2026 College Rankings

Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Horizon League

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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	University of Detroit Mercy	83	75.72	1,040 – 1,270	17987	64534	#1 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Horizon League University of Detroit Mercy Detroit, MI Found in Detroit, the University of Detroit Mercy’s acceptance rate is 76%. Undergraduates have to pay unknown to apply. About 100% of attending students will receive institutional grant aid. The first year retention rate is 83%....Read more First Year Retention Rate 83 % Acceptance Rate 75.7% SAT Score 1,040 – 1,270 Avg. Net Price $17,987 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $64,534
2	Oakland University	77.9	87.84	920 – 1,180	15734	49017	#2 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Horizon League Oakland University Rochester Hills, MI Based in Rochester Hills, Oakland University accepted 88% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. Undergraduates have to send in unknown to apply. About 92% of students attending Oakland University currently receive institutional grant aid....Read more First Year Retention Rate 78 % 3.9% Acceptance Rate 87.8% SAT Score 920 – 1,180 Avg. Net Price $15,734 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $49,017
3	Northern Kentucky University	75.42	83.07	970 – 1,210	8151	42105	#3 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Horizon League Northern Kentucky University Highland Heights, KY Located in Highland Heights, Northern Kentucky University’s acceptance rate is 83%. They charge unknown for undergraduate applications and $40 for graduate applications. About 94% of attending students will receive institutional grant aid....Read more First Year Retention Rate 75 % 3.1% Acceptance Rate 83.1% SAT Score 970 – 1,210 Avg. Net Price $8,151 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $42,105
4	Cleveland State University	70.25	91.3	880 – 1,130	16307	44625	#4 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Horizon League Cleveland State University Cleveland, OH Found in Cleveland, Cleveland State University’s acceptance rate is 91%. They request $40 for undergraduate applications and . About 76% of students attending Cleveland State University currently receive grant aid from the school....Read more First Year Retention Rate 70 % 1.7% Acceptance Rate 91.3% SAT Score 880 – 1,130 Avg. Net Price $16,307 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $44,625
5	Wright State University-Main Campus	68	96.33	930 – 1,190	15400	42229	#5 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Horizon League Wright State University-Main Campus Dayton, OH Based in Dayton, Wright State University-Main Campus accepts 96% of applicants and requests unknown to apply, but fee waivers may be available. About 84% of attending students currently receive grant aid from the school. At Wright State University-Main Campus, there is a 68% first year retention rate and around 27% of......Read more First Year Retention Rate 68 % 7.9% Acceptance Rate 96.3% SAT Score 930 – 1,190 Avg. Net Price $15,400 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $42,229
6	Purdue University Fort Wayne	66.7	83.89	990 – 1,240	12619	42873	#6 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Horizon League Purdue University Fort Wayne Fort Wayne, IN Located in Fort Wayne, Purdue University Fort Wayne’s acceptance rate is 84%. Undergraduates have to pay $30 to apply. About 63% of students attending Purdue University Fort Wayne will receive institutional grant aid....Read more First Year Retention Rate 67 % 3.7% Acceptance Rate 83.9% SAT Score 990 – 1,240 Avg. Net Price $12,619 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $42,873
7	University of Wisconsin-Green Bay	65.9	72.89	970 – 1,180	10289	46546	#7 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Horizon League University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Green Bay, WI Found in Green Bay, the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay accepts 73% of applicants. They charge $50 for undergraduate applications, but fee waivers may be requested. About 33% of students attending the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay will receive institutional grant aid. 65% of students continued studying at the University......Read more First Year Retention Rate 66 % 11.6% Acceptance Rate 72.9% SAT Score 970 – 1,180 Avg. Net Price $10,289 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $46,546
8	Indiana University-Indianapolis	62.89	76.37	1,050 – 1,240	11592	47173	#8 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Horizon League Indiana University-Indianapolis Indianapolis, IN Based in Indianapolis, Indiana University-Indianapolis accepts 76% of applicants. Undergraduates have to pay $65 to apply. About 75% of students at Indiana University-Indianapolis will receive grant aid from the school....Read more First Year Retention Rate 63 % 13.2% Acceptance Rate 76.4% SAT Score 1,050 – 1,240 Avg. Net Price $11,592 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $47,173
9	University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee	0	95.29	970 – 1,210	16499	45851	#9 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Horizon League University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Milwaukee, WI Found in Milwaukee, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee accepts 95% of applicants and requires unknown for undergraduate applications and $56 for graduate applications. Approximately 62% of students at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee will receive institutional grant aid....Read more First Year Retention Rate -- Acceptance Rate 95.3% SAT Score 970 – 1,210 Avg. Net Price $16,499 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $45,851

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 – Horizon League

About

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Horizon League

83 %

75.7%

1,040 – 1,270

$17,987

$64,534

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Horizon League

78 % 3.9%

87.8%

920 – 1,180

$15,734

$49,017

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Horizon League

75 % 3.1%

83.1%

970 – 1,210

$8,151

$42,105

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Horizon League

70 % 1.7%

91.3%

880 – 1,130

$16,307

$44,625

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Horizon League

68 % 7.9%

96.3%

930 – 1,190

$15,400

$42,229

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Horizon League

67 % 3.7%

83.9%

990 – 1,240

$12,619

$42,873

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Horizon League

66 % 11.6%

72.9%

970 – 1,180

$10,289

$46,546

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Horizon League

63 % 13.2%

76.4%

1,050 – 1,240

$11,592

$47,173

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Horizon League

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95.3%

970 – 1,210

$16,499

$45,851

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78 %
3.9%

75 %
3.1%

70 %
1.7%

68 %
7.9%

67 %
3.7%

66 %
11.6%

63 %
13.2%