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	24405	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 $24,405 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $78,372
2	Roberts Wesleyan University	84	70.63	990 – 1,310	23275	56275	#2 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – East Coast Conference Roberts Wesleyan University Rochester, NY Based in Rochester, Roberts Wesleyan University’s acceptance rate is 71% and requests unknown to apply, but fee waivers may be available. Approximately 92% of attending students will receive grant aid from the school. 84% of students continued their studies at Roberts Wesleyan University after completing their first year....Read more First Year Retention Rate 84 % 9.1% Acceptance Rate 70.6% SAT Score 990 – 1,310 Avg. Net Price $23,275 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $56,275
3	CUNY Queens College	79	64.35	1,010 – 1,290	5728	48548	#3 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 60% of attending students will receive institutional grant aid....Read more First Year Retention Rate 79 % 1.3% Acceptance Rate 64.4% SAT Score 1,010 – 1,290 Avg. Net Price $5,728 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $48,548
4	College of Staten Island CUNY	76	92.34	890 – 1,250	6525	36931	#4 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – East Coast Conference College of Staten Island CUNY Staten Island, NY Located in Staten Island, the College of Staten Island CUNY accepts 92% of applicants and requests $65 to apply, but fee waivers may be available. Approximately 57% of students attending the College of Staten Island CUNY currently receive institutional grant aid....Read more First Year Retention Rate 76 % Acceptance Rate 92.3% SAT Score 890 – 1,250 Avg. Net Price $6,525 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $36,931
5	Daemen University	76	68.26	950 – 1,150	19102	59912	#5 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 68% and requires $25 for undergraduate applications and $25 for graduate applications. Approximately 99% of students at Daemen University currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. The first year retention rate is 76%....Read more First Year Retention Rate 76 % 5.0% Acceptance Rate 68.3% SAT Score 950 – 1,150 Avg. Net Price $19,102 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $59,912
6	Mercy University	76	85.84	1,040 – 1,230	15200	44969	#6 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 % 1.3% Acceptance Rate 85.8% SAT Score 1,040 – 1,230 Avg. Net Price $15,200 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $44,969
7	D'Youville University	73	81.37	1,000 – 1,220	20690	63804	#7 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – East Coast Conference D'Youville University Buffalo, NY Found in Buffalo, D'Youville University accepted 81% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle and requires unknown for undergraduate applications and . Approximately 98% of students at D'Youville University will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. 73% of students......Read more First Year Retention Rate 73 % 1.4% Acceptance Rate 81.4% SAT Score 1,000 – 1,220 Avg. Net Price $20,690 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $63,804
8	St. Thomas Aquinas College	73	93.05	880 – 1,090	21187	44908	#8 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 73 % 2.7% Acceptance Rate 93.1% SAT Score 880 – 1,090 Avg. Net Price $21,187 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $44,908
9	University of the District of Columbia	68	0	--	12895	36358	#9 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – East Coast Conference University of the District of Columbia Washington, DC First Year Retention Rate 68 % 1.5% Acceptance Rate -- SAT Score -- Avg. Net Price $12,895 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $36,358

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 – 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

$24,405

$78,372

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

84 % 9.1%

70.6%

990 – 1,310

$23,275

$56,275

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

79 % 1.3%

64.4%

1,010 – 1,290

$5,728

$48,548

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

76 %

92.3%

890 – 1,250

$6,525

$36,931

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

76 % 5.0%

68.3%

950 – 1,150

$19,102

$59,912

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

76 % 1.3%

85.8%

1,040 – 1,230

$15,200

$44,969

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

73 % 1.4%

81.4%

1,000 – 1,220

$20,690

$63,804

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

73 % 2.7%

93.1%

880 – 1,090

$21,187

$44,908

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

68 % 1.5%

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$12,895

$36,358

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85 %
4.9%

84 %
9.1%

79 %
1.3%

76 %
5.0%

76 %
1.3%

73 %
1.4%

73 %
2.7%

68 %
1.5%