2026 College Rankings

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

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Great Plains 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	Dordt University	82.8	71.16	1,070 – 1,330	27925	50551	#1 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Great Plains Athletic Conference Dordt University Sioux Center, IA Found in Sioux Center, Dordt University accepted 71% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle and requests unknown to apply, but fee waivers may be available. About 99% of students at Dordt University will receive grant aid from the school....Read more First Year Retention Rate 83 % Acceptance Rate 71.2% SAT Score 1,070 – 1,330 Avg. Net Price $27,925 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $50,551
2	Doane University	79	98.01	1,040 – 1,210	26112	46009	#2 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Great Plains Athletic Conference Doane University Crete, NE Located in Crete, Doane University accepts 98% of applicants and requests unknown to apply, but fee waivers may be available. Approximately 100% of attending students currently receive institutional grant aid....Read more First Year Retention Rate 79 % 9.1% Acceptance Rate 98.0% SAT Score 1,040 – 1,210 Avg. Net Price $26,112 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $46,009
3	Briar Cliff University	78.92	59.83	970 – 1,180	23292	48338	#3 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Great Plains Athletic Conference Briar Cliff University Sioux City, IA Briar Cliff University has a 13 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio and 78% first year retention rate. 98% of students typically receive around $26,325 to help offset the cost of college. Briar Cliff is a NAIA Division II school, and the average athletic scholarship for 410 Chargers is $11,290. First Year Retention Rate 79 % Acceptance Rate 59.8% SAT Score 970 – 1,180 Avg. Net Price $23,292 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $48,338
4	Concordia University-Nebraska	74	90.04	1,070 – 1,250	24099	44527	#4 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Great Plains Athletic Conference Concordia University-Nebraska Seward, NE Found in Seward, Concordia University-Nebraska accepts 90% of applicants. They charge unknown for undergraduate applications. Approximately 100% of attending students will receive institutional grant aid. On average, these students are given $25,326 each. The first year retention rate is 74%....Read more First Year Retention Rate 74 % Acceptance Rate 90.0% SAT Score 1,070 – 1,250 Avg. Net Price $24,099 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $44,527
5	Northwestern College	73.5	80.35	1,040 – 1,210	24737	46731	#5 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Great Plains Athletic Conference Northwestern College Orange City, IA Many students - 620 to be exact - participate in sports at Northwestern College. They’re known as the Red Raiders and compete in the NAIA Division II Great Plains Athletic Conference. In the classroom, NWC has 34 majors and programs to choose from. First Year Retention Rate 74 % 8.1% Acceptance Rate 80.4% SAT Score 1,040 – 1,210 Avg. Net Price $24,737 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $46,731
6	Morningside University	71	70.57	1,040 – 1,210	23482	47687	#6 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Great Plains Athletic Conference Morningside University Sioux City, IA Located in Sioux City, Morningside University accepted 71% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle and requires unknown for undergraduate applications and . About 100% of students at Morningside University will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. The college’s......Read more First Year Retention Rate 71 % Acceptance Rate 70.6% SAT Score 1,040 – 1,210 Avg. Net Price $23,482 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $47,687
7	Mount Marty University	68	42.57	970 – 1,210	23163	46984	#7 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Great Plains Athletic Conference Mount Marty University Yankton, SD Mount Marty University is highly selective and has a 12 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio. A NAIA Division II school, most of the 487 athletes compete in the Great Plains Athletic Conference. They're known as the Lancers and wear navy blue and gold. First Year Retention Rate 68 % 2.9% Acceptance Rate 42.6% SAT Score 970 – 1,210 Avg. Net Price $23,163 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $46,984
8	Dakota Wesleyan University	67	72.77	970 – 1,250	21901	49432	#8 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Great Plains Athletic Conference Dakota Wesleyan University Mitchell, SD Dakota Wesleyan University dates back to 1885 and its campus today is on the National Register of Historic Places. It’s fairly selective, and 840 out of 1,150 applicants received acceptance letters last year. DWU is a NAIA Division I school in the Great Plains Athletic Conference. First Year Retention Rate 67 % Acceptance Rate 72.8% SAT Score 970 – 1,250 Avg. Net Price $21,901 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $49,432
9	University of Jamestown	67	88.08	1,010 – 1,210	20897	51151	#9 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Great Plains Athletic Conference University of Jamestown Jamestown, ND Located in Jamestown, the University of Jamestown accepts 88% of applicants and requires unknown for undergraduate applications and . About 100% of attending students will receive grant aid from the school. The first year retention rate is 67%....Read more First Year Retention Rate 67 % 4.3% Acceptance Rate 88.1% SAT Score 1,010 – 1,210 Avg. Net Price $20,897 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $51,151
10	Hastings College	66	65.4	970 – 1,270	21821	45590	#10 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Great Plains Athletic Conference Hastings College Hastings, NE Located in Hastings, Hastings College accepts 65% of applicants. They request unknown for undergraduate applications, but fee waivers may be available. About 100% of attending students currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more First Year Retention Rate 66 % 2.9% Acceptance Rate 65.4% SAT Score 970 – 1,270 Avg. Net Price $21,821 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $45,590
11	Midland University	60	66.92	950 – 1,210	24143	45145	#11 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Great Plains Athletic Conference Midland University Fremont, NE Located in Fremont, Midland University’s acceptance rate is 67% and charges unknown for undergraduate applications. About 99% of attending students will receive grant aid from the school....Read more First Year Retention Rate 60 % Acceptance Rate 66.9% SAT Score 950 – 1,210 Avg. Net Price $24,143 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $45,145
12	Waldorf University	46	72.6	970 – 1,110	21510	50515	#12 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Great Plains Athletic Conference Waldorf University Forest City, IA Based in Forest City, Waldorf University accepted 73% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle and charges unknown for undergraduate applications. Approximately 90% of students attending Waldorf University will receive grant aid from the school. At Waldorf University, there is a 46% first year retention......Read more First Year Retention Rate 46 % Acceptance Rate 72.6% SAT Score 970 – 1,110 Avg. Net Price $21,510 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $50,515
13	College of Saint Mary	0	37.72	890 – 1,150	14265	59339	#13 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Great Plains Athletic Conference College of Saint Mary Omaha, NE The College of Saint Mary is the only Catholic university for women in the Great Plains region. Of attending students, 100% receive grant aid, $19,829 on average. Student athletes at the College of Saint Mary are known as the Flames and they compete in the Great Plains Athletic Conference as members of the NAIA....Read more First Year Retention Rate -- Acceptance Rate 37.7% SAT Score 890 – 1,150 Avg. Net Price $14,265 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $59,339