2026 College Rankings

Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

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Great Lakes Intercollegiate 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	Michigan Technological University	88.8	83.53	1,150 – 1,370	17928	69672	#1 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Michigan Technological University Houghton, MI Michigan Technological University offers over 185 degree programs across five colleges: Engineering, Computing, Sciences and Arts, Business, and Forest Resources and Environmental Science. Many students choose to study Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, and Electrical and Electronics Engineering. First Year Retention Rate 89 % 1.3% Acceptance Rate 83.5% SAT Score 1,150 – 1,370 Avg. Net Price $17,928 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $69,672
2	Wayne State University	82.62	77.86	1,070 – 1,280	16021	45207	#2 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Wayne State University Detroit, MI Located in Detroit, Wayne State University accepted 78% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. Undergraduates have to pay $25 to apply. About 90% of attending students will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. The institution’s first year retention rate is 82% and......Read more First Year Retention Rate 83 % 0.8% Acceptance Rate 77.9% SAT Score 1,070 – 1,280 Avg. Net Price $16,021 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $45,207
3	Lake Superior State University	79	100	930 – 1,340	14345	42767	#3 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Lake Superior State University Sault Ste Marie, MI Based in Sault Ste Marie, Lake Superior State University accepts 100% of applicants and charges unknown for undergraduate applications. Approximately 78% of students attending Lake Superior State University currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more First Year Retention Rate 79 % 14.5% Acceptance Rate 100.0% SAT Score 930 – 1,340 Avg. Net Price $14,345 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $42,767
4	Ferris State University	78	91.51	900 – 1,130	13154	47339	#4 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Ferris State University Big Rapids, MI Located in Big Rapids, Ferris State University accepted 92% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. They charge unknown for undergraduate applications and . About 88% of students at Ferris State University will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. 78% of students......Read more First Year Retention Rate 78 % 6.8% Acceptance Rate 91.5% SAT Score 900 – 1,130 Avg. Net Price $13,154 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $47,339
5	Northern Michigan University	78	84.02	990 – 1,210	17937	37996	#5 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Northern Michigan University Marquette, MI Based in Marquette, Northern Michigan University accepts 84% of applicants and requires unknown for undergraduate applications and $50 for graduate applications. Approximately 89% of students attending Northern Michigan University currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more First Year Retention Rate 78 % 2.9% Acceptance Rate 84.0% SAT Score 990 – 1,210 Avg. Net Price $17,937 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $37,996
6	Saginaw Valley State University	77.24	72.07	930 – 1,170	15144	43530	#6 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Saginaw Valley State University University Center, MI Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse is the most popular undergraduate major at Saginaw Valley State University by far, but Social Work, Special Education and Teaching, General, and Public Health Education and Promotion are also commonly chosen programs....Read more First Year Retention Rate 77 % 2.5% Acceptance Rate 72.1% SAT Score 930 – 1,170 Avg. Net Price $15,144 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $43,530
7	Grand Valley State University	76.3	83.02	1,110 – 1,370	17995	47840	#7 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Grand Valley State University Allendale, MI Based in Allendale, Grand Valley State University’s acceptance rate is 83% and requires unknown for undergraduate applications and $30 for graduate applications. Approximately 86% of attending students will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. 76% of students continued their studies at......Read more First Year Retention Rate 76 % 0.4% Acceptance Rate 83.0% SAT Score 1,110 – 1,370 Avg. Net Price $17,995 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $47,840
8	University of Wisconsin-Parkside	68.72	97.51	950 – 1,220	8778	42154	#8 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference University of Wisconsin-Parkside Kenosha, WI Located in Kenosha, the University of Wisconsin-Parkside’s acceptance rate is 98% and requests unknown to apply, but fee waivers may be available. Approximately 35% of attending students currently receive institutional grant aid. The institution’s first year retention rate is 68% and around 18% of students will graduate in......Read more First Year Retention Rate 69 % 3.2% Acceptance Rate 97.5% SAT Score 950 – 1,220 Avg. Net Price $8,778 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $42,154
9	Purdue University Northwest	66	72.46	930 – 1,150	9637	48439	#9 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Purdue University Northwest Hammond, IN Based in Hammond, Purdue University Northwest accepts 72% of applicants and requires $25 for undergraduate applications and $60 for graduate applications. Approximately 68% of students at Purdue University Northwest will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. The first year retention rate is......Read more First Year Retention Rate 66 % 2.7% Acceptance Rate 72.5% SAT Score 930 – 1,150 Avg. Net Price $9,637 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $48,439
10	Davenport University	0	98.27	--	19799	47041	#10 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Davenport University Grand Rapids, MI First Year Retention Rate -- Acceptance Rate 98.3% SAT Score -- Avg. Net Price $19,799 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $47,041

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 – Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

About

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

89 % 1.3%

83.5%

1,150 – 1,370

$17,928

$69,672

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

83 % 0.8%

77.9%

1,070 – 1,280

$16,021

$45,207

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

79 % 14.5%

100.0%

930 – 1,340

$14,345

$42,767

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

78 % 6.8%

91.5%

900 – 1,130

$13,154

$47,339

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

78 % 2.9%

84.0%

990 – 1,210

$17,937

$37,996

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

77 % 2.5%

72.1%

930 – 1,170

$15,144

$43,530

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

76 % 0.4%

83.0%

1,110 – 1,370

$17,995

$47,840

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

69 % 3.2%

97.5%

950 – 1,220

$8,778

$42,154

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

66 % 2.7%

72.5%

930 – 1,150

$9,637

$48,439

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

--

98.3%

--

$19,799

$47,041

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89 %
1.3%

83 %
0.8%

79 %
14.5%

78 %
6.8%

78 %
2.9%

77 %
2.5%

76 %
0.4%

69 %
3.2%

66 %
2.7%