2026 College Rankings

Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Heart of America Athletic Conference

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Heart of America 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	Benedictine College	79.3	76.45	1,110 – 1,360	28451	45000	#1 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Heart of America Athletic Conference Benedictine College Atchison, KS Benedictine College’s core values are built into the four “pillars” of the school which are known as Catholic, Benedictine, Liberal Arts, and Residential. The college’s motto is “Forward. Always Forward.” Its campus is located along the bends of the Missouri River....Read more First Year Retention Rate 79 % Acceptance Rate 76.5% SAT Score 1,110 – 1,360 Avg. Net Price $28,451 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $45,000
2	Mount Mercy University	74	78.76	970 – 1,180	23972	52871	#2 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Heart of America Athletic Conference Mount Mercy University Cedar Rapids, IA Located in Cedar Rapids, Mount Mercy University’s acceptance rate is 79% and requires unknown for undergraduate applications and . About 100% of students at Mount Mercy University currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. At Mount Mercy University, there is a 74% first year retention......Read more First Year Retention Rate 74 % Acceptance Rate 78.8% SAT Score 970 – 1,180 Avg. Net Price $23,972 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $52,871
3	Clarke University	72	68.16	970 – 1,150	25692	49157	#3 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Heart of America Athletic Conference Clarke University Dubuque, IA Found in Dubuque, Clarke University’s acceptance rate is 68%. Undergraduates have to send in unknown to apply. About 100% of students at Clarke University currently receive grant aid from the school. On average, these students are given $23,601 each. The first year retention rate is 72%....Read more First Year Retention Rate 72 % Acceptance Rate 68.2% SAT Score 970 – 1,150 Avg. Net Price $25,692 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $49,157
4	MidAmerica Nazarene University	71	78.8	940 – 1,140	29992	57433	#4 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Heart of America Athletic Conference MidAmerica Nazarene University Olathe, KS Located in Olathe, MidAmerica Nazarene University accepts 79% of applicants and charges unknown for undergraduate applications. About 99% of students attending MidAmerica Nazarene University currently receive grant aid from the school. They receive $20,496 on average. The first year retention rate is 71%....Read more First Year Retention Rate 71 % 12.7% Acceptance Rate 78.8% SAT Score 940 – 1,140 Avg. Net Price $29,992 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $57,433
5	Grand View University	68	98.43	930 – 1,140	22296	47582	#5 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Heart of America Athletic Conference Grand View University Des Moines, IA Based in Des Moines, Grand View University’s acceptance rate is 98%. They charge unknown for undergraduate applications. Approximately 99% of attending students currently receive grant aid from the school. The school’s first year retention rate is 68% and 39% of students will graduate in four years. The common majors among......Read more First Year Retention Rate 68 % Acceptance Rate 98.4% SAT Score 930 – 1,140 Avg. Net Price $22,296 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $47,582
6	Baker University	66	94.18	970 – 1,110	23410	54747	#6 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Heart of America Athletic Conference Baker University Baldwin City, KS Found in Baldwin City, Baker University accepted 94% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle and requires unknown for undergraduate applications and . About 100% of students attending Baker University will receive grant aid from the school. The school’s first year retention rate is 66% and 49% of......Read more First Year Retention Rate 66 % 10.8% Acceptance Rate 94.2% SAT Score 970 – 1,110 Avg. Net Price $23,410 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $54,747
7	Missouri Baptist University	65	68.6	710 – 970	26117	38997	#7 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Heart of America Athletic Conference Missouri Baptist University Saint Louis, MO Based in Saint Louis, Missouri Baptist University’s acceptance rate is 69%. They charge unknown for undergraduate applications. About 97% of students attending Missouri Baptist University will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. The first year retention rate is 65%....Read more First Year Retention Rate 65 % 3.0% Acceptance Rate 68.6% SAT Score 710 – 970 Avg. Net Price $26,117 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $38,997
8	Culver-Stockton College	64.8	65.18	--	22103	40673	#8 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Heart of America Athletic Conference Culver-Stockton College Canton, MO Located in Canton, Culver-Stockton College’s acceptance rate is 65% and requests unknown to apply, but fee waivers may be available. About 100% of students at Culver-Stockton College will receive grant aid from the school....Read more First Year Retention Rate 65 % 3.3% Acceptance Rate 65.2% SAT Score -- Avg. Net Price $22,103 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $40,673
9	Central Methodist University-College of Liberal Arts and Sciences	61.8	56.86	940 – 1,140	25050	43860	#9 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Heart of America Athletic Conference Central Methodist University-College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Fayette, MO Located in Fayette, Central Methodist University-College of Liberal Arts and Sciences accepts 57% of applicants and requires unknown for undergraduate applications and . About 100% of attending students will receive institutional grant aid....Read more First Year Retention Rate 62 % 4.9% Acceptance Rate 56.9% SAT Score 940 – 1,140 Avg. Net Price $25,050 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $43,860
10	William Penn University	58	51.88	890 – 1,110	22361	40189	#10 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Heart of America Athletic Conference William Penn University Oskaloosa, IA Found in Oskaloosa, William Penn University’s acceptance rate is 52% and requests unknown to apply, but fee waivers may be available. About 100% of students attending William Penn University will receive grant aid from the school....Read more First Year Retention Rate 58 % 3.6% Acceptance Rate 51.9% SAT Score 890 – 1,110 Avg. Net Price $22,361 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $40,189
11	Graceland University-Lamoni	56	80.83	920 – 1,140	16632	40792	#11 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Heart of America Athletic Conference Graceland University-Lamoni Lamoni, IA Located in Lamoni, Graceland University-Lamoni accepted 81% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle and requires unknown for undergraduate applications and . Approximately 100% of students at Graceland University-Lamoni will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. 56%......Read more First Year Retention Rate 56 % 12.5% Acceptance Rate 80.8% SAT Score 920 – 1,140 Avg. Net Price $16,632 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $40,792
12	Missouri Valley College	41	52.69	900 – 1,070	18396	36902	#12 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Heart of America Athletic Conference Missouri Valley College Marshall, MO Located in Marshall, Missouri Valley College accepts 53% of applicants. Undergraduates have to send in unknown to apply. About 100% of students at Missouri Valley College currently receive institutional grant aid. 41% of students decide to stay at Missouri Valley College after completing their first year....Read more First Year Retention Rate 41 % Acceptance Rate 52.7% SAT Score 900 – 1,070 Avg. Net Price $18,396 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $36,902
13	Park University	0	69.04	930 – 1,140	15637	50550	#13 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Heart of America Athletic Conference Park University Parkville, MO Located in Parkville, Park University accepts 69% of applicants. They require $25 for undergraduate applications. About 72% of students attending Park University will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more First Year Retention Rate -- Acceptance Rate 69.0% SAT Score 930 – 1,140 Avg. Net Price $15,637 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $50,550
14	Peru State College	0	77.08	--	11855	39150	#14 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Heart of America Athletic Conference Peru State College Peru, NE First Year Retention Rate -- Acceptance Rate 77.1% SAT Score -- Avg. Net Price $11,855 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $39,150