2026 College Rankings

Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Big Twelve 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	Texas Christian University	92.9	44.49	1,190 – 1,380	39005	60435	#1 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Big Twelve Conference Texas Christian University Fort Worth, TX 81% of students attending Texas Christian University receive institutional grants to help cover the cost of college. With an impressive 92% first year retention rate, the school has a 14 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio. Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, Finance, and General are the most common undergraduate majors. First Year Retention Rate 93 % Acceptance Rate 44.5% SAT Score 1,190 – 1,380 Avg. Net Price $39,005 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $60,435
2	University of Central Florida	92.3	44.71	1,210 – 1,350	13110	47137	#2 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Big Twelve Conference University of Central Florida Orlando, FL Found in Orlando, the University of Central Florida accepts 45% of applicants and requests $30 to apply, but fee waivers may be available. About 39% of students attending the University of Central Florida will receive institutional grant aid....Read more First Year Retention Rate 92 % Acceptance Rate 44.7% SAT Score 1,210 – 1,350 Avg. Net Price $13,110 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $47,137
3	Brigham Young University	90.97	67.78	1,310 – 1,440	14643	58450	#3 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Big Twelve Conference Brigham Young University Provo, UT Management Science is the most commonly chosen undergraduate major at Brigham Young University. BYU has four satellite campuses in Jerusalem, Salt Lake City, Washington D.C., and London. 567 Cougars compete in the NCAA Division I-FBS, with most teams taking part in the Big Twelve Conference. First Year Retention Rate 91 % 2.2% Acceptance Rate 67.8% SAT Score 1,310 – 1,440 Avg. Net Price $14,643 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $58,450
4	Baylor University	90.9	51.28	1,180 – 1,380	49727	56532	#4 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Big Twelve Conference Baylor University Waco, TX Baylor University sits along the Brazos River. Alumni include John Lee Hancock, Jeff Dunham, Thomas Harris, and Michael Johnson. A fairly selective school, 14% of accepted students enroll and 90% will stay on after they complete their first year. 82% graduate within six years. First Year Retention Rate 91 % Acceptance Rate 51.3% SAT Score 1,180 – 1,380 Avg. Net Price $49,727 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $56,532
5	University of Colorado Boulder	89	81.15	1,190 – 1,400	22640	54939	#5 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Big Twelve Conference University of Colorado Boulder Boulder, CO The Boulder campus is the flagship school of the University of Colorado system. It was actually founded a few months before Colorado became a state in 1876. Athletes, called the Buffaloes, are part of the Big Twelve Conference....Read more First Year Retention Rate 89 % Acceptance Rate 81.2% SAT Score 1,190 – 1,400 Avg. Net Price $22,640 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $54,939
6	Iowa State University	87.6	88.66	1,090 – 1,330	17354	53873	#6 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Big Twelve Conference Iowa State University Ames, IA Iowa State University's full name is Iowa State University of Science and Technology. The school has an 18 to 1 student to faculty ratio, 87% first year retention rate, and 51% 4-year graduation rate....Read more First Year Retention Rate 88 % Acceptance Rate 88.7% SAT Score 1,090 – 1,330 Avg. Net Price $17,354 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $53,873
7	Arizona State University Campus Immersion	86.6	89.89	1,090 – 1,320	16401	52843	#7 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Big Twelve Conference Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZ Arizona State University was founded in 1885, first known as the Territorial Normal School, an institution to train teachers. The campus is home to the Grady Gammage Memorial Auditorium, which was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. ASU has an 86% first year retention rate, and many students major in Computer Science. First Year Retention Rate 87 % Acceptance Rate 89.9% SAT Score 1,090 – 1,320 Avg. Net Price $16,401 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $52,843
8	University of Kansas	86	93.48	1,050 – 1,310	18322	51217	#8 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Big Twelve Conference University of Kansas Lawrence, KS Located in Lawrence, the University of Kansas accepts 93% of applicants. They charge $40 for undergraduate applications, but some students qualify for fee waivers. Approximately 85% of attending students will receive institutional grant aid. At the University of Kansas, there is a 86% first year retention rate and 50% of......Read more First Year Retention Rate 86 % Acceptance Rate 93.5% SAT Score 1,050 – 1,310 Avg. Net Price $18,322 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $51,217
9	University of Utah	86	85.98	1,130 – 1,350	13341	55239	#9 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Big Twelve Conference University of Utah Salt Lake City, UT The University of Utah’s campus is nestled between mountains and the Great Salt Lake. 28,000 are undergraduate students. The oldest higher education institution in the state, U of U was founded in 1850 and originally called University of Deseret. Class sizes are larger, with a student-to-faculty ratio of 19 to 1. First Year Retention Rate 86 % Acceptance Rate 86.0% SAT Score 1,130 – 1,350 Avg. Net Price $13,341 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $55,239
10	Kansas State University	85.59	81.99	1,050 – 1,280	18745	49330	#10 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Big Twelve Conference Kansas State University Manhattan, KS Located in Manhattan, Kansas State University accepted 82% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. They request $40 for undergraduate applications. About 88% of students attending Kansas State University currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more First Year Retention Rate 86 % Acceptance Rate 82.0% SAT Score 1,050 – 1,280 Avg. Net Price $18,745 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $49,330
11	University of Cincinnati-Main Campus	85.34	85.29	1,180 – 1,350	21511	48310	#11 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Big Twelve Conference University of Cincinnati-Main Campus Cincinnati, OH Found in Cincinnati, the University of Cincinnati-Main Campus accepted 85% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. They request $50 for undergraduate applications. Approximately 62% of students attending the University of Cincinnati-Main Campus will receive grant aid from the school....Read more First Year Retention Rate 85 % Acceptance Rate 85.3% SAT Score 1,180 – 1,350 Avg. Net Price $21,511 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $48,310
12	Texas Tech University	85	72.65	1,110 – 1,290	16773	52588	#12 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Big Twelve Conference Texas Tech University Lubbock, TX Texas Tech University’s motto is “From here, it’s possible.” The school has a first year retention rate of 85%. Wearing scarlet and black, the Scarlet Raiders compete in Football, Basketball, and Baseball. Their mascot is The Masked Rider. First Year Retention Rate 85 % Acceptance Rate 72.7% SAT Score 1,110 – 1,290 Avg. Net Price $16,773 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $52,588
13	Oklahoma State University-Main Campus	84.8	75.04	1,040 – 1,280	18291	46855	#13 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Big Twelve Conference Oklahoma State University-Main Campus Stillwater, OK Oklahoma State University’s Cowboys and Cowgirls compete in the NCAA Division I-FBS Big Twelve Conference and have brought home over 50 team championships. The average athletic scholarship is $20,218. OSU is somewhat selective. First Year Retention Rate 85 % Acceptance Rate 75.0% SAT Score 1,040 – 1,280 Avg. Net Price $18,291 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $46,855
14	University of Arizona	82.8	86.14	1,100 – 1,330	18144	47665	#14 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Big Twelve Conference University of Arizona Tucson, AZ The University of Arizona is older than the state, having been founded in 1885 (Arizona only became a state in 1912). A public research university, the school charges $50 for undergraduate applications. The Arizona Wildcats, or simply “Cats,” play in the Big Twelve Conference. First Year Retention Rate 83 % Acceptance Rate 86.1% SAT Score 1,100 – 1,330 Avg. Net Price $18,144 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $47,665
15	West Virginia University	0.81	77.8	1,020 – 1,230	13691	45181	#15 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Big Twelve Conference West Virginia University Morgantown, WV Based in Morgantown, West Virginia University’s acceptance rate is 78%. They request $50 for undergraduate applications, but fee waivers may be offered. Approximately 90% of students attending West Virginia University will receive grant aid from the school....Read more First Year Retention Rate 1 % Acceptance Rate 77.8% SAT Score 1,020 – 1,230 Avg. Net Price $13,691 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $45,181
16	University of Houston	0	73.92	1,160 – 1,340	13738	52768	#16 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Big Twelve Conference University of Houston Houston, TX First Year Retention Rate -- Acceptance Rate 73.9% SAT Score 1,160 – 1,340 Avg. Net Price $13,738 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $52,768