2026 College Rankings

Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Continental Athletic Conference

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Continental Athletic Conference

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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	Florida National University-Main Campus	77	0	--	23043	29347	#1 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Continental Athletic Conference Florida National University-Main Campus Hialeah, FL First Year Retention Rate 77 % 24.2% Acceptance Rate -- SAT Score -- Avg. Net Price $23,043 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $29,347
2	Florida College	76	69.66	980 – 1,220	24335	42430	#2 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Continental Athletic Conference Florida College Temple Terrace, FL Based in Temple Terrace, Florida College accepts 70% of applicants. Undergraduates have to send in $50 to apply. Approximately 89% of attending students currently receive grant aid from the school. The institution’s first year retention rate is 76% and around 30% of students will graduate within four years. andLiberal Arts......Read more First Year Retention Rate 76 % 1.3% Acceptance Rate 69.7% SAT Score 980 – 1,220 Avg. Net Price $24,335 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $42,430
3	Washington Adventist University	64	46.18	860 – 1,130	18154	40114	#3 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Continental Athletic Conference Washington Adventist University Takoma Park, MD Found in Takoma Park, Washington Adventist University accepts 46% of applicants and charges $25 for undergraduate applications. Approximately 97% of attending students will receive institutional grant aid. The school’s first year retention rate is 64% and its four year graduation rate is 21%. The three most popular majors......Read more First Year Retention Rate 64 % 22.0% Acceptance Rate 46.2% SAT Score 860 – 1,130 Avg. Net Price $18,154 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $40,114
4	Georgia Gwinnett College	63	95.5	940 – 1,170	15225	36756	#4 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Continental Athletic Conference Georgia Gwinnett College Lawrenceville, GA Based in Lawrenceville, Georgia Gwinnett College’s acceptance rate is 96% and requires $30 for undergraduate applications and . Approximately 5% of students attending Georgia Gwinnett College currently receive grant aid from the school....Read more First Year Retention Rate 63 % 8.7% Acceptance Rate 95.5% SAT Score 940 – 1,170 Avg. Net Price $15,225 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $36,756
5	Carolina University	56	39.54	870 – 1,080	20412	30657	#5 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Continental Athletic Conference Carolina University Winston-Salem, NC Located in Winston-Salem, Carolina University accepted 40% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle and charges $50 for undergraduate applications. About 97% of students at Carolina University currently receive grant aid from the school. 56% of students decide to stay at Carolina University after......Read more First Year Retention Rate 56 % Acceptance Rate 39.5% SAT Score 870 – 1,080 Avg. Net Price $20,412 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $30,657
6	Fisher College	55	70.68	820 – 1,100	28596	44366	#6 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Continental Athletic Conference Fisher College Boston, MA Based in Boston, Fisher College accepts 71% of applicants and requests $50 to apply, but fee waivers may be available. Approximately 94% of students at Fisher College will receive grant aid from the school....Read more First Year Retention Rate 55 % 1.9% Acceptance Rate 70.7% SAT Score 820 – 1,100 Avg. Net Price $28,596 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $44,366
7	Northern New Mexico College	52	0	--	8837	34377	#7 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Continental Athletic Conference Northern New Mexico College Espanola, NM First Year Retention Rate 52 % 14.8% Acceptance Rate -- SAT Score -- Avg. Net Price $8,837 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $34,377
8	North American University	46	100	--	16303	32221	#8 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Continental Athletic Conference North American University Stafford, TX Located in Stafford, North American University accepted 100% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle and requires unknown for undergraduate applications and $50 for graduate applications. About 95% of attending students will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more First Year Retention Rate 46 % 7.0% Acceptance Rate 100.0% SAT Score -- Avg. Net Price $16,303 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $32,221
9	Morris College	41	0	--	19180	24250	#9 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Continental Athletic Conference Morris College Sumter, SC First Year Retention Rate 41 % 12.8% Acceptance Rate -- SAT Score -- Avg. Net Price $19,180 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $24,250
10	Arkansas Baptist College	23	0	--	10627	22652	#10 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Continental Athletic Conference Arkansas Baptist College Little Rock, AR First Year Retention Rate 23 % 9.5% Acceptance Rate -- SAT Score -- Avg. Net Price $10,627 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $22,652

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 – Continental Athletic Conference

About

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Continental Athletic Conference

77 % 24.2%

--

--

$23,043

$29,347

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Continental Athletic Conference

76 % 1.3%

69.7%

980 – 1,220

$24,335

$42,430

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Continental Athletic Conference

64 % 22.0%

46.2%

860 – 1,130

$18,154

$40,114

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Continental Athletic Conference

63 % 8.7%

95.5%

940 – 1,170

$15,225

$36,756

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Continental Athletic Conference

56 %

39.5%

870 – 1,080

$20,412

$30,657

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Continental Athletic Conference

55 % 1.9%

70.7%

820 – 1,100

$28,596

$44,366

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Continental Athletic Conference

52 % 14.8%

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--

$8,837

$34,377

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Continental Athletic Conference

46 % 7.0%

100.0%

--

$16,303

$32,221

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Continental Athletic Conference

41 % 12.8%

--

--

$19,180

$24,250

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Continental Athletic Conference

23 % 9.5%

--

--

$10,627

$22,652

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77 %
24.2%

76 %
1.3%

64 %
22.0%

63 %
8.7%

55 %
1.9%

52 %
14.8%

46 %
7.0%

41 %
12.8%

23 %
9.5%