2026 College Rankings

Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Empire Eight

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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	SUNY College at Geneseo	87	66.45	1,200 – 1,350	18698	51097	#1 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Empire Eight SUNY College at Geneseo Geneseo, NY Located in Geneseo, SUNY College at Geneseo’s acceptance rate is 66%. Undergraduates have to pay $50 to apply. Approximately 90% of students at SUNY College at Geneseo currently receive institutional grant aid....Read more First Year Retention Rate 87 % Acceptance Rate 66.5% SAT Score 1,200 – 1,350 Avg. Net Price $18,698 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $51,097
2	St. John Fisher University	86.4	66.4	1,130 – 1,300	28969	61198	#2 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Empire Eight St. John Fisher University Rochester, NY Based in Rochester, St- John Fisher University accepted 66% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. They request unknown for undergraduate applications and . Approximately 100% of attending students will receive institutional grant aid. 86% of students decide to stay at St- John Fisher University after......Read more First Year Retention Rate 86 % Acceptance Rate 66.4% SAT Score 1,130 – 1,300 Avg. Net Price $28,969 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $61,198
3	Nazareth University	84.82	74.72	1,080 – 1,340	31321	47717	#3 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Empire Eight Nazareth University Rochester, NY Based in Rochester, Nazareth University accepts 75% of applicants. They request unknown for undergraduate applications and . Approximately 99% of students at Nazareth University will receive grant aid from the school....Read more First Year Retention Rate 85 % Acceptance Rate 74.7% SAT Score 1,080 – 1,340 Avg. Net Price $31,321 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $47,717
4	Houghton University	83	88.66	1,180 – 1,380	22358	36376	#4 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Empire Eight Houghton University Houghton, NY Located in Houghton, Houghton University accepted 89% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle and requires unknown for undergraduate applications and . Approximately 95% of students at Houghton University currently receive grant aid from the school....Read more First Year Retention Rate 83 % Acceptance Rate 88.7% SAT Score 1,180 – 1,380 Avg. Net Price $22,358 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $36,376
5	State University of New York at Cortland	81.2	59.79	1,100 – 1,250	18474	46535	#5 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Empire Eight State University of New York at Cortland Cortland, NY Based in Cortland, State University of New York at Cortland accepts 60% of applicants. Undergraduates have to pay $50 to apply. Approximately 54% of students at State University of New York at Cortland will receive grant aid from the school. 81% of students decide to stay at State University of New York at Cortland after......Read more First Year Retention Rate 81 % Acceptance Rate 59.8% SAT Score 1,100 – 1,250 Avg. Net Price $18,474 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $46,535
6	Russell Sage College	78	53.26	1,020 – 1,250	23588	51139	#6 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Empire Eight Russell Sage College Troy, NY Found in Troy, Russell Sage College accepted 53% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle and charges unknown for undergraduate applications. About 100% of attending students currently receive grant aid from the school. At Russell Sage College, there is a 78% first year retention rate and a 52% four......Read more First Year Retention Rate 78 % Acceptance Rate 53.3% SAT Score 1,020 – 1,250 Avg. Net Price $23,588 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $51,139
7	Alfred University	77.52	73.84	1,110 – 1,320	26127	41703	#7 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Empire Eight Alfred University Alfred, NY Found in Alfred, Alfred University accepts 74% of applicants. They request unknown for undergraduate applications and $60 for graduate applications. Approximately 99% of students attending Alfred University currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. At Alfred University, there is a......Read more First Year Retention Rate 78 % Acceptance Rate 73.8% SAT Score 1,110 – 1,320 Avg. Net Price $26,127 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $41,703
8	Hartwick College	74.44	69.48	910 – 1,290	26818	50452	#8 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Empire Eight Hartwick College Oneonta, NY Found in Oneonta, Hartwick College’s acceptance rate is 69% and requests unknown to apply, but fee waivers may be available. Approximately 100% of students at Hartwick College will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. 74% of students continued studying at Hartwick College after completing......Read more First Year Retention Rate 74 % 5.0% Acceptance Rate 69.5% SAT Score 910 – 1,290 Avg. Net Price $26,818 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $50,452
9	Keuka College	73.4	68.08	1,010 – 1,190	26153	50940	#9 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Empire Eight Keuka College Keuka Park, NY Based in Keuka Park, Keuka College accepted 68% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. They charge unknown for undergraduate applications and . Approximately 100% of attending students currently receive institutional grant aid. 73% of students continued studying at Keuka College after completing their......Read more First Year Retention Rate 73 % Acceptance Rate 68.1% SAT Score 1,010 – 1,190 Avg. Net Price $26,153 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $50,940
10	SUNY Brockport	71.8	70.68	1,110 – 1,280	15343	47164	#10 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Empire Eight SUNY Brockport Brockport, NY Located in Brockport, SUNY Brockport accepted 71% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle and charges $50 for undergraduate applications. About 82% of attending students currently receive grant aid from the school....Read more First Year Retention Rate 72 % Acceptance Rate 70.7% SAT Score 1,110 – 1,280 Avg. Net Price $15,343 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $47,164
11	Utica University	70.1	86.79	1,030 – 1,210	22510	57422	#11 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Empire Eight Utica University Utica, NY Located in Utica, Utica University accepted 87% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle and requires $40 for undergraduate applications and $50 for graduate applications. Approximately 95% of attending students will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more First Year Retention Rate 70 % Acceptance Rate 86.8% SAT Score 1,030 – 1,210 Avg. Net Price $22,510 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $57,422
12	Elmira College	70	76.96	1,140 – 1,370	24551	49057	#12 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Empire Eight Elmira College Elmira, NY Located in Elmira, Elmira College accepts 77% of applicants. They charge unknown for undergraduate applications and . About 100% of students at Elmira College will receive grant aid from the school. They receive $23,140 on average. The first year retention rate is 70%....Read more First Year Retention Rate 70 % Acceptance Rate 77.0% SAT Score 1,140 – 1,370 Avg. Net Price $24,551 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $49,057
13	SUNY Morrisville	57.1	90.78	880 – 1,070	16855	39759	#13 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Empire Eight SUNY Morrisville Morrisville, NY Based in Morrisville, SUNY Morrisville’s acceptance rate is 91%. They request $50 for undergraduate applications. Approximately 89% of attending students will receive institutional grant aid. They are given $2,057 on average. The first year retention rate is 57%....Read more First Year Retention Rate 57 % Acceptance Rate 90.8% SAT Score 880 – 1,070 Avg. Net Price $16,855 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $39,759