2026 College Rankings

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

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Great Northwest 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	Western Washington University	79.4	93.25	1,110 – 1,330	22096	45272	#1 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Great Northwest Athletic Conference Western Washington University Bellingham, WA Located in Bellingham, Western Washington University accepts 93% of applicants and requests $70 to apply, but fee waivers may be available. Approximately 89% of attending students currently receive institutional grant aid....Read more First Year Retention Rate 79 % 0.5% Acceptance Rate 93.3% SAT Score 1,110 – 1,330 Avg. Net Price $22,096 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $45,272
2	Northwest Nazarene University	77.41	71.59	1,040 – 1,250	27291	45488	#2 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Great Northwest Athletic Conference Northwest Nazarene University Nampa, ID 99% of students receive grant aid to help them afford their education at Northwest Nazarene University. A NCAA Division II without football school, there are also athletic scholarships available, averaging $23,126 each. NNU has a 14 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio and 77% first year retention rate. First Year Retention Rate 77 % 2.0% Acceptance Rate 71.6% SAT Score 1,040 – 1,250 Avg. Net Price $27,291 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $45,488
3	California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt	76	91.98	1,010 – 1,270	13837	37382	#3 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Great Northwest Athletic Conference California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt Arcata, CA Located in Arcata, California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt’s acceptance rate is 92% and requires $70 for undergraduate applications and $70 for graduate applications. Approximately 46% of students attending California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college......Read more First Year Retention Rate 76 % Acceptance Rate 92.0% SAT Score 1,010 – 1,270 Avg. Net Price $13,837 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $37,382
4	University of Alaska Fairbanks	74.1	62.12	1,030 – 1,270	9985	40746	#4 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Great Northwest Athletic Conference University of Alaska Fairbanks Fairbanks, AK UAF, otherwise known as “Alaska,” is a flagship, land grant, space grant, and sea grant school. 71% of attending students receive institutional grant aid, $6,016 on average. Blue and gold are the official colors of UAF and the mascot is Nanook, a mighty polar bear of Inuit legend....Read more First Year Retention Rate 74 % 2.8% Acceptance Rate 62.1% SAT Score 1,030 – 1,270 Avg. Net Price $9,985 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $40,746
5	Seattle Pacific University	72.37	83.39	1,070 – 1,310	26155	51496	#5 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Great Northwest Athletic Conference Seattle Pacific University Seattle, WA The motto of Seattle Pacific University is “Engaging the Culture, Changing the World.” It’s a private institution, affiliated with the Free Methodist Church, offering 77 programs....Read more First Year Retention Rate 72 % 3.5% Acceptance Rate 83.4% SAT Score 1,070 – 1,310 Avg. Net Price $26,155 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $51,496
6	University of Alaska Anchorage	71	59.58	990 – 1,200	13931	42313	#6 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Great Northwest Athletic Conference University of Alaska Anchorage Anchorage, AK Located in Anchorage, the University of Alaska Anchorage’s acceptance rate is 60%. They request unknown for undergraduate applications, but some schools offer fee waivers. Approximately 58% of students at the University of Alaska Anchorage will receive institutional grant aid....Read more First Year Retention Rate 71 % 1.4% Acceptance Rate 59.6% SAT Score 990 – 1,200 Avg. Net Price $13,931 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $42,313
7	Central Washington University	70	90.61	950 – 1,170	15558	49398	#7 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Great Northwest Athletic Conference Central Washington University Ellensburg, WA Located in Ellensburg, Central Washington University’s acceptance rate is 91% and requests $60 to apply, but fee waivers may be available. About 88% of students attending Central Washington University currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more First Year Retention Rate 70 % 1.4% Acceptance Rate 90.6% SAT Score 950 – 1,170 Avg. Net Price $15,558 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $49,398
8	Saint Martin's University	65	89.8	940 – 1,170	22779	57998	#8 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Great Northwest Athletic Conference Saint Martin's University Lacey, WA Located in Lacey, Saint Martin's University accepted 90% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle and requires unknown for undergraduate applications and $50 for graduate applications. About 83% of students attending Saint Martin's University will receive institutional grant aid. 65% of students......Read more First Year Retention Rate 65 % 11.0% Acceptance Rate 89.8% SAT Score 940 – 1,170 Avg. Net Price $22,779 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $57,998
9	Montana State University Billings	55.56	99.91	930 – 1,140	13252	39531	#9 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Great Northwest Athletic Conference Montana State University Billings Billings, MT Based in Billings, Montana State University Billings accepted 100% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. They request unknown for undergraduate applications. About 74% of students at Montana State University Billings currently receive grant aid from the school. The college’s first year retention rate......Read more First Year Retention Rate 56 % 0.0% Acceptance Rate 99.9% SAT Score 930 – 1,140 Avg. Net Price $13,252 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $39,531

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 Northwest Athletic Conference

About

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

79 % 0.5%

93.3%

1,110 – 1,330

$22,096

$45,272

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

77 % 2.0%

71.6%

1,040 – 1,250

$27,291

$45,488

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

76 %

92.0%

1,010 – 1,270

$13,837

$37,382

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

74 % 2.8%

62.1%

1,030 – 1,270

$9,985

$40,746

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

72 % 3.5%

83.4%

1,070 – 1,310

$26,155

$51,496

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

71 % 1.4%

59.6%

990 – 1,200

$13,931

$42,313

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

70 % 1.4%

90.6%

950 – 1,170

$15,558

$49,398

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

65 % 11.0%

89.8%

940 – 1,170

$22,779

$57,998

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

56 % 0.0%

99.9%

930 – 1,140

$13,252

$39,531

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79 %
0.5%

77 %
2.0%

74 %
2.8%

72 %
3.5%

71 %
1.4%

70 %
1.4%

65 %
11.0%

56 %
0.0%