2026 College Rankings

Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

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Michigan Intercollegiate 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	Hope College	88.5	79.24	1,130 – 1,370	28643	49727	#1 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Hope College Holland, MI Student athletes at Hope College are known as the Flying Dutchmen and wear orange and blue. Some popular sports include Football, Basketball, and Track and Field and Cross Country (combined). Hope has a cozy 10 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio and 81% six year graduation rate. First Year Retention Rate 89 % 1.9% Acceptance Rate 79.2% SAT Score 1,130 – 1,370 Avg. Net Price $28,643 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $49,727
2	Saint Mary's College	88.1	75.97	1,160 – 1,340	30389	53470	#2 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Saint Mary's College Notre Dame, IN Saint Mary’s College is a private Catholic liberal arts school for women. It’s somewhat selective and has a 20% yield. 88% of students stay on after they complete their first year and in the classroom, there’s a cozy 10 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio. Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse is the most popular major. First Year Retention Rate 88 % 5.3% Acceptance Rate 76.0% SAT Score 1,160 – 1,340 Avg. Net Price $30,389 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $53,470
3	Calvin University	86.8	70.91	1,090 – 1,350	26374	48039	#3 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Calvin University Grand Rapids, MI Found in Grand Rapids, Calvin University accepts 71% of applicants and requires $35 for undergraduate applications and . About 100% of attending students currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more First Year Retention Rate 87 % 1.9% Acceptance Rate 70.9% SAT Score 1,090 – 1,350 Avg. Net Price $26,374 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $48,039
4	Alma College	85	57	970 – 1,200	24862	45720	#4 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Alma College Alma, MI A fairly selective school, 3,000 applicants received acceptance letters to Alma College during the last admissions cycle. 10% decide to enroll. Classes are smaller, with a 9 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio, and 85% of freshman stay at the school after they complete their first year....Read more First Year Retention Rate 85 % 11.8% Acceptance Rate 57.0% SAT Score 970 – 1,200 Avg. Net Price $24,862 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $45,720
5	Kalamazoo College	84.6	75.33	1,210 – 1,380	26050	46137	#5 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Kalamazoo College Kalamazoo, MI Kalamazoo College is the leading producer of Peace Corps members out of small liberal arts colleges. Its motto is “Lux Esto,” which is Latin for “Be Light.” Many of K College’s faculty hold a terminal degree in their field. Students follow the “K Plan” – an academic plan that focuses on liberal arts, study abroad, and community. First Year Retention Rate 85 % 2.4% Acceptance Rate 75.3% SAT Score 1,210 – 1,380 Avg. Net Price $26,050 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $46,137
6	Trine University	78	84.69	1,110 – 1,310	25580	53010	#6 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Trine University Angola, IN Found in Angola, Trine University’s acceptance rate is 85%. They request unknown for undergraduate applications, but some schools offer fee waivers. Approximately 96% of attending students will receive institutional grant aid. At Trine University, there is a 78% first year retention rate and around 50% of students will earn......Read more First Year Retention Rate 78 % Acceptance Rate 84.7% SAT Score 1,110 – 1,310 Avg. Net Price $25,580 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $53,010
7	Albion College	70.79	80.7	950 – 1,180	18470	48203	#7 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Albion College Albion, MI Albion College’s motto is “Lux Fiat,” or “Let there be Light.” The campus is home to the Whitehouse Nature Center that has six miles of trails, over 160 bird species, 400 plant species, and more. Many undergraduates major in andPre-Medicine/Pre-Medical Studies. First Year Retention Rate 71 % 2.6% Acceptance Rate 80.7% SAT Score 950 – 1,180 Avg. Net Price $18,470 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $48,203
8	The University of Olivet	67	97.11	970 – 1,140	23533	42637	#8 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association The University of Olivet Olivet, MI Found in Olivet, The University of Olivet accepts 97% of applicants and charges unknown for undergraduate applications. Approximately 99% of students attending The University of Olivet will receive grant aid from the school. The school’s first year retention rate is 67% and its four year graduation rate is 37%. Business......Read more First Year Retention Rate 67 % Acceptance Rate 97.1% SAT Score 970 – 1,140 Avg. Net Price $23,533 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $42,637
9	Adrian College	66	68.43	950 – 1,170	22053	42805	#9 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Adrian College Adrian, MI Located in Adrian, Adrian College accepted 68% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle and requests unknown to apply, but fee waivers may be available. Approximately 99% of attending students currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more First Year Retention Rate 66 % Acceptance Rate 68.4% SAT Score 950 – 1,170 Avg. Net Price $22,053 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $42,805

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 – Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

About

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

89 % 1.9%

79.2%

1,130 – 1,370

$28,643

$49,727

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

88 % 5.3%

76.0%

1,160 – 1,340

$30,389

$53,470

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

87 % 1.9%

70.9%

1,090 – 1,350

$26,374

$48,039

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

85 % 11.8%

57.0%

970 – 1,200

$24,862

$45,720

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

85 % 2.4%

75.3%

1,210 – 1,380

$26,050

$46,137

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

78 %

84.7%

1,110 – 1,310

$25,580

$53,010

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

71 % 2.6%

80.7%

950 – 1,180

$18,470

$48,203

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

67 %

97.1%

970 – 1,140

$23,533

$42,637

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

66 %

68.4%

950 – 1,170

$22,053

$42,805

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89 %
1.9%

88 %
5.3%

87 %
1.9%

85 %
11.8%

85 %
2.4%

71 %
2.6%