2026 College Rankings

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

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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.

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Rank	Institution	First Year Retention Rate	Acceptance Rate	SAT Score	Your Est. Net Price Avg. Net Price	Median Starting Salary	Save
1	Loras College	82.3	18.54	1,020 – 1,200	22338	46069	#1 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – American Rivers Conference Loras College Dubuque, IA Loras College offers up to a Master's degree, with 33 programs to choose from. Business Administration and Management, General is a top choice. The private school also has an 11 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio and 82% first year retention rate....Read more First Year Retention Rate 82 % 0.8% Acceptance Rate 18.5% SAT Score 1,020 – 1,200 Avg. Net Price $22,338 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $46,069
2	Central College	79.93	86.17	1,040 – 1,240	22499	49115	#2 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – American Rivers Conference Central College Pella, IA Located in Pella, Central College accepts 86% of applicants. They require $25 for undergraduate applications. Approximately 100% of students at Central College will receive institutional grant aid....Read more First Year Retention Rate 80 % 10.0% Acceptance Rate 86.2% SAT Score 1,040 – 1,240 Avg. Net Price $22,499 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $49,115
3	Simpson College	78	88.88	1,400 – 1,460	23637	49946	#3 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – American Rivers Conference Simpson College Indianola, IA Simpson College is non selective. 100% receive grant aid, $35,240 on average. Attending students enjoy an 11 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio, and many go on to major in Health and Wellness, General....Read more First Year Retention Rate 78 % Acceptance Rate 88.9% SAT Score 1,400 – 1,460 Avg. Net Price $23,637 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $49,946
4	Buena Vista University	77	77.61	1,010 – 1,240	18156	43572	#4 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – American Rivers Conference Buena Vista University Storm Lake, IA Buena Vista University has a 13 to 1 student to faculty ratio, 77% first year retention rate, and 56% 4-year graduation rate. Every year BVU students volunteer at Buenafication Day, the school's annual day of community service. Popular majors among students include Elementary Education and Teaching, Human Services, and General. First Year Retention Rate 77 % 0.5% Acceptance Rate 77.6% SAT Score 1,010 – 1,240 Avg. Net Price $18,156 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $43,572
5	Luther College	77	84.02	1,100 – 1,370	24790	49541	#5 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – American Rivers Conference Luther College Decorah, IA Luther College started as a Lutheran seminary opened by Norwegian immigrants. The upper campus is on the National Register of Historic Places, while the Upper Iowa River flows through the lower campus. Biology/Biological Sciences, General is a popular area of study, and the school has a first year retention rate of 77%. First Year Retention Rate 77 % 2.5% Acceptance Rate 84.0% SAT Score 1,100 – 1,370 Avg. Net Price $24,790 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $49,541
6	University of Dubuque	77	88.63	950 – 1,200	25216	44960	#6 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – American Rivers Conference University of Dubuque Dubuque, IA Located in Dubuque, the University of Dubuque’s acceptance rate is 89% and requires unknown for undergraduate applications and $25 for graduate applications. Approximately 98% of attending students will receive institutional grant aid....Read more First Year Retention Rate 77 % 8.5% Acceptance Rate 88.6% SAT Score 950 – 1,200 Avg. Net Price $25,216 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $44,960
7	Nebraska Wesleyan University	75	79.82	1,110 – 1,280	24863	47667	#7 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – American Rivers Conference Nebraska Wesleyan University Lincoln, NE Nebraska Wesleyan University is a private school, associated with the United Methodists. It has 40 available majors and programs – Business/Commerce, General is the most popular. Competing in the American Rivers Conference, the 538 Prairie Wolves wear black and gold. First Year Retention Rate 75 % Acceptance Rate 79.8% SAT Score 1,110 – 1,280 Avg. Net Price $24,863 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $47,667
8	Coe College	72.7	64.04	1,090 – 1,330	20940	47136	#8 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – American Rivers Conference Coe College Cedar Rapids, IA Located in Cedar Rapids, Coe College accepts 64% of applicants and charges unknown for undergraduate applications. Approximately 100% of attending students currently receive grant aid from the school. The first year retention rate is 72%....Read more First Year Retention Rate 73 % 4.3% Acceptance Rate 64.0% SAT Score 1,090 – 1,330 Avg. Net Price $20,940 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $47,136
9	Wartburg College	70.6	99.41	1,010 – 1,200	23321	48795	#9 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – American Rivers Conference Wartburg College Waverly, IA Business/Commerce, General, Biology/Biological Sciences, General, and Elementary Education and Teaching are popular majors at Wartburg College, whose motto is “Experience more.” The school was founded in 1852, and it moved several times between Illinois and Iowa....Read more First Year Retention Rate 71 % Acceptance Rate 99.4% SAT Score 1,010 – 1,200 Avg. Net Price $23,321 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $48,795

School data is from 2022–2023 (top 500 results shown) for schools with at least 100 undergraduate students.

2026 College Rankings

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

About

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – American Rivers Conference

82 % 0.8%

18.5%

1,020 – 1,200

$22,338

$46,069

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – American Rivers Conference

80 % 10.0%

86.2%

1,040 – 1,240

$22,499

$49,115

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – American Rivers Conference

78 %

88.9%

1,400 – 1,460

$23,637

$49,946

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – American Rivers Conference

77 % 0.5%

77.6%

1,010 – 1,240

$18,156

$43,572

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – American Rivers Conference

77 % 2.5%

84.0%

1,100 – 1,370

$24,790

$49,541

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – American Rivers Conference

77 % 8.5%

88.6%

950 – 1,200

$25,216

$44,960

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – American Rivers Conference

75 %

79.8%

1,110 – 1,280

$24,863

$47,667

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – American Rivers Conference

73 % 4.3%

64.0%

1,090 – 1,330

$20,940

$47,136

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – American Rivers Conference

71 %

99.4%

1,010 – 1,200

$23,321

$48,795

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82 %
0.8%

80 %
10.0%

77 %
0.5%

77 %
2.5%

77 %
8.5%

73 %
4.3%