2026 College Rankings

Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

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College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

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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	Washington University in St Louis	95	12.06	1,480 – 1,560	22440	78073	#1 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Washington University in St Louis Saint Louis, MO Washington University in St. Louis was named after George Washington and founded in 1853. A private research university, the school received 33,000 applications and accepted just 3,950. Commonly chosen majors are Business Statistics, Financial Mathematics, and Computer Science....Read more First Year Retention Rate 95 % 1.0% Acceptance Rate 12.1% SAT Score 1,480 – 1,560 Avg. Net Price $22,440 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $78,073
2	Wheaton College	93.84	89.98	1,270 – 1,440	31346	50270	#2 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Wheaton College Wheaton, IL Wheaton College was founded by evangelical abolitionists in 1860 and would become a stop on the Underground Railroad. Business/Managerial Economics is the most popular major....Read more First Year Retention Rate 94 % Acceptance Rate 90.0% SAT Score 1,270 – 1,440 Avg. Net Price $31,346 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $50,270
3	Augustana College	82	62.77	1,040 – 1,290	24695	49849	#3 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Augustana College Rock Island, IL Found in Rock Island, Augustana College accepted 63% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle and requests unknown to apply, but fee waivers may be available. About 100% of students at Augustana College currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. The school’s......Read more First Year Retention Rate 82 % 1.2% Acceptance Rate 62.8% SAT Score 1,040 – 1,290 Avg. Net Price $24,695 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $49,849
4	North Park University	80.6	72.84	1,010 – 1,210	19910	49326	#4 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin North Park University Chicago, IL Based in Chicago, North Park University accepts 73% of applicants. They charge unknown for undergraduate applications and . About 99% of students attending North Park University currently receive institutional grant aid. At North Park University, there is a 80% first year retention rate and 42% of students will earn their......Read more First Year Retention Rate 81 % Acceptance Rate 72.8% SAT Score 1,010 – 1,210 Avg. Net Price $19,910 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $49,326
5	Elmhurst University	80	73.57	1,020 – 1,280	22760	52803	#5 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Elmhurst University Elmhurst, IL Found in Elmhurst, Elmhurst University accepts 74% of applicants and requests unknown to apply, but fee waivers may be available. Approximately 99% of attending students will receive institutional grant aid....Read more First Year Retention Rate 80 % 5.3% Acceptance Rate 73.6% SAT Score 1,020 – 1,280 Avg. Net Price $22,760 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $52,803
6	Illinois Wesleyan University	80	39.31	1,150 – 1,370	31310	56082	#6 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Illinois Wesleyan University Bloomington, IL Based in Bloomington, Illinois Wesleyan University accepts 39% of applicants and requests unknown to apply, but fee waivers may be available. About 98% of students at Illinois Wesleyan University will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more First Year Retention Rate 80 % 2.4% Acceptance Rate 39.3% SAT Score 1,150 – 1,370 Avg. Net Price $31,310 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $56,082
7	Carroll University	79	66.84	1,070 – 1,280	25171	54456	#7 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Carroll University Waukesha, WI Located in Waukesha, Carroll University’s acceptance rate is 67%. They request unknown for undergraduate applications and . Approximately 100% of attending students currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more First Year Retention Rate 79 % Acceptance Rate 66.8% SAT Score 1,070 – 1,280 Avg. Net Price $25,171 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $54,456
8	North Central College	77	77.33	1,090 – 1,320	24190	51762	#8 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin North Central College Naperville, IL North Central College started as Plainfield College in 1861, receiving its current name in 1926 and acquiring Shimer College in 2017. It’s affiliated with the United Methodist Church, and it’s motto is “Lux Veritas” – or “Light of Truth.” 795 athletes are known as the Cardinals and are cheered on by Chippy the Cardinal. First Year Retention Rate 77 % 5.4% Acceptance Rate 77.3% SAT Score 1,090 – 1,320 Avg. Net Price $24,190 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $51,762
9	Millikin University	74.8	66.68	890 – 1,150	10078	43100	#9 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Millikin University Decatur, IL Based in Decatur, Millikin University accepts 67% of applicants. They request unknown for undergraduate applications and . Approximately 100% of students at Millikin University will receive grant aid from the school. The college’s first year retention rate is 74% and around 44% of students will graduate in four years or......Read more First Year Retention Rate 75 % 1.4% Acceptance Rate 66.7% SAT Score 890 – 1,150 Avg. Net Price $10,078 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $43,100
10	Carthage College	73	87.1	1,000 – 1,220	24962	46116	#10 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Carthage College Kenosha, WI Found in Kenosha, Carthage College accepts 87% of applicants and requires $35 for undergraduate applications and $35 for graduate applications. About 98% of students attending Carthage College currently receive grant aid from the school. The college’s first year retention rate is 73% and its four year graduation rate is......Read more First Year Retention Rate 73 % 11.0% Acceptance Rate 87.1% SAT Score 1,000 – 1,220 Avg. Net Price $24,962 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $46,116

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 – College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

About

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

95 % 1.0%

12.1%

1,480 – 1,560

$22,440

$78,073

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

94 %

90.0%

1,270 – 1,440

$31,346

$50,270

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

82 % 1.2%

62.8%

1,040 – 1,290

$24,695

$49,849

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

81 %

72.8%

1,010 – 1,210

$19,910

$49,326

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

80 % 5.3%

73.6%

1,020 – 1,280

$22,760

$52,803

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

80 % 2.4%

39.3%

1,150 – 1,370

$31,310

$56,082

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

79 %

66.8%

1,070 – 1,280

$25,171

$54,456

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

77 % 5.4%

77.3%

1,090 – 1,320

$24,190

$51,762

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

75 % 1.4%

66.7%

890 – 1,150

$10,078

$43,100

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

73 % 11.0%

87.1%

1,000 – 1,220

$24,962

$46,116

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95 %
1.0%

82 %
1.2%

80 %
5.3%

80 %
2.4%

77 %
5.4%

75 %
1.4%

73 %
11.0%