2026 College Rankings

Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Atlantic Sun 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	University of North Florida	85	53.24	1,050 – 1,250	10628	46546	#1 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Atlantic Sun Conference University of North Florida Jacksonville, FL Found in Jacksonville, the University of North Florida accepts 53% of applicants and requires $30 for undergraduate applications and $30 for graduate applications. Approximately 60% of students attending the University of North Florida will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. At the......Read more First Year Retention Rate 85 % 4.9% Acceptance Rate 53.2% SAT Score 1,050 – 1,250 Avg. Net Price $10,628 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $46,546
2	Florida Gulf Coast University	83	76.75	1,040 – 1,210	10548	45029	#2 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Atlantic Sun Conference Florida Gulf Coast University Fort Myers, FL Based in Fort Myers, Florida Gulf Coast University accepted 77% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. Undergraduates have to pay unknown to apply. About 49% of students attending Florida Gulf Coast University will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more First Year Retention Rate 83 % Acceptance Rate 76.8% SAT Score 1,040 – 1,210 Avg. Net Price $10,548 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $45,029
3	Lipscomb University	83	67.74	1,090 – 1,350	27386	50454	#3 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Atlantic Sun Conference Lipscomb University Nashville, TN Lipscomb University is a fairly selective school and during the last admissions cycle, 25% of accepted students enrolled. A NCAA Division I without football member, 265 Bisons compete in the Atlantic Sun Conference....Read more First Year Retention Rate 83 % 3.5% Acceptance Rate 67.7% SAT Score 1,090 – 1,350 Avg. Net Price $27,386 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $50,454
4	Eastern Kentucky University	79.62	96.95	930 – 1,180	10852	38611	#4 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Atlantic Sun Conference Eastern Kentucky University Richmond, KY Based in Richmond, Eastern Kentucky University’s acceptance rate is 97% and requests unknown to apply, but fee waivers may be available. About 86% of students at Eastern Kentucky University currently receive grant aid from the school. The first year retention rate is 79%....Read more First Year Retention Rate 80 % Acceptance Rate 97.0% SAT Score 930 – 1,180 Avg. Net Price $10,852 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $38,611
5	Bellarmine University	75.1	86.11	1,020 – 1,240	24432	49819	#5 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Atlantic Sun Conference Bellarmine University Louisville, KY Bellarmine University is a private Catholic university providing a liberal arts education. The school has a 12 to 1 student to faculty ratio, 75% first year retention rate, and 65% six year graduation rate. BU is located in the Highlands neighborhood of Louisville right near the Bardstown Road corridor. First Year Retention Rate 75 % Acceptance Rate 86.1% SAT Score 1,020 – 1,240 Avg. Net Price $24,432 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $49,819
6	Jacksonville University	74.67	56.96	1,110 – 1,280	25745	61991	#6 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Atlantic Sun Conference Jacksonville University Jacksonville, FL Found in Jacksonville, Jacksonville University accepted 57% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle and requires $30 for undergraduate applications and $50 for graduate applications. Approximately 99% of students attending Jacksonville University currently receive institutional grant aid to make......Read more First Year Retention Rate 75 % 0.8% Acceptance Rate 57.0% SAT Score 1,110 – 1,280 Avg. Net Price $25,745 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $61,991
7	Queens University of Charlotte	73.9	56.51	1,150 – 1,320	27178	48170	#7 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Atlantic Sun Conference Queens University of Charlotte Charlotte, NC Found in Charlotte, Queens University of Charlotte accepts 57% of applicants and requires unknown for undergraduate applications and . About 99% of students attending Queens University of Charlotte currently receive grant aid from the school. At Queens University of Charlotte, there is a 73% first year retention rate and a......Read more First Year Retention Rate 74 % 2.5% Acceptance Rate 56.5% SAT Score 1,150 – 1,320 Avg. Net Price $27,178 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $48,170
8	Austin Peay State University	66.14	96.38	--	14679	38779	#8 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Atlantic Sun Conference Austin Peay State University Clarksville, TN Found in Clarksville, Austin Peay State University accepted 96% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle and charges $25 for undergraduate applications. About 54% of attending students currently receive grant aid from the school....Read more First Year Retention Rate 66 % 0.0% Acceptance Rate 96.4% SAT Score -- Avg. Net Price $14,679 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $38,779

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 – Atlantic Sun Conference

About

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Atlantic Sun Conference

85 % 4.9%

53.2%

1,050 – 1,250

$10,628

$46,546

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Atlantic Sun Conference

83 %

76.8%

1,040 – 1,210

$10,548

$45,029

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Atlantic Sun Conference

83 % 3.5%

67.7%

1,090 – 1,350

$27,386

$50,454

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Atlantic Sun Conference

80 %

97.0%

930 – 1,180

$10,852

$38,611

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Atlantic Sun Conference

75 %

86.1%

1,020 – 1,240

$24,432

$49,819

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Atlantic Sun Conference

75 % 0.8%

57.0%

1,110 – 1,280

$25,745

$61,991

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Atlantic Sun Conference

74 % 2.5%

56.5%

1,150 – 1,320

$27,178

$48,170

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Atlantic Sun Conference

66 % 0.0%

96.4%

--

$14,679

$38,779

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

85 %
4.9%

83 %
3.5%

75 %
0.8%

74 %
2.5%

66 %
0.0%