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	Converse University	80	67.74	1,010 – 1,250	19061	33110	#1 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Conference Carolinas Converse University Spartanburg, SC Located in Spartanburg, Converse University accepted 68% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. They request unknown for undergraduate applications, but fee waivers may be offered. About 96% of students at Converse University will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more......Read more First Year Retention Rate 80 % 17.6% Acceptance Rate 67.7% 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 Mount Olive	72	75.75	970 – 1,180	18853	43026	#2 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 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 % 6.5% 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
3	Emmanuel University	71	74	970 – 1,170	20445	37595	#3 2026 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 % 24.6% 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
4	Belmont Abbey College	70	74.65	970 – 1,220	24726	43816	#4 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 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 % 1.4% 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
5	Francis Marion University	70	86.39	880 – 1,150	11727	36304	#5 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 59% of attending students will receive grant aid from the school. The college’s first year retention rate is 70% and around 21% of students will......Read more First Year Retention Rate 70 % 1.4% Acceptance Rate 86.4% SAT Score 880 – 1,150 Avg. Net Price $11,727 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $36,304
6	Lees-McRae College	69	76.78	1,040 – 1,240	29833	41599	#6 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 97% 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 76.8% SAT Score 1,040 – 1,240 Avg. Net Price $29,833 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $41,599
7	Southern Wesleyan University	69	99.53	1,080 – 1,260	20134	41489	#7 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 $25 for undergraduate applications. Approximately 97% of students attending Southern Wesleyan University currently receive grant aid from the school. The school’s first year retention rate is 69% and 52% of students will graduate in four......Read more First Year Retention Rate 69 % 4.5% 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
8	Young Harris College	65	62.64	930 – 1,190	21969	36389	#8 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 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 65%....Read more First Year Retention Rate 65 % 3.0% Acceptance Rate 62.6% SAT Score 930 – 1,190 Avg. Net Price $21,969 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $36,389
9	King University	60	99.72	980 – 1,180	22748	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 97% of students at King University will receive grant aid from the school....Read more First Year Retention Rate 60 % Acceptance Rate 99.7% SAT Score 980 – 1,180 Avg. Net Price $22,748 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $52,248
10	Erskine College	56	62.74	930 – 1,150	23882	39618	#10 2026 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 % 11.1% 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

School data is from 2023–2024 (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

80 % 17.6%

67.7%

1,010 – 1,250

$19,061

$33,110

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

72 % 6.5%

75.8%

970 – 1,180

$18,853

$43,026

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

71 % 24.6%

74.0%

970 – 1,170

$20,445

$37,595

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

70 % 1.4%

74.7%

970 – 1,220

$24,726

$43,816

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

70 % 1.4%

86.4%

880 – 1,150

$11,727

$36,304

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

69 % 11.3%

76.8%

1,040 – 1,240

$29,833

$41,599

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

69 % 4.5%

99.5%

1,080 – 1,260

$20,134

$41,489

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

65 % 3.0%

62.6%

930 – 1,190

$21,969

$36,389

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

60 %

99.7%

980 – 1,180

$22,748

$52,248

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

56 % 11.1%

62.7%

930 – 1,150

$23,882

$39,618

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80 %
17.6%

72 %
6.5%

71 %
24.6%

70 %
1.4%

70 %
1.4%

69 %
11.3%

69 %
4.5%

65 %
3.0%

56 %
11.1%