2026 College Rankings

Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference

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Metro Atlantic 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	Fairfield University	91	33.29	1,290 – 1,410	47630	73693	#1 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Fairfield University Fairfield, CT Fairfield University has 76 degree programs. Composed of 5 different schools, the most popular majors among students are Finance, General, and Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse. There are 35 buildings on campus, including 3 manor houses. Fairfield is highly selective. First Year Retention Rate 91 % 1.1% Acceptance Rate 33.3% SAT Score 1,290 – 1,410 Avg. Net Price $47,630 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $73,693
2	Quinnipiac University	87	77	1,110 – 1,310	39632	65744	#2 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Quinnipiac University Hamden, CT Located in Hamden, Quinnipiac University’s acceptance rate is 77%. They request $65 for undergraduate applications. Approximately 100% of students attending Quinnipiac University currently receive institutional grant aid. At Quinnipiac University, there is a 87% first year retention rate and around 77% of undergraduates will......Read more First Year Retention Rate 87 % Acceptance Rate 77.0% SAT Score 1,110 – 1,310 Avg. Net Price $39,632 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $65,744
3	Siena College	82.69	77.64	1,150 – 1,380	32602	56526	#3 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Siena College Loudonville, NY Located in Loudonville, Siena College accepted 78% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. Undergraduates have to pay $50 to apply. About 98% of students attending Siena College currently receive grant aid from the school. At Siena College, there is a 82% first year retention rate and around 72% of......Read more First Year Retention Rate 83 % 1.9% Acceptance Rate 77.6% SAT Score 1,150 – 1,380 Avg. Net Price $32,602 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $56,526
4	Rider University	80.49	79.4	1,110 – 1,320	26618	51289	#4 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Rider University Lawrenceville, NJ Based in Lawrenceville, Rider University accepts 79% of applicants. They require $50 for undergraduate applications. About 100% of students attending Rider University currently receive grant aid from the school. The institution’s first year retention rate is 80% and its four year graduation rate is 54%. The common areas of......Read more First Year Retention Rate 80 % Acceptance Rate 79.4% SAT Score 1,110 – 1,320 Avg. Net Price $26,618 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $51,289
5	Niagara University	80	39.72	650 – 1,250	17495	48289	#5 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Niagara University Niagara University, NY Niagara University is a Roman Catholic private school, run by the Vincentian Fathers. It’s highly selective and has a 32% yield. 100% of students receive grant aid, with each financial aid package averaging $31,682. NU’s Purple Eagles participate in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. First Year Retention Rate 80 % 1.2% Acceptance Rate 39.7% SAT Score 650 – 1,250 Avg. Net Price $17,495 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $48,289
6	Saint Peter's University	77.5	90.53	970 – 1,170	14486	42470	#6 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Saint Peter's University Jersey City, NJ Found in Jersey City, Saint Peter's University accepts 91% of applicants and charges unknown for undergraduate applications. About 99% of attending students currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. The first year retention rate is 77%....Read more First Year Retention Rate 78 % Acceptance Rate 90.5% SAT Score 970 – 1,170 Avg. Net Price $14,486 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $42,470
7	Manhattan University	77.48	78.5	1,150 – 1,350	28349	64472	#7 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Manhattan University Riverdale, NY Found in Riverdale, Manhattan University accepted 78% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle and requires $75 for undergraduate applications and $75 for graduate applications. About 98% of students attending Manhattan University will receive grant aid from the school. At Manhattan University, there is......Read more First Year Retention Rate 77 % Acceptance Rate 78.5% SAT Score 1,150 – 1,350 Avg. Net Price $28,349 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $64,472
8	Iona University	77	86.94	1,120 – 1,310	28557	51218	#8 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Iona University New Rochelle, NY Found in New Rochelle, Iona University’s acceptance rate is 87%. They request unknown for undergraduate applications, but some schools offer fee waivers. About 99% of attending students currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. At Iona University, there is a 77% first year retention......Read more First Year Retention Rate 77 % 3.8% Acceptance Rate 86.9% SAT Score 1,120 – 1,310 Avg. Net Price $28,557 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $51,218
9	Canisius University	73	72.24	1,010 – 1,250	19321	46089	#9 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Canisius University Buffalo, NY Founded in 1870, Canisius College became Canisius University in 2023. 100% of students receive grant aid to help offset the cost of attending Canisius University, $22,779 on average. The school also offers athletic scholarships, as it's a NCAA Division I without football school....Read more First Year Retention Rate 73 % 8.8% Acceptance Rate 72.2% SAT Score 1,010 – 1,250 Avg. Net Price $19,321 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $46,089
10	Mount St. Mary's University	71	73.81	1,050 – 1,280	25298	48915	#10 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Mount St. Mary's University Emmitsburg, MD Found in Emmitsburg, Mount St- Mary's University accepted 74% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. They charge unknown for undergraduate applications. About 100% of students attending Mount St- Mary's University will receive institutional grant aid. At Mount St- Mary's University, there is a 71%......Read more First Year Retention Rate 71 % Acceptance Rate 73.8% SAT Score 1,050 – 1,280 Avg. Net Price $25,298 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $48,915

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 – Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference

About

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference

91 % 1.1%

33.3%

1,290 – 1,410

$47,630

$73,693

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference

87 %

77.0%

1,110 – 1,310

$39,632

$65,744

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference

83 % 1.9%

77.6%

1,150 – 1,380

$32,602

$56,526

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference

80 %

79.4%

1,110 – 1,320

$26,618

$51,289

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference

80 % 1.2%

39.7%

650 – 1,250

$17,495

$48,289

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference

78 %

90.5%

970 – 1,170

$14,486

$42,470

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference

77 %

78.5%

1,150 – 1,350

$28,349

$64,472

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference

77 % 3.8%

86.9%

1,120 – 1,310

$28,557

$51,218

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference

73 % 8.8%

72.2%

1,010 – 1,250

$19,321

$46,089

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference

71 %

73.8%

1,050 – 1,280

$25,298

$48,915

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91 %
1.1%

83 %
1.9%

80 %
1.2%

77 %
3.8%

73 %
8.8%