2026 College Rankings

Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Big South 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	Bryant University	86.91	65.46	1,200 – 1,330	40612	66488	#1 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Big South Conference Bryant University Smithfield, RI Located in Smithfield, Bryant University accepts 65% of applicants and requests $50 to apply, but fee waivers may be available. Approximately 98% of attending students will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more First Year Retention Rate 87 % 0.1% Acceptance Rate 65.5% SAT Score 1,200 – 1,330 Avg. Net Price $40,612 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $66,488
2	Robert Morris University	82.9	90.57	1,080 – 1,280	26215	54449	#2 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Big South Conference Robert Morris University Moon Township, PA Found in Moon Township, Robert Morris University’s acceptance rate is 91% and requires $30 for undergraduate applications and $35 for graduate applications. Approximately 98% of students at Robert Morris University currently receive institutional grant aid....Read more First Year Retention Rate 83 % Acceptance Rate 90.6% SAT Score 1,080 – 1,280 Avg. Net Price $26,215 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $54,449
3	High Point University	81.5	76.83	1,110 – 1,310	43578	50955	#3 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Big South Conference High Point University High Point, NC Located in High Point, High Point University’s acceptance rate is 77%. They charge $50 for undergraduate applications and $50 for graduate applications. Approximately 89% of students at High Point University will receive institutional grant aid. At High Point University, there is a 81% first year retention rate and 65% of......Read more First Year Retention Rate 82 % Acceptance Rate 76.8% SAT Score 1,110 – 1,310 Avg. Net Price $43,578 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $50,955
4	Virginia Military Institute	80.98	71.25	1,110 – 1,330	17229	63545	#4 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Big South Conference Virginia Military Institute Lexington, VA Abraham Lincoln called the Virginia Military Institute the “West Point of the South.” Located on the Maury River in the Shenandoah Valley, 562 athletes (the Keydets) compete in the NCAA Division I-FCS Big South Conference. Moe the Kangaroo cheers them on. First Year Retention Rate 81 % 4.1% Acceptance Rate 71.3% SAT Score 1,110 – 1,330 Avg. Net Price $17,229 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $63,545
5	Longwood University	76	84.8	1,030 – 1,220	22900	46058	#5 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Big South Conference Longwood University Farmville, VA Located in Farmville, Longwood University accepts 85% of applicants and charges $50 for undergraduate applications. About 96% of students at Longwood University currently receive institutional grant aid. They receive $6,114 on average. The first year retention rate is 76%....Read more First Year Retention Rate 76 % Acceptance Rate 84.8% SAT Score 1,030 – 1,220 Avg. Net Price $22,900 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $46,058
6	Radford University	75.6	89.53	960 – 1,180	18282	44830	#6 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Big South Conference Radford University Radford, VA Found in Radford, Radford University accepts 90% of applicants. They request unknown for undergraduate applications, but some students qualify for fee waivers. Approximately 98% of attending students currently receive grant aid from the school. They are given $4,160 on average. The first year retention rate is 75%....Read more First Year Retention Rate 76 % 4.0% Acceptance Rate 89.5% SAT Score 960 – 1,180 Avg. Net Price $18,282 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $44,830
7	Winthrop University	73.8	79.25	1,020 – 1,240	16838	39048	#7 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Big South Conference Winthrop University Rock Hill, SC Located in Rock Hill, Winthrop University accepted 79% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. They request $300 for undergraduate applications, but some students qualify for fee waivers. About 83% of students at Winthrop University currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college......Read more First Year Retention Rate 74 % 1.1% Acceptance Rate 79.3% SAT Score 1,020 – 1,240 Avg. Net Price $16,838 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $39,048
8	University of North Carolina Asheville	72.09	91.94	1,160 – 1,350	14175	36947	#8 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Big South Conference University of North Carolina Asheville Asheville, NC Found in Asheville, the University of North Carolina Asheville accepted 92% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. They charge $75 for undergraduate applications. Approximately 90% of attending students currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more First Year Retention Rate 72 % 1.8% Acceptance Rate 91.9% SAT Score 1,160 – 1,350 Avg. Net Price $14,175 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $36,947
9	University of South Carolina-Upstate	69.85	81.32	960 – 1,170	13794	43339	#9 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Big South Conference University of South Carolina-Upstate Spartanburg, SC Located in Spartanburg, the University of South Carolina-Upstate accepted 81% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. They require $45 for undergraduate applications. Approximately 40% of students attending the University of South Carolina-Upstate currently receive grant aid from the school. 69% of......Read more First Year Retention Rate 70 % 10.3% Acceptance Rate 81.3% SAT Score 960 – 1,170 Avg. Net Price $13,794 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $43,339
10	Charleston Southern University	66	76.09	1,000 – 1,140	21347	40606	#10 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Big South Conference Charleston Southern University Charleston, SC Found in Charleston, Charleston Southern University’s acceptance rate is 76%. They charge $40 for undergraduate applications and $40 for graduate applications. About 97% of attending students will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. At Charleston Southern University, there is a 66% first......Read more First Year Retention Rate 66 % Acceptance Rate 76.1% SAT Score 1,000 – 1,140 Avg. Net Price $21,347 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $40,606
11	Gardner-Webb University	66	87.02	980 – 1,190	24035	43996	#11 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Big South Conference Gardner-Webb University Boiling Springs, NC Located in Boiling Springs, Gardner-Webb University accepts 87% of applicants and requests $40 to apply, but fee waivers may be available. Approximately 99% of students at Gardner-Webb University currently receive institutional grant aid. At Gardner-Webb University, there is a 66% first year retention rate and a 36% four year......Read more First Year Retention Rate 66 % Acceptance Rate 87.0% SAT Score 980 – 1,190 Avg. Net Price $24,035 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $43,996

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 – Big South Conference

About

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Big South Conference

87 % 0.1%

65.5%

1,200 – 1,330

$40,612

$66,488

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Big South Conference

83 %

90.6%

1,080 – 1,280

$26,215

$54,449

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Big South Conference

82 %

76.8%

1,110 – 1,310

$43,578

$50,955

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Big South Conference

81 % 4.1%

71.3%

1,110 – 1,330

$17,229

$63,545

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Big South Conference

76 %

84.8%

1,030 – 1,220

$22,900

$46,058

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Big South Conference

76 % 4.0%

89.5%

960 – 1,180

$18,282

$44,830

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Big South Conference

74 % 1.1%

79.3%

1,020 – 1,240

$16,838

$39,048

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Big South Conference

72 % 1.8%

91.9%

1,160 – 1,350

$14,175

$36,947

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Big South Conference

70 % 10.3%

81.3%

960 – 1,170

$13,794

$43,339

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Big South Conference

66 %

76.1%

1,000 – 1,140

$21,347

$40,606

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Big South Conference

66 %

87.0%

980 – 1,190

$24,035

$43,996

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87 %
0.1%

81 %
4.1%

76 %
4.0%

74 %
1.1%

72 %
1.8%

70 %
10.3%