2026 College Rankings

Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Massachusetts State College Athletic Association

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Massachusetts State College Athletic Association

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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	Massachusetts Maritime Academy	86.79	72.07	1,040 – 1,200	20759	80424	#1 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Massachusetts State College Athletic Association Massachusetts Maritime Academy Buzzards Bay, MA The second oldest state maritime academy in the country, the Massachusetts Maritime Academy was founded in 1891. Its motto is “Discipline, Knowledge, Leadership.” Students train on the USTS Kennedy and select one of the 7 programs. Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering is the most popular. First Year Retention Rate 87 % 9.9% Acceptance Rate 72.1% SAT Score 1,040 – 1,200 Avg. Net Price $20,759 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $80,424
2	Worcester State University	78.1	87.99	1,050 – 1,230	14307	50233	#2 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Massachusetts State College Athletic Association Worcester State University Worcester, MA Based in Worcester, Worcester State University’s acceptance rate is 88% and requests $50 to apply, but fee waivers may be available. About 51% of attending students currently receive grant aid from the school. 78% of students continued studying at Worcester State University after completing their first year....Read more First Year Retention Rate 78 % 2.1% Acceptance Rate 88.0% SAT Score 1,050 – 1,230 Avg. Net Price $14,307 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $50,233
3	Westfield State University	73.9	86.71	1,000 – 1,210	17723	46861	#3 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Massachusetts State College Athletic Association Westfield State University Westfield, MA Found in Westfield, Westfield State University accepts 87% of applicants and charges $50 for undergraduate applications. About 63% of attending students currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. The college’s first year retention rate is 73% and around 46% of students will graduate......Read more First Year Retention Rate 74 % 4.5% Acceptance Rate 86.7% SAT Score 1,000 – 1,210 Avg. Net Price $17,723 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $46,861
4	Salem State University	73.66	95.57	1,020 – 1,180	19324	48209	#4 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Massachusetts State College Athletic Association Salem State University Salem, MA Salem State University is a public university located just 30 minutes from Boston. Offering 73 degree programs, the most popular are Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, Psychology, General, and Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration....Read more First Year Retention Rate 74 % Acceptance Rate 95.6% SAT Score 1,020 – 1,180 Avg. Net Price $19,324 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $48,209
5	Framingham State University	71	84.91	1,030 – 1,220	16640	46611	#5 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Massachusetts State College Athletic Association Framingham State University Framingham, MA Located in Framingham, Framingham State University’s acceptance rate is 85%. They request $50 for undergraduate applications. About 70% of students attending Framingham State University currently receive grant aid from the school....Read more First Year Retention Rate 71 % Acceptance Rate 84.9% SAT Score 1,030 – 1,220 Avg. Net Price $16,640 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $46,611
6	Fitchburg State University	69.47	86.93	1,070 – 1,230	15820	41999	#6 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Massachusetts State College Athletic Association Fitchburg State University Fitchburg, MA Located in Fitchburg, Fitchburg State University accepted 87% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle and requires $35 for undergraduate applications and $50 for graduate applications. About 73% of students attending Fitchburg State University will receive institutional grant aid to make attending......Read more First Year Retention Rate 69 % 5.4% Acceptance Rate 86.9% SAT Score 1,070 – 1,230 Avg. Net Price $15,820 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $41,999
7	Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts	68.9	92.35	960 – 1,180	17705	36803	#7 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Massachusetts State College Athletic Association Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts North Adams, MA Business Administration and Management, General is a commonly chosen area of study at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. The school is non selective and offers rolling admissions. Murdock the Mountain Lion cheers on the Trailblazers who play in Ice Hockey, Soccer, and Basketball, among others. First Year Retention Rate 69 % Acceptance Rate 92.4% SAT Score 960 – 1,180 Avg. Net Price $17,705 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $36,803
8	Plymouth State University	68.3	87.54	880 – 1,080	20280	46466	#8 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Massachusetts State College Athletic Association Plymouth State University Plymouth, NH Found in Plymouth, Plymouth State University accepts 88% of applicants. They charge $50 for undergraduate applications and $75 for graduate applications. About 99% of students attending Plymouth State University currently receive institutional grant aid. At Plymouth State University, there is a 68% first year retention rate......Read more First Year Retention Rate 68 % 3.8% Acceptance Rate 87.5% SAT Score 880 – 1,080 Avg. Net Price $20,280 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $46,466
9	University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth	63.6	90.64	1,070 – 1,280	20696	51475	#9 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Massachusetts State College Athletic Association University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth North Dartmouth, MA Found in North Dartmouth, the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth accepts 91% of applicants and charges $60 for undergraduate applications. About 92% of students at the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. The school’s first year retention rate......Read more First Year Retention Rate 64 % 0.2% Acceptance Rate 90.6% SAT Score 1,070 – 1,280 Avg. Net Price $20,696 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $51,475

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 – Massachusetts State College Athletic Association

About

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Massachusetts State College Athletic Association

87 % 9.9%

72.1%

1,040 – 1,200

$20,759

$80,424

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Massachusetts State College Athletic Association

78 % 2.1%

88.0%

1,050 – 1,230

$14,307

$50,233

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Massachusetts State College Athletic Association

74 % 4.5%

86.7%

1,000 – 1,210

$17,723

$46,861

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Massachusetts State College Athletic Association

74 %

95.6%

1,020 – 1,180

$19,324

$48,209

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Massachusetts State College Athletic Association

71 %

84.9%

1,030 – 1,220

$16,640

$46,611

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Massachusetts State College Athletic Association

69 % 5.4%

86.9%

1,070 – 1,230

$15,820

$41,999

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Massachusetts State College Athletic Association

69 %

92.4%

960 – 1,180

$17,705

$36,803

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Massachusetts State College Athletic Association

68 % 3.8%

87.5%

880 – 1,080

$20,280

$46,466

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Massachusetts State College Athletic Association

64 % 0.2%

90.6%

1,070 – 1,280

$20,696

$51,475

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87 %
9.9%

78 %
2.1%

74 %
4.5%

69 %
5.4%

68 %
3.8%

64 %
0.2%