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Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – 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	85	68.47	1,080 – 1,340	28486	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 68% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle and requests unknown to apply, but fee waivers may be available. About 100% of students at Dordt University will receive grant aid from the school....Read more First Year Retention Rate 85 % Acceptance Rate 68.5% SAT Score 1,080 – 1,340 Avg. Net Price $28,486 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $50,551
2	College of Saint Mary	80	44.65	970 – 1,240	17078	59339	#2 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, $18,847 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 80 % 17.6% Acceptance Rate 44.7% SAT Score 970 – 1,240 Avg. Net Price $17,078 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $59,339
3	Concordia University-Nebraska	80	85.72	1,020 – 1,240	24158	44527	#3 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 86% of applicants. They charge unknown for undergraduate applications. Approximately 100% of attending students will receive institutional grant aid. On average, these students are given $26,584 each. The first year retention rate is 80%....Read more First Year Retention Rate 80 % 2.6% Acceptance Rate 85.7% SAT Score 1,020 – 1,240 Avg. Net Price $24,158 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $44,527
4	Doane University	79	98.01	1,040 – 1,210	26364	46009	#4 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 98% of attending students currently receive institutional grant aid....Read more First Year Retention Rate 79 % 9.7% Acceptance Rate 98.0% SAT Score 1,040 – 1,210 Avg. Net Price $26,364 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $46,009
5	Dakota Wesleyan University	75	73.38	970 – 1,200	22990	49432	#5 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 920 out of 1,250 applicants received acceptance letters last year. DWU is a NAIA Division I school in the Great Plains Athletic Conference. First Year Retention Rate 75 % 8.7% Acceptance Rate 73.4% SAT Score 970 – 1,200 Avg. Net Price $22,990 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $49,432
6	Morningside University	74	71.04	710 – 1,110	24437	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 74 % 7.2% Acceptance Rate 71.0% SAT Score 710 – 1,110 Avg. Net Price $24,437 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $47,687
7	Northwestern College	73	80.36	1,040 – 1,280	26347	46731	#7 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 39 majors and programs to choose from. First Year Retention Rate 73 % 8.8% Acceptance Rate 80.4% SAT Score 1,040 – 1,280 Avg. Net Price $26,347 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $46,731
8	Midland University	69	66.12	940 – 1,150	26643	45145	#8 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 66% and charges unknown for undergraduate applications. About 99% of attending students will receive grant aid from the school....Read more First Year Retention Rate 69 % 5.5% Acceptance Rate 66.1% SAT Score 940 – 1,150 Avg. Net Price $26,643 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $45,145
9	Mount Marty University	68	42.57	970 – 1,210	22242	46984	#9 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 $22,242 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $46,984
10	Hastings College	66	71.65	1,240 – 1,370	24406	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 72% 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 71.7% SAT Score 1,240 – 1,370 Avg. Net Price $24,406 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $45,590
11	Briar Cliff University	64	58.34	970 – 1,130	23263	48338	#11 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Great Plains Athletic Conference Briar Cliff University Sioux City, IA Briar Cliff University has a 10 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio and 64% first year retention rate. 100% of students typically receive around $28,425 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 64 % 6.7% Acceptance Rate 58.3% SAT Score 970 – 1,130 Avg. Net Price $23,263 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $48,338
12	Waldorf University	44	76.98	930 – 1,090	19766	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 77% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle and charges unknown for undergraduate applications. Approximately 92% of students attending Waldorf University will receive grant aid from the school. At Waldorf University, there is a 44% first year retention......Read more First Year Retention Rate 44 % 15.4% Acceptance Rate 77.0% SAT Score 930 – 1,090 Avg. Net Price $19,766 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $50,515

School data is from 2023–2024 (top 500 results shown) for schools with at least 100 undergraduate students.

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2026 College Rankings

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

About

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

85 %

68.5%

1,080 – 1,340

$28,486

$50,551

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

80 % 17.6%

44.7%

970 – 1,240

$17,078

$59,339

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

80 % 2.6%

85.7%

1,020 – 1,240

$24,158

$44,527

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

79 % 9.7%

98.0%

1,040 – 1,210

$26,364

$46,009

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

75 % 8.7%

73.4%

970 – 1,200

$22,990

$49,432

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

74 % 7.2%

71.0%

710 – 1,110

$24,437

$47,687

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

73 % 8.8%

80.4%

1,040 – 1,280

$26,347

$46,731

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

69 % 5.5%

66.1%

940 – 1,150

$26,643

$45,145

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

68 % 2.9%

42.6%

970 – 1,210

$22,242

$46,984

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

66 % 2.9%

71.7%

1,240 – 1,370

$24,406

$45,590

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

64 % 6.7%

58.3%

970 – 1,130

$23,263

$48,338

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

44 % 15.4%

77.0%

930 – 1,090

$19,766

$50,515

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80 %
17.6%

80 %
2.6%

79 %
9.7%

75 %
8.7%

74 %
7.2%

73 %
8.8%

69 %
5.5%

68 %
2.9%

66 %
2.9%

64 %
6.7%

44 %
15.4%