2026 College Rankings

Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference

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Heartland Collegiate 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	Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology	91.7	76.86	1,300 – 1,490	44016	85935	#1 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Terre Haute, IN Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology focuses on math, science, and engineering. It was originally founded as the Terre Haute School of Industrial Science in 1874 in an effort to teach technical training for railroad construction. It would get its current name in 1971 after financial support from the Hulman family....Read more First Year Retention Rate 92 % 1.2% Acceptance Rate 76.9% SAT Score 1,300 – 1,490 Avg. Net Price $44,016 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $85,935
2	Transylvania University	86.1	86.55	1,180 – 1,380	25634	40447	#2 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Transylvania University Lexington, KY It may come as no surprise, but Transylvania University’s mascot is a bat – and their school color is crimson. Halloween is a big deal at the school, featuring a week-long celebration. It ends with Pumpkinmania, where the steps of a campus building are lined with carved pumpkins....Read more First Year Retention Rate 86 % 3.7% Acceptance Rate 86.6% SAT Score 1,180 – 1,380 Avg. Net Price $25,634 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $40,447
3	Hanover College	78	83.97	1,130 – 1,300	22929	42876	#3 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Hanover College Hanover, IN Hanover College is a private not-for-profit institution that offers up to Doctor's degrees. Students follow a four-one-four plan, which is two four-month semesters with a one-month term between. It’s the oldest private college in the state, having been founded in 1827. Hanover became coeducational in 1880. First Year Retention Rate 78 % Acceptance Rate 84.0% SAT Score 1,130 – 1,300 Avg. Net Price $22,929 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $42,876
4	Earlham College	77	73.11	1,130 – 1,340	26517	35430	#4 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Earlham College Richmond, IN Founded in 1847, Earlham College is a liberal arts and sciences institution shaped by the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers). They charge unknown for applications and have a student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1. Many students participate in Earlham’s study abroad program. First Year Retention Rate 77 % 3.8% Acceptance Rate 73.1% SAT Score 1,130 – 1,340 Avg. Net Price $26,517 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $35,430
5	Franklin College	73	69.78	1,060 – 1,240	23843	45635	#5 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Franklin College Franklin, IN Located in Franklin, Franklin College’s acceptance rate is 70%. They charge unknown for undergraduate applications, but fee waivers may be available. About 100% of students at Franklin College will receive institutional grant aid....Read more First Year Retention Rate 73 % 2.8% Acceptance Rate 69.8% SAT Score 1,060 – 1,240 Avg. Net Price $23,843 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $45,635
6	Anderson University	70	53.42	940 – 1,170	21914	44396	#6 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Anderson University Anderson, IN Located in Anderson, Anderson University’s acceptance rate is 53%. Undergraduates have to pay unknown to apply. Approximately 99% of attending students will receive institutional grant aid. The institution’s first year retention rate is 70% and 54% of students will earn their degree in four years. Most undergraduates......Read more First Year Retention Rate 70 % Acceptance Rate 53.4% SAT Score 940 – 1,170 Avg. Net Price $21,914 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $44,396
7	Mount St. Joseph University	68.7	59.15	1,010 – 1,260	15887	43595	#7 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Mount St. Joseph University Cincinnati, OH Based in Cincinnati, Mount St- Joseph University’s acceptance rate is 59%. They request unknown for undergraduate applications and $50 for graduate applications. About 100% of students at Mount St- Joseph University will receive institutional grant aid....Read more First Year Retention Rate 69 % 9.6% Acceptance Rate 59.2% SAT Score 1,010 – 1,260 Avg. Net Price $15,887 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $43,595
8	Defiance College	60.3	42.43	970 – 1,110	24098	39303	#8 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Defiance College Defiance, OH Located in Defiance, Defiance College accepts 42% of applicants and requests unknown to apply, but fee waivers may be available. About 99% of students at Defiance College will receive grant aid from the school. On average, these students receive $21,245 each. The first year retention rate is 60%....Read more First Year Retention Rate 60 % Acceptance Rate 42.4% SAT Score 970 – 1,110 Avg. Net Price $24,098 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $39,303
9	Manchester University	60.2	91.3	900 – 1,190	19367	43024	#9 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Manchester University North Manchester, IN Based in North Manchester, Manchester University’s acceptance rate is 91% and charges $25 for undergraduate applications. About 100% of students at Manchester University will receive institutional grant aid....Read more First Year Retention Rate 60 % Acceptance Rate 91.3% SAT Score 900 – 1,190 Avg. Net Price $19,367 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $43,024
10	Bluffton University	0	61.16	920 – 1,130	21299	41940	#10 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Bluffton University Bluffton, OH First Year Retention Rate -- Acceptance Rate 61.2% SAT Score 920 – 1,130 Avg. Net Price $21,299 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $41,940

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 – Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference

About

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference

92 % 1.2%

76.9%

1,300 – 1,490

$44,016

$85,935

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference

86 % 3.7%

86.6%

1,180 – 1,380

$25,634

$40,447

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference

78 %

84.0%

1,130 – 1,300

$22,929

$42,876

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference

77 % 3.8%

73.1%

1,130 – 1,340

$26,517

$35,430

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference

73 % 2.8%

69.8%

1,060 – 1,240

$23,843

$45,635

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference

70 %

53.4%

940 – 1,170

$21,914

$44,396

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference

69 % 9.6%

59.2%

1,010 – 1,260

$15,887

$43,595

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference

60 %

42.4%

970 – 1,110

$24,098

$39,303

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference

60 %

91.3%

900 – 1,190

$19,367

$43,024

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference

--

61.2%

920 – 1,130

$21,299

$41,940

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92 %
1.2%

86 %
3.7%

77 %
3.8%

73 %
2.8%

69 %
9.6%