2026 College Rankings

Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference

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Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic 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	Trinity Christian College	76	88.65	950 – 1,180	17218	48107	#1 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Trinity Christian College Palos Heights, IL Trinity Christian College is interdenominational and students can pursue up to Post-master's certificates. Participating in the NAIA Division I Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference, student-athletes are known as the Trolls. Popular sports include Soccer, Basketball, and Baseball....Read more First Year Retention Rate 76 % Acceptance Rate 88.7% SAT Score 950 – 1,180 Avg. Net Price $17,218 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $48,107
2	Indiana University-Northwest	71.36	73.39	920 – 1,190	5553	39714	#2 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Indiana University-Northwest Gary, IN Located in Gary, Indiana University-Northwest accepts 73% of applicants. They require unknown for undergraduate applications. Approximately 32% of students at Indiana University-Northwest will receive grant aid from the school. At Indiana University-Northwest, there is a 71% first year retention rate and 22% of students will......Read more First Year Retention Rate 71 % 3.8% Acceptance Rate 73.4% SAT Score 920 – 1,190 Avg. Net Price $5,553 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $39,714
3	Indiana University-South Bend	65.09	83.84	950 – 1,190	8090	41388	#3 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Indiana University-South Bend South Bend, IN Found in South Bend, Indiana University-South Bend’s acceptance rate is 84% and requires unknown for undergraduate applications and $40 for graduate applications. About 43% of students attending Indiana University-South Bend currently receive grant aid from the school. At Indiana University-South Bend, there is a 65% first......Read more First Year Retention Rate 65 % 2.6% Acceptance Rate 83.8% SAT Score 950 – 1,190 Avg. Net Price $8,090 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $41,388
4	Holy Cross College	65	73.71	1,000 – 1,210	24214	41335	#4 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Holy Cross College Notre Dame, IN Based in Notre Dame, Holy Cross College accepted 74% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. Undergraduates have to pay unknown to apply. About 67% of students at Holy Cross College currently receive grant aid from the school. 65% of students decide to stay at Holy Cross College after completing their......Read more First Year Retention Rate 65 % Acceptance Rate 73.7% SAT Score 1,000 – 1,210 Avg. Net Price $24,214 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $41,335
5	Roosevelt University	65	94.27	900 – 1,130	21503	42896	#5 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Roosevelt University Chicago, IL Located in Chicago, Roosevelt University accepts 94% of applicants. Undergraduates have to pay $25 to apply. Approximately 99% of attending students currently receive institutional grant aid. They are given $20,288 on average. 65% of students continued their studies at Roosevelt University after completing their first year....Read more First Year Retention Rate 65 % Acceptance Rate 94.3% SAT Score 900 – 1,130 Avg. Net Price $21,503 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $42,896
6	Governors State University	55.1	48.27	760 – 760	10833	45435	#6 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Governors State University University Park, IL Based in University Park, Governors State University accepted 48% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle and requires $25 for undergraduate applications and $50 for graduate applications. About 45% of students attending Governors State University currently receive grant aid from the school....Read more First Year Retention Rate 55 % 5.9% Acceptance Rate 48.3% SAT Score 760 – 760 Avg. Net Price $10,833 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $45,435
7	Calumet College of Saint Joseph	40	57.28	800 – 1,030	17377	39342	#7 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Calumet College of Saint Joseph Whiting, IN Found in Whiting, Calumet College of Saint Joseph’s acceptance rate is 57% and requests unknown to apply, but fee waivers may be available. Approximately 98% of students at Calumet College of Saint Joseph currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. The school’s first year retention rate......Read more First Year Retention Rate 40 % Acceptance Rate 57.3% SAT Score 800 – 1,030 Avg. Net Price $17,377 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $39,342

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 – Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference

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2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference

Trinity Christian CollegePalos Heights, IL

76 %

88.7%

950 – 1,180

$17,218

$48,107

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference

Indiana University-NorthwestGary, IN

71 % 3.8%

73.4%

920 – 1,190

$5,553

$39,714

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference

Indiana University-South BendSouth Bend, IN

65 % 2.6%

83.8%

950 – 1,190

$8,090

$41,388

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference

Holy Cross CollegeNotre Dame, IN

65 %

73.7%

1,000 – 1,210

$24,214

$41,335

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference

Roosevelt UniversityChicago, IL

65 %

94.3%

900 – 1,130

$21,503

$42,896

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference

Governors State UniversityUniversity Park, IL

55 % 5.9%

48.3%

760 – 760

$10,833

$45,435

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference

Calumet College of Saint JosephWhiting, IN

40 %

57.3%

800 – 1,030

$17,377

$39,342

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Trinity Christian College
Palos Heights, IL

Indiana University-Northwest
Gary, IN

71 %
3.8%

Indiana University-South Bend
South Bend, IN

65 %
2.6%

Holy Cross College
Notre Dame, IN

Roosevelt University
Chicago, IL

Governors State University
University Park, IL

55 %
5.9%

Calumet College of Saint Joseph
Whiting, IN