2026 College Rankings

Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association

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Central Intercollegiate 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	Fayetteville State University	78	79.89	810 – 1,020	7298	37831	#1 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Fayetteville State University Fayetteville, NC Found in Fayetteville, Fayetteville State University accepted 80% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle and charges $50 for undergraduate applications. Approximately 63% of students at Fayetteville State University currently receive institutional grant aid. 78% of students continued their studies at......Read more First Year Retention Rate 78 % Acceptance Rate 79.9% SAT Score 810 – 1,020 Avg. Net Price $7,298 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $37,831
2	Elizabeth City State University	76.88	64.61	840 – 1,040	7363	33776	#2 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Elizabeth City State University Elizabeth City, NC Elizabeth City State University is part of the University of North Carolina system. The school motto is “To Live is to Learn.” 92% of students receive grant aid – about $10,554 on average – to help them better afford the cost of college. Many undergraduates major in Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General. First Year Retention Rate 77 % 3.6% Acceptance Rate 64.6% SAT Score 840 – 1,040 Avg. Net Price $7,363 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $33,776
3	Virginia State University	74	89.1	850 – 1,020	16184	33630	#3 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Virginia State University Petersburg, VA Virginia State University was the first public 4-year school for African-Americans in the United States, having been founded in 1882. During the last admissions cycle, 15% of accepted students decided to attend. Two popular undergraduate majors include Psychology, General, and Criminal Justice/Safety Studies....Read more First Year Retention Rate 74 % Acceptance Rate 89.1% SAT Score 850 – 1,020 Avg. Net Price $16,184 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $33,630
4	Lincoln University	73.4	65.72	820 – 960	12910	32865	#4 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Lincoln University Lincoln University, PA Many undergraduates at Lincoln University choose to major in Human Services, General. The school has a 73% first year retention rate and 12 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio. Alumni include Thurgood Marshall, Langston Hughes, and Cherelle Parker. First Year Retention Rate 73 % 4.1% Acceptance Rate 65.7% SAT Score 820 – 960 Avg. Net Price $12,910 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $32,865
5	Johnson C Smith University	71	45.21	790 – 980	19326	31478	#5 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Johnson C Smith University Charlotte, NC Based in Charlotte, Johnson C Smith University accepted 45% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. They request $25 for undergraduate applications and $40 for graduate applications. Approximately 68% of attending students currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more......Read more First Year Retention Rate 71 % 24.6% Acceptance Rate 45.2% SAT Score 790 – 980 Avg. Net Price $19,326 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $31,478
6	Claflin University	70	72.55	850 – 1,040	21232	29227	#6 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Claflin University Orangeburg, SC Claflin University was founded shortly after the American Civil War. Its motto is “The World Needs Visionaries.” A fairly selective school, it received 7,000 applications during the last admissions cycle. 9% of accepted students chose to attend....Read more First Year Retention Rate 70 % Acceptance Rate 72.6% SAT Score 850 – 1,040 Avg. Net Price $21,232 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $29,227
7	Bowie State University	68	75	770 – 980	16117	43877	#7 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Bowie State University Bowie, MD Part of the University System of Maryland, Bowie State University is one of the oldest HBCUs in the United States. It’s somewhat selective, and many undergraduates choose to study Business Administration and Management, General, Criminal Justice/Safety Studies, and Radio and Television Broadcasting Technology/Technician. First Year Retention Rate 68 % 2.9% Acceptance Rate 75.0% SAT Score 770 – 980 Avg. Net Price $16,117 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $43,877
8	Shaw University	67	30.48	760 – 970	14111	26148	#8 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Shaw University Raleigh, NC Located in Raleigh, Shaw University accepted 30% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. They request $25 for undergraduate applications, but fee waivers may be available. About 90% of students attending Shaw University currently receive grant aid from the school....Read more First Year Retention Rate 67 % Acceptance Rate 30.5% SAT Score 760 – 970 Avg. Net Price $14,111 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $26,148
9	Virginia Union University	63	97.8	800 – 1,000	18496	27977	#9 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Virginia Union University Richmond, VA A non selective HBCU, Virginia Union University received 2,700 last year. 14% of accepted students enrolled. It opened as the Richmond Theological Institute in 1886 towards the end of the American Civil War to help African-Americans enter the Baptist ministry. Virginia Union has a cozy 8 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio. First Year Retention Rate 63 % Acceptance Rate 97.8% SAT Score 800 – 1,000 Avg. Net Price $18,496 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $27,977
10	Livingstone College	47	74.09	780 – 930	15162	24024	#10 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Livingstone College Salisbury, NC Located in Salisbury, Livingstone College accepted 74% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. Undergraduates have to pay $25 to apply. About 93% of students at Livingstone College will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. At Livingstone College, there is a 47%......Read more First Year Retention Rate 47 % Acceptance Rate 74.1% SAT Score 780 – 930 Avg. Net Price $15,162 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $24,024
11	Saint Augustine's University	0	34.65	760 – 920	18373	26999	#11 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Saint Augustine's University Raleigh, NC First Year Retention Rate -- Acceptance Rate 34.7% SAT Score 760 – 920 Avg. Net Price $18,373 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $26,999
12	Winston-Salem State University	0	78.26	850 – 1,040	12948	40557	#12 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Winston-Salem State University Winston-Salem, NC First Year Retention Rate -- Acceptance Rate 78.3% SAT Score 850 – 1,040 Avg. Net Price $12,948 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $40,557

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 – Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association

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2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association

78 %

79.9%

810 – 1,020

$7,298

$37,831

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association

77 % 3.6%

64.6%

840 – 1,040

$7,363

$33,776

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association

74 %

89.1%

850 – 1,020

$16,184

$33,630

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association

73 % 4.1%

65.7%

820 – 960

$12,910

$32,865

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association

71 % 24.6%

45.2%

790 – 980

$19,326

$31,478

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association

70 %

72.6%

850 – 1,040

$21,232

$29,227

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association

68 % 2.9%

75.0%

770 – 980

$16,117

$43,877

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association

67 %

30.5%

760 – 970

$14,111

$26,148

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association

63 %

97.8%

800 – 1,000

$18,496

$27,977

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association

47 %

74.1%

780 – 930

$15,162

$24,024

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association

--

34.7%

760 – 920

$18,373

$26,999

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association

--

78.3%

850 – 1,040

$12,948

$40,557

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77 %
3.6%

73 %
4.1%

71 %
24.6%

68 %
2.9%