2026 College Rankings

Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Division III Independents

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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	University of California-Santa Cruz	88	65.57	1,180 – 1,390	16526	49716	#1 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Division III Independents University of California-Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, CA Found in Santa Cruz, the University of California-Santa Cruz accepts 66% of applicants and requests $80 to apply, but fee waivers may be available. About 57% of attending students will receive institutional grant aid. 88% of students decide to stay at the University of California-Santa Cruz after completing their first year....Read more First Year Retention Rate 88 % 2.2% Acceptance Rate 65.6% SAT Score 1,180 – 1,390 Avg. Net Price $16,526 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $49,716
2	Pacific Lutheran University	82	78	1,070 – 1,290	23841	52212	#2 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Division III Independents Pacific Lutheran University Tacoma, WA Pacific Lutheran University’s motto is “Education for Lives of Thoughtful Inquiry, Service, Leadership, and Care.” Many students study Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, Business Administration and Management, and General. The school opened in 1894, where tuition was $1 per week....Read more First Year Retention Rate 82 % 3.8% Acceptance Rate 78.0% SAT Score 1,070 – 1,290 Avg. Net Price $23,841 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $52,212
3	Maine Maritime Academy	81.66	56.06	1,100 – 1,260	21433	93944	#3 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Division III Independents Maine Maritime Academy Castine, ME Located on a peninsula on the Bagaduce River and Penobscot Bay, the Maine Maritime Academy is a non-federal maritime training school. Students aren’t required to join the military after graduation. Many study Marine Science/Merchant Marine Officer. A fairly selective school, 30% of those accepted enroll. First Year Retention Rate 82 % 0.4% Acceptance Rate 56.1% SAT Score 1,100 – 1,260 Avg. Net Price $21,433 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $93,944
4	Cairn University-Langhorne	77	88.17	1,000 – 1,160	27603	37077	#4 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Division III Independents Cairn University-Langhorne Langhorne, PA Based in Langhorne, Cairn University-Langhorne accepted 88% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle and charges $25 for undergraduate applications. About 62% of attending students will receive institutional grant aid....Read more First Year Retention Rate 77 % 4.6% Acceptance Rate 88.2% SAT Score 1,000 – 1,160 Avg. Net Price $27,603 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $37,077
5	King's College	75.7	93.05	1,080 – 1,280	25608	51734	#5 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Division III Independents King's College Wilkes-Barre, PA King's College, founded in 1946, began as a college for men however today men make up 54% of the student population and 45% of enrolled students are women. Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other, Physician Assistant, Business Administration and Management, and General are popular majors and 59% of students will......Read more First Year Retention Rate 76 % 1.7% Acceptance Rate 93.1% SAT Score 1,080 – 1,280 Avg. Net Price $25,608 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $51,734
6	Albertus Magnus College	74.7	64.37	830 – 1,160	30179	47153	#6 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Division III Independents Albertus Magnus College New Haven, CT Found in New Haven, Albertus Magnus College’s acceptance rate is 64%. They charge unknown for undergraduate applications and $50 for graduate applications. About 97% of students attending Albertus Magnus College currently receive institutional grant aid. At Albertus Magnus College, there is a 74% first year retention rate and......Read more First Year Retention Rate 75 % Acceptance Rate 64.4% SAT Score 830 – 1,160 Avg. Net Price $30,179 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $47,153
7	Hilbert College	71	98	970 – 1,240	22224	45369	#7 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Division III Independents Hilbert College Hamburg, NY Found in Hamburg, Hilbert College accepts 98% of applicants. They charge unknown for undergraduate applications and $25 for graduate applications. Approximately 96% of students attending Hilbert College will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. 71% of students continued their studies at......Read more First Year Retention Rate 71 % Acceptance Rate 98.0% SAT Score 970 – 1,240 Avg. Net Price $22,224 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $45,369
8	Lyon College	50.72	65.54	1,080 – 1,240	22675	37629	#8 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Division III Independents Lyon College Batesville, AR Found in Batesville, Lyon College accepts 66% of applicants. They charge unknown for undergraduate applications and . About 100% of students at Lyon College currently receive institutional grant aid. At Lyon College, there is a 50% first year retention rate and a 37% four year graduation rate....Read more First Year Retention Rate 51 % Acceptance Rate 65.5% SAT Score 1,080 – 1,240 Avg. Net Price $22,675 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $37,629

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 – Division III Independents

About

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Division III Independents

88 % 2.2%

65.6%

1,180 – 1,390

$16,526

$49,716

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Division III Independents

82 % 3.8%

78.0%

1,070 – 1,290

$23,841

$52,212

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Division III Independents

82 % 0.4%

56.1%

1,100 – 1,260

$21,433

$93,944

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Division III Independents

77 % 4.6%

88.2%

1,000 – 1,160

$27,603

$37,077

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Division III Independents

76 % 1.7%

93.1%

1,080 – 1,280

$25,608

$51,734

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Division III Independents

75 %

64.4%

830 – 1,160

$30,179

$47,153

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Division III Independents

71 %

98.0%

970 – 1,240

$22,224

$45,369

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Division III Independents

51 %

65.5%

1,080 – 1,240

$22,675

$37,629

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88 %
2.2%

82 %
3.8%

82 %
0.4%

77 %
4.6%

76 %
1.7%