2026 College Rankings

Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Appalachian Athletic Conference

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Appalachian Athletic 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	Milligan University	81	70.27	1,080 – 1,340	21463	43168	#1 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Appalachian Athletic Conference Milligan University Milligan, TN Milligan University is a Christ-centered liberal arts school with a 355-acre campus. 100% of students receive grant aid, about $28,521 each. A NAIA Division II university, students can also receive athletic scholarships. Many opt to study Business Administration and Management, General. First Year Retention Rate 81 % Acceptance Rate 70.3% SAT Score 1,080 – 1,340 Avg. Net Price $21,463 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $43,168
2	Tennessee Wesleyan University	75.3	59.41	970 – 1,180	16414	45987	#2 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Appalachian Athletic Conference Tennessee Wesleyan University Athens, TN Tennessee Wesleyan University was founded as the Athens Female College in 1857. Although it became coeducational only a few years later, a majority of the student body are still women. Many students major in Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, Business Administration and Management, and General....Read more First Year Retention Rate 75 % Acceptance Rate 59.4% SAT Score 970 – 1,180 Avg. Net Price $16,414 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $45,987
3	Kentucky Christian University	73	62.38	950 – 1,090	22209	39921	#3 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Appalachian Athletic Conference Kentucky Christian University Grayson, KY Based in Grayson, Kentucky Christian University accepted 62% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. They request unknown for undergraduate applications. Approximately 100% of attending students will receive institutional grant aid. The college’s first year retention rate is 73% and its four year......Read more First Year Retention Rate 73 % Acceptance Rate 62.4% SAT Score 950 – 1,090 Avg. Net Price $22,209 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $39,921
4	Truett McConnell University	69	90.68	990 – 1,180	22373	39193	#4 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Appalachian Athletic Conference Truett McConnell University Cleveland, GA Found in Cleveland, Truett McConnell University accepted 91% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle and requires unknown for undergraduate applications and . About 100% of attending students will receive grant aid from the school. The college’s first year retention rate is 69% and its four year......Read more First Year Retention Rate 69 % Acceptance Rate 90.7% SAT Score 990 – 1,180 Avg. Net Price $22,373 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $39,193
5	Johnson University	68.21	53.77	1,010 – 1,180	20713	35649	#5 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Appalachian Athletic Conference Johnson University Knoxville, TN Found in Knoxville, Johnson University accepted 54% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. They charge $35 for undergraduate applications, but some schools offer fee waivers. About 89% of attending students will receive grant aid from the school....Read more First Year Retention Rate 68 % Acceptance Rate 53.8% SAT Score 1,010 – 1,180 Avg. Net Price $20,713 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $35,649
6	University of Pikeville	68	88.08	930 – 1,180	13819	34508	#6 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Appalachian Athletic Conference University of Pikeville Pikeville, KY Based in Pikeville, the University of Pikeville accepted 88% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. They require unknown for undergraduate applications. Approximately 99% of attending students will receive grant aid from the school....Read more First Year Retention Rate 68 % 1.5% Acceptance Rate 88.1% SAT Score 930 – 1,180 Avg. Net Price $13,819 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $34,508
7	Bryan College-Dayton	66	97.17	980 – 1,190	17105	45559	#7 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Appalachian Athletic Conference Bryan College-Dayton Dayton, TN Found in Dayton, Bryan College-Dayton accepts 97% of applicants and charges unknown for undergraduate applications. Approximately 96% of attending students will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more First Year Retention Rate 66 % Acceptance Rate 97.2% SAT Score 980 – 1,190 Avg. Net Price $17,105 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $45,559
8	Brenau University	65	87.78	1,040 – 1,170	20860	41664	#8 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Appalachian Athletic Conference Brenau University Gainesville, GA Based in Gainesville, Brenau University’s acceptance rate is 88% and requires unknown for undergraduate applications and . About 86% of students attending Brenau University currently receive institutional grant aid. The first year retention rate is 65%....Read more First Year Retention Rate 65 % 4.8% Acceptance Rate 87.8% SAT Score 1,040 – 1,170 Avg. Net Price $20,860 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $41,664
9	Bluefield University	59	62.72	900 – 1,090	22191	41923	#9 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Appalachian Athletic Conference Bluefield University Bluefield, VA Found in Bluefield, Bluefield University’s acceptance rate is 63% and charges unknown for undergraduate applications. About 95% of attending students currently receive institutional grant aid. The first year retention rate is 59%....Read more First Year Retention Rate 59 % Acceptance Rate 62.7% SAT Score 900 – 1,090 Avg. Net Price $22,191 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $41,923
10	Montreat College	59	65.55	970 – 1,140	26294	39763	#10 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Appalachian Athletic Conference Montreat College Montreat, NC Located in Montreat, Montreat College accepted 66% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. They charge unknown for undergraduate applications and . Approximately 99% of students attending Montreat College will receive grant aid from the school....Read more First Year Retention Rate 59 % Acceptance Rate 65.6% SAT Score 970 – 1,140 Avg. Net Price $26,294 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $39,763
11	Columbia College	56	96.14	830 – 1,070	23920	45863	#11 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Appalachian Athletic Conference Columbia College Columbia, SC Based in Columbia, Columbia College’s acceptance rate is 96%. Undergraduates have to send in unknown to apply. Approximately 84% of students at Columbia College currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. At Columbia College, there is a 56% first year retention rate and around 46% of......Read more First Year Retention Rate 56 % Acceptance Rate 96.1% SAT Score 830 – 1,070 Avg. Net Price $23,920 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $45,863
12	Reinhardt University	56	60.17	970 – 1,170	27507	40411	#12 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Appalachian Athletic Conference Reinhardt University Waleska, GA Based in Waleska, Reinhardt University accepts 60% of applicants and requests unknown to apply, but fee waivers may be available. About 100% of students at Reinhardt University will receive institutional grant aid. At Reinhardt University, there is a 56% first year retention rate and around 20% of students will earn a degree......Read more First Year Retention Rate 56 % Acceptance Rate 60.2% SAT Score 970 – 1,170 Avg. Net Price $27,507 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $40,411
13	Point University	54	67.51	850 – 1,100	22622	36410	#13 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Appalachian Athletic Conference Point University West Point, GA Based in West Point, Point University accepted 68% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle and requests unknown to apply, but fee waivers may be available. Approximately 93% of students at Point University currently receive institutional grant aid....Read more First Year Retention Rate 54 % Acceptance Rate 67.5% SAT Score 850 – 1,100 Avg. Net Price $22,622 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $36,410
14	Columbia International University	0	94.61	950 – 1,210	21320	33929	#14 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Appalachian Athletic Conference Columbia International University Columbia, SC First Year Retention Rate -- Acceptance Rate 94.6% SAT Score 950 – 1,210 Avg. Net Price $21,320 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $33,929