2026 College Rankings

Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Golden State Athletic Conference

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Golden State 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	The Master's University and Seminary	86	75.89	1,010 – 1,210	33463	41665	#1 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Golden State Athletic Conference The Master's University and Seminary Santa Clarita, CA The Master’s University was opened as the Los Angeles Baptist College and Seminary in 1927. In 1985, it changed its name to The Master’s College to reflect its switch interdenominational religious affiliation. It became a university in 2016....Read more First Year Retention Rate 86 % Acceptance Rate 75.9% SAT Score 1,010 – 1,210 Avg. Net Price $33,463 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $41,665
2	Life Pacific University	77	93.95	930 – 1,180	23311	35814	#2 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Golden State Athletic Conference Life Pacific University San Dimas, CA Based in San Dimas, Life Pacific University’s acceptance rate is 94% and requires $50 for undergraduate applications and $35 for graduate applications. About 96% of attending students will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. The school’s first year retention rate is 77% and its four year......Read more First Year Retention Rate 77 % Acceptance Rate 94.0% SAT Score 930 – 1,180 Avg. Net Price $23,311 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $35,814
3	Vanguard University of Southern California	74	64.79	940 – 1,200	20273	43464	#3 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Golden State Athletic Conference Vanguard University of Southern California Costa Mesa, CA 100% of students at Vanguard University of Southern California receive grant aid, with each student package averaging $29,955. Many choose to study Psychology, General, Business Administration and Management, and General. Vanguard’s motto is “Truth. Virtue. Service.” First Year Retention Rate 74 % Acceptance Rate 64.8% SAT Score 940 – 1,200 Avg. Net Price $20,273 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $43,464
4	Hope International University	63	32.98	900 – 1,250	30514	36030	#4 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Golden State Athletic Conference Hope International University Fullerton, CA Located in Fullerton, Hope International University accepted 33% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. They charge $50 for undergraduate applications. About 100% of students attending Hope International University currently receive grant aid from the school. The school’s first year retention rate is......Read more First Year Retention Rate 63 % 7.4% Acceptance Rate 33.0% SAT Score 900 – 1,250 Avg. Net Price $30,514 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $36,030
5	William Jessup University	61	76.82	1,060 – 1,300	28171	43163	#5 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Golden State Athletic Conference William Jessup University Rocklin, CA Based in Rocklin, William Jessup University’s acceptance rate is 77% and requests $60 to apply, but fee waivers may be available. About 97% of attending students currently receive grant aid from the school....Read more First Year Retention Rate 61 % Acceptance Rate 76.8% SAT Score 1,060 – 1,300 Avg. Net Price $28,171 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $43,163
6	Menlo College	0	67.81	940 – 1,150	28158	60608	#6 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Golden State Athletic Conference Menlo College Atherton, CA First Year Retention Rate -- Acceptance Rate 67.8% SAT Score 940 – 1,150 Avg. Net Price $28,158 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $60,608
7	Ottawa University-Surprise	0	39.88	910 – 1,050	35030	49139	#7 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Golden State Athletic Conference Ottawa University-Surprise Surprise, AZ First Year Retention Rate -- Acceptance Rate 39.9% SAT Score 910 – 1,050 Avg. Net Price $35,030 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $49,139

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 – Golden State Athletic Conference

About

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

The Master's University and SeminarySanta Clarita, CA

86 %

75.9%

1,010 – 1,210

$33,463

$41,665

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

Life Pacific UniversitySan Dimas, CA

77 %

94.0%

930 – 1,180

$23,311

$35,814

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

Vanguard University of Southern CaliforniaCosta Mesa, CA

74 %

64.8%

940 – 1,200

$20,273

$43,464

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

Hope International UniversityFullerton, CA

63 % 7.4%

33.0%

900 – 1,250

$30,514

$36,030

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

William Jessup UniversityRocklin, CA

61 %

76.8%

1,060 – 1,300

$28,171

$43,163

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

Menlo CollegeAtherton, CA

--

67.8%

940 – 1,150

$28,158

$60,608

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

Ottawa University-SurpriseSurprise, AZ

--

39.9%

910 – 1,050

$35,030

$49,139

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The Master's University and Seminary
Santa Clarita, CA

Life Pacific University
San Dimas, CA

Vanguard University of Southern California
Costa Mesa, CA

Hope International University
Fullerton, CA

63 %
7.4%

William Jessup University
Rocklin, CA

Menlo College
Atherton, CA

Ottawa University-Surprise
Surprise, AZ