2026 College Rankings

Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Ivy Group

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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	Brown University	98.8	5.39	1,510 – 1,570	26608	79131	#1 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Ivy Group Brown University Providence, RI Founded in 1764, Brown University was the first school in North America that accepted students regardless of their religion. Their women’s institution, Pembroke College, merged into Brown in 1971. Alumni have gone on to create famous companies including ZipRecruiter, Cards Against Humanity, and CNN....Read more First Year Retention Rate 99 % 0.3% Acceptance Rate 5.4% SAT Score 1,510 – 1,570 Avg. Net Price $26,608 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $79,131
2	University of Pennsylvania	98.8	5.4	1,500 – 1,570	26017	90555	#2 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Ivy Group University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA The University of Pennsylvania, one of the oldest schools in the country, was founded in 1740, primarily by Benjamin Franklin, who was also their first president. A doctoral/research university, UPenn has a 98% first year retention rate, and 89% of students will go on to graduate in four years....Read more First Year Retention Rate 99 % 0.7% Acceptance Rate 5.4% SAT Score 1,500 – 1,570 Avg. Net Price $26,017 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $90,555
3	Yale University	98.8	3.87	1,470 – 1,570	26044	81765	#3 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Ivy Group Yale University New Haven, CT Yale University got its start in 1701 as the Collegiate School, getting its current name in 1718. Their motto, “lux et veritas,” means “light and truth” in Latin. It's made up of fourteen schools including the undergraduate college, twelve professional schools, and the Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences....Read more First Year Retention Rate 99 % 0.2% Acceptance Rate 3.9% SAT Score 1,470 – 1,570 Avg. Net Price $26,044 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $81,765
4	Dartmouth College	98.4	5.4	1,500 – 1,580	17322	82541	#4 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Ivy Group Dartmouth College Hanover, NH An Ivy League research university, Dartmouth College was founded before the Declaration of Independence was signed. Some famous alumni include Daniel Webster, Robert Frost, Dr. Seuss, and Thaddeus Stevens....Read more First Year Retention Rate 98 % 0.4% Acceptance Rate 5.4% SAT Score 1,500 – 1,580 Avg. Net Price $17,322 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $82,541
5	Cornell University	98.1	8.41	1,490 – 1,570	26455	87830	#5 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Ivy Group Cornell University Ithaca, NY Cornell University is made up of seven undergraduate colleges and seven graduate divisions. Some famous alumni include Christopher Reeve, Bill Nye, E.B. White, and Anthony Fauci. 98% of students stay on after the first year, with 94% graduating within six years. Computer Science is the most popular major. First Year Retention Rate 98 % 0.1% Acceptance Rate 8.4% SAT Score 1,490 – 1,570 Avg. Net Price $26,455 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $87,830
6	Columbia University in the City of New York	98	3.86	1,510 – 1,590	20869	88535	#6 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Ivy Group Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NY Columbia University was founded in 1754, making it the oldest institution of higher education in the state. A doctoral/research university, some top majors for students include Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods, Other, and Computer Science....Read more First Year Retention Rate 98 % 4.3% Acceptance Rate 3.9% SAT Score 1,510 – 1,590 Avg. Net Price $20,869 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $88,535
7	Harvard University	98	3.65	1,510 – 1,590	17900	99572	#7 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Ivy Group Harvard University Cambridge, MA Harvard University has more alumni, researchers, and faculty that have won Nobel Prizes and Field Medals than any other school in the world. It also produced eight U.S. presidents, 188 living billionaires, and 110 Olympic medalists....Read more First Year Retention Rate 98 % 1.0% Acceptance Rate 3.7% SAT Score 1,510 – 1,590 Avg. Net Price $17,900 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $99,572
8	Princeton University	98	4.62	1,510 – 1,570	19811	87815	#8 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Ivy Group Princeton University Princeton, NJ A private Ivy League research university, Princeton University was founded in 1746 and originally known as the College of New Jersey, making it the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the country. An extremely selective school, Princeton receives around 40,500 applications annually. First Year Retention Rate 98 % 1.0% Acceptance Rate 4.6% SAT Score 1,510 – 1,570 Avg. Net Price $19,811 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $87,815
9	Barnard College	96.57	7.96	1,450 – 1,540	27738	60411	#9 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Ivy Group Barnard College New York, NY Barnard College is a private women’s liberal arts college located on the banks of the Hudson River. It was founded in response to Columbia University not admitting women. Today, it’s part of the Seven Sisters, an association of women’s liberal arts colleges. Their motto is "Following the Way of Reason” in Greek. First Year Retention Rate 97 % 0.2% Acceptance Rate 8.0% SAT Score 1,450 – 1,540 Avg. Net Price $27,738 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $60,411

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 – Ivy Group

About

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Ivy Group

99 % 0.3%

5.4%

1,510 – 1,570

$26,608

$79,131

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Ivy Group

99 % 0.7%

5.4%

1,500 – 1,570

$26,017

$90,555

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Ivy Group

99 % 0.2%

3.9%

1,470 – 1,570

$26,044

$81,765

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Ivy Group

98 % 0.4%

5.4%

1,500 – 1,580

$17,322

$82,541

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Ivy Group

98 % 0.1%

8.4%

1,490 – 1,570

$26,455

$87,830

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Ivy Group

98 % 4.3%

3.9%

1,510 – 1,590

$20,869

$88,535

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Ivy Group

98 % 1.0%

3.7%

1,510 – 1,590

$17,900

$99,572

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Ivy Group

98 % 1.0%

4.6%

1,510 – 1,570

$19,811

$87,815

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Ivy Group

97 % 0.2%

8.0%

1,450 – 1,540

$27,738

$60,411

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99 %
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99 %
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99 %
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98 %
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98 %
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98 %
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98 %
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97 %
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