2026 College Rankings

Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – American Midwest Conference

About

First-year retention rates measure the percentage of first-year students who come back to campus for a second year. This is an indicator of how happy students are generally with their decision to attend that institution as less students decide to drop out or transfer to another school.

Sort by:

View as:

Rank	Institution	First Year Retention Rate	Acceptance Rate	SAT Score	Your Est. Net Price Avg. Net Price	Median Starting Salary	Save
1	Stephens College	89	91.85	1,100 – 1,270	23261	36778	#1 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – American Midwest Conference Stephens College Columbia, MO Located in Columbia, Stephens College accepts 92% of applicants. They charge unknown for undergraduate applications, but fee waivers may be requested. About 100% of students attending Stephens College will receive institutional grant aid. The first year retention rate is 89%....Read more First Year Retention Rate 89 % Acceptance Rate 91.9% SAT Score 1,100 – 1,270 Avg. Net Price $23,261 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $36,778
2	University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis	85	75.15	1,160 – 1,330	33392	116360	#2 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – American Midwest Conference University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis Saint Louis, MO A majority of students attending the University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis are graduates, only 280 are studying for their Bachelor’s. From 1864 to 2020, it was known as the “St. Louis College of Pharmacy.” The school has a 85% first year retention rate, and 100% of students receive grant aid. First Year Retention Rate 85 % Acceptance Rate 75.2% SAT Score 1,160 – 1,330 Avg. Net Price $33,392 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $116,360
3	Columbia College	79.29	88.78	930 – 1,120	22655	40747	#3 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – American Midwest Conference Columbia College Columbia, MO Based in Columbia, Columbia College’s acceptance rate is 89%. They charge unknown for undergraduate applications, but fee waivers may be available. Approximately 61% of attending students currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more First Year Retention Rate 79 % 4.3% Acceptance Rate 88.8% SAT Score 930 – 1,120 Avg. Net Price $22,655 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $40,747
4	William Woods University	72	74.49	1,040 – 1,240	22925	39265	#4 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – American Midwest Conference William Woods University Fulton, MO Found in Fulton, William Woods University accepts 74% of applicants. They charge unknown for undergraduate applications and . Approximately 98% of students at William Woods University will receive institutional grant aid. 72% of students continued studying at William Woods University after completing their first year....Read more First Year Retention Rate 72 % Acceptance Rate 74.5% SAT Score 1,040 – 1,240 Avg. Net Price $22,925 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $39,265
5	Cottey College	67	70.23	970 – 1,210	18430	32903	#5 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – American Midwest Conference Cottey College Nevada, MO Located in Nevada, Cottey College accepts 70% of applicants and requests $20 to apply, but fee waivers may be available. Approximately 100% of students at Cottey College currently receive institutional grant aid....Read more First Year Retention Rate 67 % 9.8% Acceptance Rate 70.2% SAT Score 970 – 1,210 Avg. Net Price $18,430 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $32,903
6	Harris-Stowe State University	64	51.4	850 – 1,010	9302	26634	#6 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – American Midwest Conference Harris-Stowe State University Saint Louis, MO Based in Saint Louis, Harris-Stowe State University accepted 51% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. They request $20 for undergraduate applications and . Approximately 72% of attending students currently receive grant aid from the school. The institution’s first year retention rate is 64% and its......Read more First Year Retention Rate 64 % Acceptance Rate 51.4% SAT Score 850 – 1,010 Avg. Net Price $9,302 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $26,634
7	Central Baptist College	61	46.36	990 – 1,190	16672	37681	#7 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – American Midwest Conference Central Baptist College Conway, AR Located in Conway, Central Baptist College accepted 46% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle and requests $25 to apply, but fee waivers may be available. Approximately 100% of students at Central Baptist College will receive institutional grant aid. At Central Baptist College, there is a 61% first......Read more First Year Retention Rate 61 % Acceptance Rate 46.4% SAT Score 990 – 1,190 Avg. Net Price $16,672 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $37,681
8	Hannibal-LaGrange University	0	58.74	1,020 – 1,230	20640	41185	#8 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – American Midwest Conference Hannibal-LaGrange University Hannibal, MO First Year Retention Rate -- Acceptance Rate 58.7% SAT Score 1,020 – 1,230 Avg. Net Price $20,640 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $41,185
9	Williams Baptist University	0	58.88	960 – 1,170	16658	38067	#9 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – American Midwest Conference Williams Baptist University Walnut Ridge, AR First Year Retention Rate -- Acceptance Rate 58.9% SAT Score 960 – 1,170 Avg. Net Price $16,658 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $38,067