Graduation Requirements

Requirements

Please note that the degree will be granted in the semester in which the student has met all academic course requirements and where the student is in good standing in all respects. 

To be eligible for a Babson graduate degree, doctoral degree or certificate, students must attain a minimum 2.80 cumulative grade point average (GPA), based on a 4.00 scale, on all credits earned in the F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business. The minimum required number of credits earned by each program is as follows: 

PROGRAM CORE ELECTIVES TOTAL 
Two-Year MBA 15 credits 30 credits 45 credits 
One-Year MBA 15 credits 30 credits 45 credits 
Part-time MBA 18 credits 27 credits 45 credits 
Blended Learning MBA - Miami 46 credits 46 credits 
Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)60 credits60 credits
Master of Science in Management in Entrepreneurial Leadership (MSEL)30 credits 0 credits 30 credits 
Master of Science in Management in Business Creation (MSBC) (starting Spring 2027)30 credits0 credits30 credits 
Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA)*18 credits 12 credits 30 credits 
Master of Science in Finance (MSF)* 15 credits 15 credits 30 credits 
Certificate of Advanced Management (CAM) 0-15 credits 9-15 credits 
Certificate in Core Leadership Essentials (CLE)10 credits0 credits 10 credits
Certificate in Applied AI and Analytics (CAAA) (starting Spring 2027)12 credits0 credits12 credits

 * Students in the MSBA and MSF Programs must complete their elective credits from a list of approved course options. 

Degree Time Limit

Program Maximum Number of years allowed to complete program
MBA 8 Years from entry date
DBA5 Years from entry date
MSBC4 Years from entry date
MSEL 4 Years from entry date
MSF 4 Years from entry date
MSBA 4 Years from entry date
Certificates 3 Years from entry date

Students eligible to take a leave of absence should keep in mind the program-specific time limit is still in effect. 

An exception to the degree time limit requirement may be made at the sole discretion of the Graduate School in unusual circumstances where compelling cause is demonstrated. 

Latin Honors

Honors at graduation are awarded to graduate students by program as follows: 

  • Summa Cum Laude: 3.80 to 4.00
  • Magna Cum Laude: 3.70 to 3.79
  • Cum Laude: 3.60 to 3.69 

Honors are determined based on GPAs of all graduates from within the current academic year.

Commencement

The Graduate School Commencement ceremony takes place in May and celebrates students who graduated from a degree program within the academic year.

Commencement Participation Policy for August Degree Candidates

If you are a probable August graduate, you may be eligible to participate in the preceding May Commencement ceremony as an August participant. At the Commencement ceremony, approved August participants will wear the full academic regalia, sit with all graduates, have their name announced, and have their name printed in the Commencement program with the appropriate notations (honors will not be listed).

To be eligible to participate, you must meet the following criteria:

  1. Currently enrolled in a Babson degree program.
  2. Registered for your remaining degree requirements by March 31 and are expected to graduate this coming August.
  3. Maintain a minimum 2.80 cumulative GPA and be eligible in all other respects for graduation.
  4. Complete and submit the "Manage My Diploma Name" form in Workday. Please note—the May deadline of March 31 applies to eligible August degree candidates. If this is not submitted by this deadline, the name printed in the Commencement program and the name read at the Commencement ceremony will be your legal name on record.
  5. Complete the Commencement Clearance Process (CCP). This site opens in April. The CCP is where you RSVP to the Commencement ceremony and complete additional tasks to be eligible to participate.

Certificate students are not eligible to participate in the Commencement ceremony.