2027 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	93.4	48.09	1,170 – 1,370	41848	60435	#1 2027 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Big Twelve Conference Texas Christian University Fort Worth, TX 80% of students attending Texas Christian University receive institutional grants to help cover the cost of college. With an impressive 93% first year retention rate, the school has a 14 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio. Finance, General, and Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse are the most common undergraduate majors. First Year Retention Rate 93 % 0.5% Acceptance Rate 48.1% SAT Score 1,170 – 1,370 Avg. Net Price $41,848 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $60,435
2	University of Central Florida	93.3	42.8	1,210 – 1,370	13351	47137	#2 2027 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 43% of applicants and requests $30 to apply, but fee waivers may be available. About 42% of students attending the University of Central Florida will receive institutional grant aid....Read more First Year Retention Rate 93 % 1.1% Acceptance Rate 42.8% SAT Score 1,210 – 1,370 Avg. Net Price $13,351 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $47,137
3	Brigham Young University	91.32	68.62	1,310 – 1,440	16694	58450	#3 2027 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. 620 Cougars compete in the NCAA Division I-FBS, with most teams taking part in the Big Twelve Conference. First Year Retention Rate 91 % 0.4% Acceptance Rate 68.6% SAT Score 1,310 – 1,440 Avg. Net Price $16,694 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $58,450
4	University of Colorado Boulder	90	78.09	1,270 – 1,440	26231	54939	#4 2027 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 90 % Acceptance Rate 78.1% SAT Score 1,270 – 1,440 Avg. Net Price $26,231 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $54,939
5	Baylor University	89.29	52.22	1,210 – 1,400	47001	56532	#5 2027 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, 15% of accepted students enroll and 89% will stay on after they complete their first year. 82% graduate within six years. First Year Retention Rate 89 % 1.8% Acceptance Rate 52.2% SAT Score 1,210 – 1,400 Avg. Net Price $47,001 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $56,532
6	Iowa State University	89.09	87.93	1,100 – 1,330	17779	53873	#6 2027 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, 89% first year retention rate, and 57% 4-year graduation rate....Read more First Year Retention Rate 89 % 1.7% Acceptance Rate 87.9% SAT Score 1,100 – 1,330 Avg. Net Price $17,779 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $53,873
7	University of Kansas	87	92.58	1,050 – 1,310	19205	51217	#7 2027 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Big Twelve Conference University of Kansas Lawrence, KS The University of Kansas is classified as a Doctoral/Research Universities—Extensive institution. It opened in 1865, just four years after Kansas became a state. A NCAA Division I-FBS school competing in the Big Twelve Conference, UK has 539 student-athletes, known as the Jayhawks, in a variety of sports, such as Football,......Read more First Year Retention Rate 87 % 1.2% Acceptance Rate 92.6% SAT Score 1,050 – 1,310 Avg. Net Price $19,205 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $51,217
8	University of Utah	86.45	90.15	1,110 – 1,340	16583	55239	#8 2027 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. 29,000 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 % 0.5% Acceptance Rate 90.2% SAT Score 1,110 – 1,340 Avg. Net Price $16,583 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $55,239
9	University of Cincinnati-Main Campus	86.42	88.04	1,180 – 1,370	24696	48310	#9 2027 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 88% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. They request $50 for undergraduate applications. Approximately 67% of students attending the University of Cincinnati-Main Campus will receive grant aid from the school....Read more First Year Retention Rate 86 % 1.3% Acceptance Rate 88.0% SAT Score 1,180 – 1,370 Avg. Net Price $24,696 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $48,310
10	University of Houston	86.41	75.77	1,130 – 1,320	14309	52768	#10 2027 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Big Twelve Conference University of Houston Houston, TX Found in Houston, the University of Houston’s acceptance rate is 76%. They require $75 for undergraduate applications. Approximately 56% of students attending the University of Houston currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more First Year Retention Rate 86 % Acceptance Rate 75.8% SAT Score 1,130 – 1,320 Avg. Net Price $14,309 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $52,768
11	Texas Tech University	85.36	69.06	1,110 – 1,280	16919	52588	#11 2027 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 % 0.4% Acceptance Rate 69.1% SAT Score 1,110 – 1,280 Avg. Net Price $16,919 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $52,588
12	Arizona State University Campus Immersion	85	92.61	1,060 – 1,260	17779	52843	#12 2027 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 85% first year retention rate, and many students major in Computer Science. First Year Retention Rate 85 % Acceptance Rate 92.6% SAT Score 1,060 – 1,260 Avg. Net Price $17,779 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $52,843
13	West Virginia University	83.4	85.14	1,020 – 1,220	15169	45181	#13 2027 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 85%. They request $65 for undergraduate applications, but fee waivers may be offered. Approximately 91% of students attending West Virginia University will receive grant aid from the school....Read more First Year Retention Rate 83 % Acceptance Rate 85.1% SAT Score 1,020 – 1,220 Avg. Net Price $15,169 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $45,181
14	University of Arizona	83.22	83.51	1,060 – 1,320	19055	47665	#14 2027 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 % 0.5% Acceptance Rate 83.5% SAT Score 1,060 – 1,320 Avg. Net Price $19,055 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $47,665
15	Oklahoma State University-Main Campus	81.9	73.67	1,050 – 1,280	19561	46855	#15 2027 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 $15,592. OSU is fairly selective. First Year Retention Rate 82 % 3.4% Acceptance Rate 73.7% SAT Score 1,050 – 1,280 Avg. Net Price $19,561 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $46,855