2026 College Rankings

Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Conference USA

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	Florida International University	93	54.66	1,080 – 1,270	10742	47768	#1 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Conference USA Florida International University Miami, FL Located in Miami, Florida International University accepted 55% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. They require $30 for undergraduate applications. Approximately 68% of students at Florida International University will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more First Year Retention Rate 93 % 1.1% Acceptance Rate 54.7% SAT Score 1,080 – 1,270 Avg. Net Price $10,742 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $47,768
2	Liberty University	83.18	99.32	1,040 – 1,340	29692	39707	#2 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Conference USA Liberty University Lynchburg, VA Found in Lynchburg, Liberty University’s acceptance rate is 99% and charges $50 for undergraduate applications. Approximately 97% of students at Liberty University will receive institutional grant aid. On average, these students are given $9,570 each. The first year retention rate is 83%....Read more First Year Retention Rate 83 % Acceptance Rate 99.3% SAT Score 1,040 – 1,340 Avg. Net Price $29,692 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $39,707
3	Louisiana Tech University	82	90.73	1,050 – 1,280	12593	44903	#3 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Conference USA Louisiana Tech University Ruston, LA Found in Ruston, Louisiana Tech University’s acceptance rate is 91% and charges $20 for undergraduate applications. Approximately 83% of students attending Louisiana Tech University will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. The first year retention rate is 82%....Read more First Year Retention Rate 82 % Acceptance Rate 90.7% SAT Score 1,050 – 1,280 Avg. Net Price $12,593 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $44,903
4	Western Kentucky University	78.3	93.87	970 – 1,210	12054	38156	#4 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Conference USA Western Kentucky University Bowling Green, KY Located in Bowling Green, Western Kentucky University accepts 94% of applicants. Undergraduates have to pay $50 to apply. Approximately 93% of students attending Western Kentucky University currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. The institution’s first year retention rate is 78%......Read more First Year Retention Rate 78 % 0.4% Acceptance Rate 93.9% SAT Score 970 – 1,210 Avg. Net Price $12,054 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $38,156
5	The University of Texas at El Paso	77.4	99.9	880 – 1,100	10333	37978	#5 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Conference USA The University of Texas at El Paso El Paso, TX Found in El Paso, The University of Texas at El Paso accepts 100% of applicants. They request unknown for undergraduate applications. About 44% of students attending The University of Texas at El Paso will receive institutional grant aid. 77% of students continued their studies at The University of Texas at El Paso after......Read more First Year Retention Rate 77 % Acceptance Rate 99.9% SAT Score 880 – 1,100 Avg. Net Price $10,333 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $37,978
6	Middle Tennessee State University	77	68	1,010 – 1,240	12700	39941	#6 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Conference USA Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro, TN Located in Murfreesboro, Middle Tennessee State University accepted 68% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. They charge $25 for undergraduate applications, but some students qualify for fee waivers. Approximately 50% of students at Middle Tennessee State University currently receive grant aid from......Read more First Year Retention Rate 77 % Acceptance Rate 68.0% SAT Score 1,010 – 1,240 Avg. Net Price $12,700 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $39,941
7	New Mexico State University-Main Campus	73.4	88.96	890 – 1,130	8353	32960	#7 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Conference USA New Mexico State University-Main Campus Las Cruces, NM Found in Las Cruces, New Mexico State University-Main Campus accepts 89% of applicants and charges $25 for undergraduate applications. Approximately 73% of attending students currently receive grant aid from the school. On average, these students receive $8,707 each. The first year retention rate is 73%....Read more First Year Retention Rate 73 % 2.1% Acceptance Rate 89.0% SAT Score 890 – 1,130 Avg. Net Price $8,353 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $32,960
8	Sam Houston State University	73.25	90.26	930 – 1,130	14556	45337	#8 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Conference USA Sam Houston State University Huntsville, TX Found in Huntsville, Sam Houston State University accepted 90% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle and charges $50 for undergraduate applications. About 7% of students at Sam Houston State University will receive grant aid from the school....Read more First Year Retention Rate 73 % 2.3% Acceptance Rate 90.3% SAT Score 930 – 1,130 Avg. Net Price $14,556 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $45,337
9	Jacksonville State University	64.57	77.69	940 – 1,200	14511	40158	#9 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Conference USA Jacksonville State University Jacksonville, AL Found in Jacksonville, Jacksonville State University’s acceptance rate is 78%. They request $35 for undergraduate applications and $35 for graduate applications. Approximately 99% of students at Jacksonville State University will receive institutional grant aid. At Jacksonville State University, there is a 64% first year......Read more First Year Retention Rate 65 % 0.2% Acceptance Rate 77.7% SAT Score 940 – 1,200 Avg. Net Price $14,511 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $40,158

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 USA

About

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

93 % 1.1%

54.7%

1,080 – 1,270

$10,742

$47,768

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

83 %

99.3%

1,040 – 1,340

$29,692

$39,707

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

82 %

90.7%

1,050 – 1,280

$12,593

$44,903

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

78 % 0.4%

93.9%

970 – 1,210

$12,054

$38,156

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

77 %

99.9%

880 – 1,100

$10,333

$37,978

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

77 %

68.0%

1,010 – 1,240

$12,700

$39,941

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

73 % 2.1%

89.0%

890 – 1,130

$8,353

$32,960

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

73 % 2.3%

90.3%

930 – 1,130

$14,556

$45,337

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

65 % 0.2%

77.7%

940 – 1,200

$14,511

$40,158

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

93 %
1.1%

78 %
0.4%

73 %
2.1%

73 %
2.3%

65 %
0.2%