3665), Strategic Game Theory (ECN3667), Economics of the Labor Market (ECN3671), and Environmental Economics: Policy and Analysis (ECN3675). All are 4 credits except ECN3664.
• STEM designation and honors: the pages read do not say whether the concentration is STEM-designated; this is not published there, so ask admission (ugradadmission@babson.edu). Babson has an Honors Program (honors courses, co-curricular activities and a year-long capstone project); how it relates to economics is not stated.
• Division activities: the economics division site lists the College Fed Challenge, Omicron Delta Epsilon, the Carpenter Lecture Series and student research; the pages read do not explain how to join.
• Business administration has its own guide on this site and is not covered here.

2. How admission works: apply to Babson, then declare the concentration

• You apply only to Babson: all first-year applicants apply to the business administration degree. The application and evaluation pages have no economics-specific field, and the economics division page does not describe a separate admission standard. The concentration is declared after enrolling.
• How to declare: the catalog says to declare in Workday under Academics. Deadlines: September 30 of graduation year for December graduates, February 15 for May graduates, May 15 for August graduates.
• Entry condition: the catalog says students planning to concentrate in economics should finish Microeconomics and Macroeconomics in sophomore year to be eligible for advanced economics electives. No GPA threshold or cap is published; ask the division contact named in the catalog (Alvaro Boitier) or your student success advisor.
• Internal transfer: a concentration is not a major, and the pages read describe no “change into economics” procedure.
• Courses abroad: only two courses taken abroad can count toward the concentration; they need a Babson equivalent code (or ECN 565%) and advance approval from the Glavin Office of International Education. All other economics courses must be taken at Babson.

3. Prerequisites and course sequence

• High school math: the how-to-apply page says “we require that students have taken pre-calculus at a minimum” and that nearly 90% of admitted students were in calculus or above. The catalog’s application-process page says it “highly recommends” mathematics through pre-calculus. Both wordings are given here.
• Suggested high school courses: four to five courses a year in English, mathematics, history (the catalog says social science), laboratory science and a foreign language.
• Economics core (all students): the required business core includes Principles of Microeconomics (ECN2002) and Principles of Macroeconomics (ECN2000); the concentration page says they are usually finished in sophomore year. The core also includes Foundations of Business Analytics (AQM1000), Predictive Business Analytics (AQM2000), accounting, finance, marketing, operations, law and more. The core list has no stand-alone calculus course; further math requirements are not stated on the pages read.
• Other curriculum: Foundations of Management and Entrepreneurship (FME1000, FME1001), writing, critical inquiry, natural science and technology, and intermediate and advanced liberal arts. For students entering in fall 2021 or later, the degree needs at least 128 credits and a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0.
• Required courses inside the concentration: the catalog says to choose four from the list above; the pages read do not say which, if any, are required, and the web page says its sample courses are not the official list. Use the catalog.

4. AP and IB credit

• Rules: AP scores of 4 or 5; IB Higher Level scores of 5 or better; French Baccalaureate coefficient 5 or higher with 14 or above; Swiss Maturité 4 or better. Credit is only given if Babson has an equivalent course.
• Cap: at most 16 credits (one semester) in total from AP/IB/other exams and college courses taken elsewhere.
• A-levels: Babson says it does not accept any A-level exam results.
• Which AP or IB economics scores replace ECN2000 or ECN2002 is not stated on the pages read; ask admission or a student success advisor.
• College coursework taken in high school may be considered if it was offered by an accredited college, taught by a college professor, and not counted toward high school graduation.

5. Rounds, deadlines and materials (fall 2027 entry)

• Early Decision I (binding): November 1, notification by mid-December, deposit January 15.
• Early Action (non-binding): November 1, notification by mid-January, decision by May 1.
• Early Decision II: the how-to-apply page and the catalog table heading say January 4; the catalog body text says January 2. The sources disagree; check the latest. Notification mid-February, deposit March 1.
• Regular Decision: January 4 on the how-to-apply page, January 2 in the catalog text. Notification by mid-March; reply by May 1.
• Financial aid materials: November 15 for Early Decision I and Early Action; February 1 for Early Decision II and Regular Decision. The catalog page refers to the “26-27 FAFSA”, which suggests it may be a cycle behind; check.
• Application: Common App; US$75 fee, with fee waivers on request.
• Materials: an official high school transcript sent by the school or counselor; first-quarter or predicted grades (ED I and EA) or mid-year grades (ED II and RD); the school report; one counselor and one teacher recommendation; the Common App personal statement; and Babson’s two supplemental essays.
• The two supplements: one about your interest in business, any experience and career goals, as an essay of up to 500 words or a one-minute video, with no preference given to either; and one of up to 250 words on your background or perspective and your commitment to access, connection or understanding across differences.
• Testing: test-optional. Scores may be self-reported and official scores are required if you enroll; Babson superscores the SAT and ACT and does not need the writing sections. SAT code 3075, ACT code 1780.
• What is weighed: four-year academic performance above all, plus writing, test scores if submitted, leadership, creativity, enthusiasm, course rigor and activities or work.
• Class profile: for the Class of 2029, Babson reports 10,552 applications and a 16% admit rate; middle 50% SAT 1450–1530 and ACT 32–34 among those who submitted; a class of 692, of whom 26% are international, from 54 countries. The page does not say which entry year this is, and gives no data by major or concentration.
• Interview: the application pages read do not list an interview as a requirement.

6. By reader

U.S. applicants

• Follow the Common App process above. Babson is private and the cost page lists a single tuition figure, with no in-state or out-of-state distinction and no stated local preference.
• Testing is optional; pre-calculus is the stated math floor.
• For aid, the catalog deadlines page says Early Decision I and Early Action applicants should file the FAFSA as soon as it opens and that Babson uses CSS PROFILE data to estimate federal eligibility in the meantime; see Babson’s “How to Apply for Aid” page for the exact forms.

International applicants

• Babson says international applicants follow the same process as domestic ones, plus an English proficiency score if English is not their native language: TOEFL, IELTS, the Duolingo English Test or Cambridge English qualifications, sent as official scores. TOEFL code 3075. Minimum scores are not published on the pages read.
• Waivers exist for students who have shown high English proficiency; the conditions are not described.
• Credential evaluation and proof of funds: the pages read do not describe a procedure; contact admission (ugradadmission@babson.edu, +1 781-239-5522 or +1 800-488-3696). After admission and deposit, International Student & Scholar Services issues immigration documents, typically about four months before the program starts.
• Scholarships: international applicants are considered for merit awards at admission: the Women’s Leadership Scholarship (four years, quarter tuition), the Presidential Scholarship (four years, half tuition, renewable with a 3.0 cumulative GPA) and the Weissman Scholarship (four years, full tuition plus support, with a separate application); the Dean’s and Honors Program scholarships may follow from the second year. Need-based help is the Global Scholars program (four-year full tuition), which requires applying through Early Decision or Regular Decision and filing the CSS PROFILE by November 15 (ED) or February 1 (RD); international students do not file the FAFSA. Decisions for international aid applicants are need-aware.
• Loans for international students need a U.S. co-borrower, and they are not eligible for Federal Work-Study.

Applicants from China

• The pages read contain no China-specific guidance and do not say how gaokao results or school-exam materials are used or verified; this is not published there. Ask admission.
• General rules that apply: A-level results do not earn credit, an English test is required for non-native speakers, and transcripts go through the school or counselor as described above.

7. Costs (2026-27)

• Tuition US$60,288 (includes a Babson-issued laptop); housing (median) $14,984; food (average) $8,244; books and supplies (average) $1,300; personal (average) $2,100; federal direct loan fees (average) $50; estimated total US$86,966.
• Per-credit rate $1,884; health insurance $2,097 (August 10, 2026 to August 9, 2027). Massachusetts law requires students enrolled in nine or more credits to carry health insurance, and Babson says students with coverage from outside the United States or from non-U.S. national health programs may not waive its plan.
• Babson says the Board of Trustees sets tuition, housing and meal rates each year.

8. Internships and research

• The curriculum page lists the Honors Program, short-term electives abroad, cross-registration at Olin College and Wellesley College, a semester-long independent research project, and senior-led seminars.
• It says more than half of students study away or abroad during their time at Babson.
• The economics division pages list research and student research sections; specific internships are not described on the pages read.

9. Transfer

• Eligibility: at least one year (two semesters) of coursework at a regionally accredited community college or university. Applicants not admitted as first-years may apply for transfer after two semesters.
• Size: Babson says it generally enrolls 50 transfer students each September and 15 each January.
• Deadlines: September entry, March 15, notification early May, financial aid April 10; January entry, October 15, notification end of November, financial aid November 15. The pages do not print a year; confirm they apply to fall 2027.
• Materials: Common App; mid-term report; college report; at least one professor recommendation; high school and college transcripts; a syllabus for each course you want credited. Testing is optional, but non-native English speakers must show English scores or request a waiver. International transfer applicants also need a certified English translation of high school transcripts and a college transcript with credits expressed as semester hours.
• Credit transfer: for students entering fall 2021 or later, the graduation-requirements page allows at most 64 transfer credits.
• Into economics: transfer students declare the concentration after enrolling, as everyone does. Specific prerequisite courses for transfer into economics are not published on the pages read; ask the economics division.

Checklist

U.S. applicants:

• Pre-calculus or higher in high school; apply to the business administration degree on the Common App (US$75), with the personal statement, two supplements, one counselor and one teacher recommendation
• November 1 (ED I, EA) or around January 4 (ED II, RD; the catalog text says January 2)
• After enrolling, finish Microeconomics and Macroeconomics in sophomore year, choose four economics courses and declare the concentration in Workday

International applicants:

• English test (TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo or Cambridge) if English is not your native language; file the CSS PROFILE by November 15 or February 1 if you need aid
• Ask admission about proof of funds and credential evaluation

Applicants from China:

• No China-specific guidance is published; ask admission how gaokao and school-exam materials are used
• A-levels earn no credit

Transfer applicants:

• At least one year of college; March 15 for September entry, October 15 for January entry; at least one professor recommendation

Sources: Babson College, Economics division; Economics concentration (website); Economics concentration (undergraduate catalog); General concentration rules; Programs of study; Undergraduate curriculum; How to apply and deadlines; Evaluation criteria and essays; Application process; Catalog deadlines page; Testing and English requirements; AP, IB and other credit; International applicants; International applicants (catalog); Aid for international students; Class profile; Tuition and expenses; Tuition (catalog); Transfer applicants; Graduation requirements. Most deadline pages do not print a year, and the catalog page mentions the “26-27 FAFSA”; confirm on Babson’s site that the dates are for fall 2027 entry.