2026 College Rankings

Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – East Coast 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	Molloy University	85	81.74	1,100 – 1,300	25938	78372	#1 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – East Coast Conference Molloy University Rockville Centre, NY Molloy University was founded as the Molloy Catholic College for Women in 1955. The school became fully co-educational in 1982, and would be known as Molloy University in 2022. Cheered on by their mascot, Victor E. Lion, student athletes are known as the Lions....Read more First Year Retention Rate 85 % 4.9% Acceptance Rate 81.7% SAT Score 1,100 – 1,300 Avg. Net Price $25,938 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $78,372
2	CUNY Queens College	79	64.34	1,010 – 1,290	5339	48548	#2 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – East Coast Conference CUNY Queens College Queens, NY Found in Queens, CUNY Queens College accepts 64% of applicants and requires $65 for undergraduate applications and $75 for graduate applications. About 62% of attending students will receive institutional grant aid....Read more First Year Retention Rate 79 % 1.3% Acceptance Rate 64.3% SAT Score 1,010 – 1,290 Avg. Net Price $5,339 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $48,548
3	Mercy University	75.72	85.84	940 – 1,210	16776	44969	#3 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – East Coast Conference Mercy University Dobbs Ferry, NY Located in Dobbs Ferry, Mercy University accepts 86% of applicants and requires $40 for undergraduate applications and $40 for graduate applications. Approximately 98% of attending students will receive institutional grant aid....Read more First Year Retention Rate 76 % 1.0% Acceptance Rate 85.8% SAT Score 940 – 1,210 Avg. Net Price $16,776 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $44,969
4	Daemen University	75.5	73.75	1,110 – 1,310	18944	59912	#4 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – East Coast Conference Daemen University Amherst, NY Located in Amherst, Daemen University’s acceptance rate is 74% and requires $25 for undergraduate applications and $25 for graduate applications. Approximately 100% of students at Daemen University currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. The first year retention rate is 75%....Read more First Year Retention Rate 76 % 5.6% Acceptance Rate 73.8% SAT Score 1,110 – 1,310 Avg. Net Price $18,944 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $59,912
5	St. Thomas Aquinas College	74	93.05	880 – 1,090	21257	44908	#5 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – East Coast Conference St. Thomas Aquinas College Sparkill, NY Found in Sparkill, St- Thomas Aquinas College’s acceptance rate is 93%. They charge $30 for undergraduate applications, but some students qualify for fee waivers. Approximately 100% of students attending St- Thomas Aquinas College currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. The school’s......Read more First Year Retention Rate 74 % 0.0% Acceptance Rate 93.1% SAT Score 880 – 1,090 Avg. Net Price $21,257 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $44,908
6	University of the District of Columbia	52	83.84	--	14287	36358	#6 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – East Coast Conference University of the District of Columbia Washington, DC Based in Washington, the University of the District of Columbia’s acceptance rate is 84%. They request $35 for undergraduate applications and $50 for graduate applications. About 23% of attending students currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. At the University of the District of......Read more First Year Retention Rate 52 % Acceptance Rate 83.8% SAT Score -- Avg. Net Price $14,287 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $36,358
7	D'Youville University	0	82.35	910 – 1,200	20268	63804	#7 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – East Coast Conference D'Youville University Buffalo, NY First Year Retention Rate -- Acceptance Rate 82.4% SAT Score 910 – 1,200 Avg. Net Price $20,268 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $63,804
8	Roberts Wesleyan University	0	70.58	1,020 – 1,330	24202	56275	#8 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – East Coast Conference Roberts Wesleyan University Rochester, NY First Year Retention Rate -- Acceptance Rate 70.6% SAT Score 1,020 – 1,330 Avg. Net Price $24,202 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $56,275

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 – East Coast Conference

About

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – East Coast Conference

85 % 4.9%

81.7%

1,100 – 1,300

$25,938

$78,372

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – East Coast Conference

79 % 1.3%

64.3%

1,010 – 1,290

$5,339

$48,548

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – East Coast Conference

76 % 1.0%

85.8%

940 – 1,210

$16,776

$44,969

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – East Coast Conference

76 % 5.6%

73.8%

1,110 – 1,310

$18,944

$59,912

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – East Coast Conference

74 % 0.0%

93.1%

880 – 1,090

$21,257

$44,908

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – East Coast Conference

52 %

83.8%

--

$14,287

$36,358

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – East Coast Conference

--

82.4%

910 – 1,200

$20,268

$63,804

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – East Coast Conference

--

70.6%

1,020 – 1,330

$24,202

$56,275

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85 %
4.9%

79 %
1.3%

76 %
1.0%

76 %
5.6%

74 %
0.0%