2026 College Rankings

Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Conference Carolinas

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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	Young Harris College	76	64.02	970 – 1,140	20509	36389	#1 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Conference Carolinas Young Harris College Young Harris, GA Located in Young Harris, Young Harris College accepts 64% of applicants. Undergraduates have to pay unknown to apply. Approximately 100% of attending students will receive institutional grant aid. The first year retention rate is 76%....Read more First Year Retention Rate 76 % Acceptance Rate 64.0% SAT Score 970 – 1,140 Avg. Net Price $20,509 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $36,389
2	Converse University	70	64.24	1,040 – 1,240	19438	33110	#2 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Conference Carolinas Converse University Spartanburg, SC Located in Spartanburg, Converse University accepted 64% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. They request unknown for undergraduate applications, but fee waivers may be offered. About 100% of students at Converse University will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more......Read more First Year Retention Rate 70 % Acceptance Rate 64.2% SAT Score 1,040 – 1,240 Avg. Net Price $19,438 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $33,110
3	Francis Marion University	70	86.39	880 – 1,150	11231	36304	#3 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Conference Carolinas Francis Marion University Florence, SC Located in Florence, Francis Marion University accepted 86% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. Undergraduates have to pay $41 to apply. Approximately 46% of attending students will receive grant aid from the school. The college’s first year retention rate is 70% and around 18% of students will......Read more First Year Retention Rate 70 % 1.4% Acceptance Rate 86.4% SAT Score 880 – 1,150 Avg. Net Price $11,231 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $36,304
4	Lees-McRae College	69	76.85	1,040 – 1,240	26009	41599	#4 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Conference Carolinas Lees-McRae College Banner Elk, NC Located in Banner Elk, Lees-McRae College’s acceptance rate is 77%. They charge $25 for undergraduate applications and . About 100% of attending students will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more First Year Retention Rate 69 % 11.3% Acceptance Rate 76.9% SAT Score 1,040 – 1,240 Avg. Net Price $26,009 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $41,599
5	Southern Wesleyan University	67	100	1,020 – 1,160	20336	41489	#5 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Conference Carolinas Southern Wesleyan University Central, SC Found in Central, Southern Wesleyan University accepts 100% of applicants and charges unknown for undergraduate applications. Approximately 100% of students attending Southern Wesleyan University currently receive grant aid from the school. The school’s first year retention rate is 67% and 45% of students will graduate in four......Read more First Year Retention Rate 67 % Acceptance Rate 100.0% SAT Score 1,020 – 1,160 Avg. Net Price $20,336 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $41,489
6	Belmont Abbey College	66	90.38	960 – 1,190	23463	43816	#6 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Conference Carolinas Belmont Abbey College Belmont, NC Found in Belmont, Belmont Abbey College’s acceptance rate is 90% and requests unknown to apply, but fee waivers may be available. About 99% of students attending Belmont Abbey College will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more First Year Retention Rate 66 % Acceptance Rate 90.4% SAT Score 960 – 1,190 Avg. Net Price $23,463 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $43,816
7	Emmanuel University	64	53.36	970 – 1,170	19006	37595	#7 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Conference Carolinas Emmanuel University Franklin Springs, GA Based in Franklin Springs, Emmanuel University accepts 53% of applicants. They charge $25 for undergraduate applications and $50 for graduate applications. About 93% of students at Emmanuel University will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. At Emmanuel University, there is a 64% first......Read more First Year Retention Rate 64 % Acceptance Rate 53.4% SAT Score 970 – 1,170 Avg. Net Price $19,006 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $37,595
8	Erskine College	62	60.56	950 – 1,170	21982	39618	#8 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Conference Carolinas Erskine College Due West, SC Found in Due West, Erskine College accepted 61% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle and requests $25 to apply, but fee waivers may be available. Approximately 100% of students at Erskine College will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more First Year Retention Rate 62 % Acceptance Rate 60.6% SAT Score 950 – 1,170 Avg. Net Price $21,982 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $39,618
9	King University	60.1	99.72	930 – 1,140	23282	52248	#9 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Conference Carolinas King University Bristol, TN Based in Bristol, King University accepted 100% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle and charges unknown for undergraduate applications. About 78% of students at King University will receive grant aid from the school....Read more First Year Retention Rate 60 % 3.7% Acceptance Rate 99.7% SAT Score 930 – 1,140 Avg. Net Price $23,282 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $52,248
10	University of Mount Olive	58	77.75	850 – 1,040	17893	43026	#10 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Conference Carolinas University of Mount Olive Mount Olive, NC Found in Mount Olive, the University of Mount Olive accepts 78% of applicants and requires unknown for undergraduate applications and . Approximately 96% of attending students currently receive institutional grant aid....Read more First Year Retention Rate 58 % Acceptance Rate 77.8% SAT Score 850 – 1,040 Avg. Net Price $17,893 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $43,026

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 – Conference Carolinas

About

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Conference Carolinas

76 %

64.0%

970 – 1,140

$20,509

$36,389

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Conference Carolinas

70 %

64.2%

1,040 – 1,240

$19,438

$33,110

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Conference Carolinas

70 % 1.4%

86.4%

880 – 1,150

$11,231

$36,304

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Conference Carolinas

69 % 11.3%

76.9%

1,040 – 1,240

$26,009

$41,599

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Conference Carolinas

67 %

100.0%

1,020 – 1,160

$20,336

$41,489

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Conference Carolinas

66 %

90.4%

960 – 1,190

$23,463

$43,816

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Conference Carolinas

64 %

53.4%

970 – 1,170

$19,006

$37,595

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Conference Carolinas

62 %

60.6%

950 – 1,170

$21,982

$39,618

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Conference Carolinas

60 % 3.7%

99.7%

930 – 1,140

$23,282

$52,248

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Conference Carolinas

58 %

77.8%

850 – 1,040

$17,893

$43,026

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70 %
1.4%

69 %
11.3%

60 %
3.7%