2026 College Rankings

Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – California Collegiate Athletic Association

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California Collegiate Athletic Association

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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	California State Polytechnic University-Pomona	87.4	73.7	1,010 – 1,260	11898	54466	#1 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – California Collegiate Athletic Association California State Polytechnic University-Pomona Pomona, CA Based in Pomona, California State Polytechnic University-Pomona’s acceptance rate is 74% and charges unknown for undergraduate applications. Approximately 45% of attending students currently receive institutional grant aid....Read more First Year Retention Rate 87 % 0.8% Acceptance Rate 73.7% SAT Score 1,010 – 1,260 Avg. Net Price $11,898 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $54,466
2	Sonoma State University	83.1	94.73	1,010 – 1,180	15113	52179	#2 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – California Collegiate Athletic Association Sonoma State University Rohnert Park, CA Based in Rohnert Park, Sonoma State University’s acceptance rate is 95% and charges $55 for undergraduate applications. Approximately 66% of attending students will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more First Year Retention Rate 83 % Acceptance Rate 94.7% SAT Score 1,010 – 1,180 Avg. Net Price $15,113 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $52,179
3	San Francisco State University	83	96.15	930 – 1,140	13353	52650	#3 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – California Collegiate Athletic Association San Francisco State University San Francisco, CA Found in San Francisco, San Francisco State University accepts 96% of applicants and charges $70 for undergraduate applications. Approximately 49% of attending students currently receive institutional grant aid....Read more First Year Retention Rate 83 % Acceptance Rate 96.2% SAT Score 930 – 1,140 Avg. Net Price $13,353 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $52,650
4	California State University-Stanislaus	82.5	98.14	840 – 1,060	7316	47793	#4 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – California Collegiate Athletic Association California State University-Stanislaus Turlock, CA Located in Turlock, California State University-Stanislaus accepts 98% of applicants and requests $70 to apply, but fee waivers may be available. Approximately 65% of students attending California State University-Stanislaus currently receive institutional grant aid....Read more First Year Retention Rate 83 % 3.0% Acceptance Rate 98.1% SAT Score 840 – 1,060 Avg. Net Price $7,316 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $47,793
5	California State University-Chico	81.4	91.58	960 – 1,290	15187	50493	#5 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – California Collegiate Athletic Association California State University-Chico Chico, CA Found in Chico, California State University-Chico accepts 92% of applicants. Undergraduates have to pay $70 to apply. About 41% of students at California State University-Chico currently receive institutional grant aid. They are given $5,920 on average. The first year retention rate is 81%....Read more First Year Retention Rate 81 % 2.5% Acceptance Rate 91.6% SAT Score 960 – 1,290 Avg. Net Price $15,187 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $50,493
6	California State University-Monterey Bay	80	97.34	900 – 1,210	15222	48648	#6 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – California Collegiate Athletic Association California State University-Monterey Bay Seaside, CA Located in Seaside, California State University-Monterey Bay accepted 97% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. They charge $70 for undergraduate applications and $70 for graduate applications. Approximately 48% of students at California State University-Monterey Bay currently receive institutional......Read more First Year Retention Rate 80 % 1.3% Acceptance Rate 97.3% SAT Score 900 – 1,210 Avg. Net Price $15,222 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $48,648
7	California State University-San Bernardino	79.55	93.18	820 – 1,020	6645	43149	#7 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – California Collegiate Athletic Association California State University-San Bernardino San Bernardino, CA Based in San Bernardino, California State University-San Bernardino accepted 93% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. Undergraduates have to pay $70 to apply. Approximately 57% of students at California State University-San Bernardino will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college......Read more First Year Retention Rate 80 % 2.5% Acceptance Rate 93.2% SAT Score 820 – 1,020 Avg. Net Price $6,645 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $43,149
8	California State University-San Marcos	78.4	95.1	860 – 1,080	10500	48673	#8 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – California Collegiate Athletic Association California State University-San Marcos San Marcos, CA Based in San Marcos, California State University-San Marcos accepts 95% of applicants. They charge $70 for undergraduate applications. About 48% of students at California State University-San Marcos currently receive grant aid from the school....Read more First Year Retention Rate 78 % 4.8% Acceptance Rate 95.1% SAT Score 860 – 1,080 Avg. Net Price $10,500 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $48,673
9	California State University-East Bay	75.3	96.81	830 – 1,050	10874	55546	#9 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – California Collegiate Athletic Association California State University-East Bay Hayward, CA Found in Hayward, California State University-East Bay accepts 97% of applicants and requests $70 to apply, but fee waivers may be available. Approximately 56% of attending students will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. The school’s first year retention rate is 75% and its four year......Read more First Year Retention Rate 75 % Acceptance Rate 96.8% SAT Score 830 – 1,050 Avg. Net Price $10,874 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $55,546
10	California State University-Dominguez Hills	69.5	59.11	760 – 950	4438	46827	#10 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – California Collegiate Athletic Association California State University-Dominguez Hills Carson, CA Located in Carson, California State University-Dominguez Hills accepted 59% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle and charges $55 for undergraduate applications. About 79% of attending students currently receive grant aid from the school. The school’s first year retention rate is 69% and its four year......Read more First Year Retention Rate 70 % 6.1% Acceptance Rate 59.1% SAT Score 760 – 950 Avg. Net Price $4,438 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $46,827
11	California State University-Los Angeles	0	91.25	870 – 1,060	4551	45702	#11 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – California Collegiate Athletic Association California State University-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA First Year Retention Rate -- Acceptance Rate 91.3% SAT Score 870 – 1,060 Avg. Net Price $4,551 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $45,702

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 – California Collegiate Athletic Association

About

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – California Collegiate Athletic Association

87 % 0.8%

73.7%

1,010 – 1,260

$11,898

$54,466

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – California Collegiate Athletic Association

83 %

94.7%

1,010 – 1,180

$15,113

$52,179

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – California Collegiate Athletic Association

83 %

96.2%

930 – 1,140

$13,353

$52,650

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – California Collegiate Athletic Association

83 % 3.0%

98.1%

840 – 1,060

$7,316

$47,793

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – California Collegiate Athletic Association

81 % 2.5%

91.6%

960 – 1,290

$15,187

$50,493

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – California Collegiate Athletic Association

80 % 1.3%

97.3%

900 – 1,210

$15,222

$48,648

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – California Collegiate Athletic Association

80 % 2.5%

93.2%

820 – 1,020

$6,645

$43,149

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – California Collegiate Athletic Association

78 % 4.8%

95.1%

860 – 1,080

$10,500

$48,673

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – California Collegiate Athletic Association

75 %

96.8%

830 – 1,050

$10,874

$55,546

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – California Collegiate Athletic Association

70 % 6.1%

59.1%

760 – 950

$4,438

$46,827

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – California Collegiate Athletic Association

--

91.3%

870 – 1,060

$4,551

$45,702

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87 %
0.8%

83 %
3.0%

81 %
2.5%

80 %
1.3%

80 %
2.5%

78 %
4.8%

70 %
6.1%