2026 College Rankings

Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Mid-American 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	Miami University-Oxford	90.1	75.4	1,220 – 1,380	27928	49773	#1 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Mid-American Conference Miami University-Oxford Oxford, OH Miami University, Oxford’s motto is “Prodesse Quam Conspici”, or “To accomplish without being conspicuous.” It’s one of the oldest public universities in the United States. A NCAA Division I-FBS school, most of Miami’s athletes, the RedHawks, compete in the Mid-American Conference. First Year Retention Rate 90 % 0.7% Acceptance Rate 75.4% SAT Score 1,220 – 1,380 Avg. Net Price $27,928 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $49,773
2	University at Buffalo	85.2	74.18	1,220 – 1,390	20511	53742	#2 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Mid-American Conference University at Buffalo Buffalo, NY Located in Buffalo, the University at Buffalo accepted 74% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. Undergraduates have to send in $50 to apply. About 68% of students attending the University at Buffalo currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more First Year Retention Rate 85 % 0.2% Acceptance Rate 74.2% SAT Score 1,220 – 1,390 Avg. Net Price $20,511 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $53,742
3	Ohio University-Main Campus	84.1	85.17	1,110 – 1,310	20550	48991	#3 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Mid-American Conference Ohio University-Main Campus Athens, OH Located in Athens, Ohio University-Main Campus accepts 85% of applicants. They request $50 for undergraduate applications, but some schools offer fee waivers. About 91% of attending students will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more First Year Retention Rate 84 % 1.3% Acceptance Rate 85.2% SAT Score 1,110 – 1,310 Avg. Net Price $20,550 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $48,991
4	Kent State University at Kent	81.95	86.34	990 – 1,220	20333	40179	#4 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Mid-American Conference Kent State University at Kent Kent, OH Located in Kent, Kent State University at Kent accepted 86% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle and requests $50 to apply, but fee waivers may be available. Approximately 94% of attending students will receive grant aid from the school....Read more First Year Retention Rate 82 % 2.8% Acceptance Rate 86.3% SAT Score 990 – 1,220 Avg. Net Price $20,333 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $40,179
5	Western Michigan University	81.1	84.6	980 – 1,230	20183	45356	#5 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Mid-American Conference Western Michigan University Kalamazoo, MI There are 395 student athletes, known as Broncos, at Western Michigan University, a NCAA Division I-FBS school. They compete in the Mid-American Conference. WMU has an 81% first year retention rate and 16 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio. Many undergraduates major in Finance, General. First Year Retention Rate 81 % 1.6% Acceptance Rate 84.6% SAT Score 980 – 1,230 Avg. Net Price $20,183 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $45,356
6	Ball State University	77.7	85.5	1,080 – 1,260	13017	44394	#6 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Mid-American Conference Ball State University Muncie, IN Found in Muncie, Ball State University’s acceptance rate is 86%. Undergraduates have to send in $60 to apply. About 57% of attending students currently receive institutional grant aid....Read more First Year Retention Rate 78 % 0.9% Acceptance Rate 85.5% SAT Score 1,080 – 1,260 Avg. Net Price $13,017 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $44,394
7	University of Toledo	77.3	92.02	1,040 – 1,280	17927	44162	#7 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Mid-American Conference University of Toledo Toledo, OH Located in Toledo, the University of Toledo’s acceptance rate is 92%. They charge $40 for undergraduate applications and $45 for graduate applications. About 82% of students at the University of Toledo currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. The institution’s first year retention......Read more First Year Retention Rate 77 % 1.8% Acceptance Rate 92.0% SAT Score 1,040 – 1,280 Avg. Net Price $17,927 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $44,162
8	Central Michigan University	75.36	89.82	980 – 1,210	15826	46567	#8 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Mid-American Conference Central Michigan University Mount Pleasant, MI Central Michigan University is a NCAA Division I-FBS school, and the Chippewas compete in the Mid-American Conference. Student athletes can receive scholarships, $13,796 on average, and the school offers institutional grant aid to about 95% of students. First Year Retention Rate 75 % 3.7% Acceptance Rate 89.8% SAT Score 980 – 1,210 Avg. Net Price $15,826 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $46,567
9	University of Akron Main Campus	73	59.67	930 – 1,210	15292	42269	#9 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Mid-American Conference University of Akron Main Campus Akron, OH Based in Akron, the University of Akron Main Campus accepts 60% of applicants and requests unknown to apply, but fee waivers may be available. About 91% of students attending the University of Akron Main Campus will receive institutional grant aid. The college’s first year retention rate is 73% and around 22% of students will......Read more First Year Retention Rate 73 % Acceptance Rate 59.7% SAT Score 930 – 1,210 Avg. Net Price $15,292 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $42,269
10	Northern Illinois University	70	69.79	960 – 1,180	13533	46113	#10 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Mid-American Conference Northern Illinois University Dekalb, IL Northern Illinois University opened in 1895 as the Northern Illinois State School. The 756-acre campus is home to Altgeld Hall, which looks like a castle. Popular areas of study include Psychology, General, Business Administration and Management, and General. First Year Retention Rate 70 % Acceptance Rate 69.8% SAT Score 960 – 1,180 Avg. Net Price $13,533 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $46,113
11	Eastern Michigan University	68.8	79.64	930 – 1,180	17388	43148	#11 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Mid-American Conference Eastern Michigan University Ypsilanti, MI Eastern Michigan University got its start in 1849 as the Michigan State Normal School, the first teachers' college outside of New England. A NCAA Division I-FBS school, Eagles compete in the Mid-American Conference. Popular sports include Football, Basketball, and Track and Field and Cross Country (combined). First Year Retention Rate 69 % 1.2% Acceptance Rate 79.6% SAT Score 930 – 1,180 Avg. Net Price $17,388 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $43,148
12	Bowling Green State University-Main Campus	0	80.96	1,010 – 1,240	20987	41281	#12 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Mid-American Conference Bowling Green State University-Main Campus Bowling Green, OH First Year Retention Rate -- Acceptance Rate 81.0% SAT Score 1,010 – 1,240 Avg. Net Price $20,987 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $41,281

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 – Mid-American Conference

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2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Mid-American Conference

90 % 0.7%

75.4%

1,220 – 1,380

$27,928

$49,773

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Mid-American Conference

85 % 0.2%

74.2%

1,220 – 1,390

$20,511

$53,742

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Mid-American Conference

84 % 1.3%

85.2%

1,110 – 1,310

$20,550

$48,991

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Mid-American Conference

82 % 2.8%

86.3%

990 – 1,220

$20,333

$40,179

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Mid-American Conference

81 % 1.6%

84.6%

980 – 1,230

$20,183

$45,356

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Mid-American Conference

78 % 0.9%

85.5%

1,080 – 1,260

$13,017

$44,394

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Mid-American Conference

77 % 1.8%

92.0%

1,040 – 1,280

$17,927

$44,162

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Mid-American Conference

75 % 3.7%

89.8%

980 – 1,210

$15,826

$46,567

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Mid-American Conference

73 %

59.7%

930 – 1,210

$15,292

$42,269

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Mid-American Conference

70 %

69.8%

960 – 1,180

$13,533

$46,113

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Mid-American Conference

69 % 1.2%

79.6%

930 – 1,180

$17,388

$43,148

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Mid-American Conference

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81.0%

1,010 – 1,240

$20,987

$41,281

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90 %
0.7%

85 %
0.2%

84 %
1.3%

82 %
2.8%

81 %
1.6%

78 %
0.9%

77 %
1.8%

75 %
3.7%

69 %
1.2%