2027 College Rankings

Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Conference Carolinas

About

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.

Sort by:

View as:

Rank	Institution	First Year Retention Rate	Acceptance Rate	SAT Score	Your Est. Net Price Avg. Net Price	Median Starting Salary	Save
1	Converse University	80	67.87	1,010 – 1,250	19061	33110	#1 2027 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Conference Carolinas Converse University Spartanburg, SC Opened as a women’s college in 1889, Converse College became Converse University and began admitting men in 2021. 68% of applicants receive acceptance letters, and 96% of those enrolled receive grant aid to help them afford tuition....Read more First Year Retention Rate 80 % Acceptance Rate 67.9% SAT Score 1,010 – 1,250 Avg. Net Price $19,061 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $33,110
2	University of North Carolina at Pembroke	72.11	97.09	970 – 1,160	9723	37126	#2 2027 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Conference Carolinas University of North Carolina at Pembroke Pembroke, NC Located in Pembroke, the University of North Carolina at Pembroke accepted 97% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. They request $55 for undergraduate applications and $55 for graduate applications. About 59% of students at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke currently receive grant aid from......Read more First Year Retention Rate 72 % Acceptance Rate 97.1% SAT Score 970 – 1,160 Avg. Net Price $9,723 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $37,126
3	University of Mount Olive	72	75.75	970 – 1,180	18853	43026	#3 2027 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 76% of applicants and requires unknown for undergraduate applications and . Approximately 97% of attending students currently receive institutional grant aid....Read more First Year Retention Rate 72 % Acceptance Rate 75.8% SAT Score 970 – 1,180 Avg. Net Price $18,853 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $43,026
4	Chowan University	71	68.79	880 – 1,150	15206	30096	#4 2027 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Conference Carolinas Chowan University Murfreesboro, NC Located in Murfreesboro, Chowan University’s acceptance rate is 69%. They request unknown for undergraduate applications, but fee waivers may be offered. About 100% of students attending Chowan University currently receive grant aid from the school. 71% of students decide to stay at Chowan University after completing their......Read more First Year Retention Rate 71 % Acceptance Rate 68.8% SAT Score 880 – 1,150 Avg. Net Price $15,206 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $30,096
5	Emmanuel University	71	74	970 – 1,170	20445	37595	#5 2027 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Conference Carolinas Emmanuel University Franklin Springs, GA Based in Franklin Springs, Emmanuel University accepts 74% of applicants. They charge unknown for undergraduate applications and . About 63% of students at Emmanuel University will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. At Emmanuel University, there is a 71% first year retention rate and......Read more First Year Retention Rate 71 % Acceptance Rate 74.0% SAT Score 970 – 1,170 Avg. Net Price $20,445 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $37,595
6	King University	70.5	99.24	1,010 – 1,140	22748	52248	#6 2027 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Conference Carolinas King University Bristol, TN Based in Bristol, King University accepted 99% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle and charges unknown for undergraduate applications. About 97% of students at King University will receive grant aid from the school....Read more First Year Retention Rate 71 % 17.3% Acceptance Rate 99.2% SAT Score 1,010 – 1,140 Avg. Net Price $22,748 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $52,248
7	Belmont Abbey College	70	74.65	970 – 1,220	24726	43816	#7 2027 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 75% 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 70 % Acceptance Rate 74.7% SAT Score 970 – 1,220 Avg. Net Price $24,726 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $43,816
8	Southern Wesleyan University	69	99.53	1,080 – 1,260	20134	41489	#8 2027 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Conference Carolinas Southern Wesleyan University Central, SC Southern Wesleyan University’s Warriors compete in the NCAA Division II without football Conference Carolinas wearing blue and light blue. Popular sports include Basketball, Baseball, and Track and Field and Cross Country (combined). SWU has an acceptance rate of 100% with a yield of 32%. First Year Retention Rate 69 % Acceptance Rate 99.5% SAT Score 1,080 – 1,260 Avg. Net Price $20,134 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $41,489
9	Francis Marion University	68	95.08	880 – 1,150	11727	36304	#9 2027 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Conference Carolinas Francis Marion University Florence, SC Located in Florence, Francis Marion University accepted 95% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. Undergraduates have to pay $41 to apply. Approximately 59% of attending students will receive grant aid from the school. The college’s first year retention rate is 68% and around 21% of students will......Read more First Year Retention Rate 68 % 2.9% Acceptance Rate 95.1% SAT Score 880 – 1,150 Avg. Net Price $11,727 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $36,304
10	Young Harris College	64.1	62.64	910 – 1,180	21969	36389	#10 2027 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Conference Carolinas Young Harris College Young Harris, GA Located in Young Harris, Young Harris College accepts 63% 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 64%....Read more First Year Retention Rate 64 % Acceptance Rate 62.6% SAT Score 910 – 1,180 Avg. Net Price $21,969 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $36,389
11	Ferrum College	64	88.98	880 – 1,100	20082	36418	#11 2027 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Conference Carolinas Ferrum College Ferrum, VA Based in Ferrum, Ferrum College’s acceptance rate is 89% and charges unknown for undergraduate applications. Approximately 98% of students attending Ferrum College will receive institutional grant aid....Read more First Year Retention Rate 64 % Acceptance Rate 89.0% SAT Score 880 – 1,100 Avg. Net Price $20,082 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $36,418
12	Lees-McRae College	63	80.36	1,040 – 1,240	29833	41599	#12 2027 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 80%. They charge $25 for undergraduate applications and . About 97% of attending students will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more First Year Retention Rate 63 % 8.7% Acceptance Rate 80.4% SAT Score 1,040 – 1,240 Avg. Net Price $29,833 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $41,599
13	Erskine College	56	62.74	930 – 1,150	23882	39618	#13 2027 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Conference Carolinas Erskine College Due West, SC Found in Due West, Erskine College accepted 63% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle and requests $25 to apply, but fee waivers may be available. Approximately 99% of students at Erskine College will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more First Year Retention Rate 56 % Acceptance Rate 62.7% SAT Score 930 – 1,150 Avg. Net Price $23,882 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $39,618