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	Kentucky Christian University	86	60.91	970 – 1,180	21099	39921	#1 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Appalachian Athletic Conference Kentucky Christian University Grayson, KY Based in Grayson, Kentucky Christian University accepted 61% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. They request unknown for undergraduate applications. Approximately 51% of attending students will receive institutional grant aid. The college’s first year retention rate is 86% and its four year......Read more First Year Retention Rate 86 % 91.1% Acceptance Rate 60.9% SAT Score 970 – 1,180 Avg. Net Price $21,099 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $39,921
2	Milligan University	82	72.29	1,120 – 1,280	21165	43168	#2 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 $31,220 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 82 % 3.8% Acceptance Rate 72.3% SAT Score 1,120 – 1,280 Avg. Net Price $21,165 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $43,168
3	Point University	74	44.26	920 – 1,200	19545	36410	#3 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Appalachian Athletic Conference Point University West Point, GA Based in West Point, Point University accepted 44% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle and requests unknown to apply, but fee waivers may be available. Approximately 97% of students at Point University currently receive institutional grant aid....Read more First Year Retention Rate 74 % 4.2% Acceptance Rate 44.3% SAT Score 920 – 1,200 Avg. Net Price $19,545 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $36,410
4	Tennessee Wesleyan University	72	68.85	1,010 – 1,140	15125	45987	#4 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 72 % 12.5% Acceptance Rate 68.9% SAT Score 1,010 – 1,140 Avg. Net Price $15,125 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $45,987
5	Bryan College-Dayton	71	51.01	1,070 – 1,250	18159	45559	#5 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Appalachian Athletic Conference Bryan College-Dayton Dayton, TN Found in Dayton, Bryan College-Dayton accepts 51% of applicants and charges unknown for undergraduate applications. Approximately 94% of attending students will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more First Year Retention Rate 71 % 9.2% Acceptance Rate 51.0% SAT Score 1,070 – 1,250 Avg. Net Price $18,159 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $45,559
6	Johnson University	69	65.11	970 – 1,170	22615	35649	#6 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Appalachian Athletic Conference Johnson University Knoxville, TN Found in Knoxville, Johnson University accepted 65% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. They charge $35 for undergraduate applications, but some schools offer fee waivers. About 96% of attending students will receive grant aid from the school....Read more First Year Retention Rate 69 % 6.8% Acceptance Rate 65.1% SAT Score 970 – 1,170 Avg. Net Price $22,615 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $35,649
7	University of Pikeville	69	100	970 – 1,140	13227	34508	#7 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 100% 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 69 % 6.2% Acceptance Rate 100.0% SAT Score 970 – 1,140 Avg. Net Price $13,227 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $34,508
8	Truett McConnell University	67	78.26	990 – 1,180	22179	39193	#8 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Appalachian Athletic Conference Truett McConnell University Cleveland, GA Found in Cleveland, Truett McConnell University accepted 78% 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 67% and its four year......Read more First Year Retention Rate 67 % 13.6% Acceptance Rate 78.3% SAT Score 990 – 1,180 Avg. Net Price $22,179 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $39,193
9	Brenau University	65	87.78	940 – 1,180	19743	41664	#9 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 97% 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 940 – 1,180 Avg. Net Price $19,743 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $41,664
10	Reinhardt University	62	61.54	970 – 1,170	24550	40411	#10 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Appalachian Athletic Conference Reinhardt University Waleska, GA Based in Waleska, Reinhardt University accepts 62% of applicants and requests unknown to apply, but fee waivers may be available. About 99% of students at Reinhardt University will receive institutional grant aid. At Reinhardt University, there is a 62% first year retention rate and around 31% of students will earn a degree......Read more First Year Retention Rate 62 % 8.8% Acceptance Rate 61.5% SAT Score 970 – 1,170 Avg. Net Price $24,550 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $40,411
11	Bluefield University	61	59.31	900 – 1,090	22216	41923	#11 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 59% and charges unknown for undergraduate applications. About 52% of attending students currently receive institutional grant aid. The first year retention rate is 61%....Read more First Year Retention Rate 61 % 24.5% Acceptance Rate 59.3% SAT Score 900 – 1,090 Avg. Net Price $22,216 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $41,923
12	Columbia College	60	93.93	830 – 1,070	18790	45863	#12 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 94%. Undergraduates have to send in unknown to apply. Approximately 86% of students at Columbia College currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. At Columbia College, there is a 60% first year retention rate and around 48% of......Read more First Year Retention Rate 60 % 13.2% Acceptance Rate 93.9% SAT Score 830 – 1,070 Avg. Net Price $18,790 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $45,863
13	Montreat College	59	69.2	1,060 – 1,270	28112	39763	#13 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Appalachian Athletic Conference Montreat College Montreat, NC Located in Montreat, Montreat College accepted 69% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. They charge unknown for undergraduate applications and . Approximately 89% of students attending Montreat College will receive grant aid from the school....Read more First Year Retention Rate 59 % 4.8% Acceptance Rate 69.2% SAT Score 1,060 – 1,270 Avg. Net Price $28,112 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $39,763
14	Columbia International University	53	94.47	950 – 1,210	26056	33929	#14 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Appalachian Athletic Conference Columbia International University Columbia, SC Located in Columbia, Columbia International University accepted 94% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle and charges $25 for undergraduate applications. Approximately 48% of students at Columbia International University currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more......Read more First Year Retention Rate 53 % 19.7% Acceptance Rate 94.5% SAT Score 950 – 1,210 Avg. Net Price $26,056 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $33,929