2026 College Rankings

Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference

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Mid-Eastern 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	Howard University	90.6	41.34	1,100 – 1,320	30028	47379	#1 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Howard University Washington, DC “Veritas et Utilitas,” or “Excellence in Truth and Service,” is the motto of Howard University. The university boasts an impressive 90% first year retention rate. Offering undergraduate, graduate, professional, and joint degree programs which span over 79 areas of study, the university’s most popular major is Biology/Biological......Read more First Year Retention Rate 91 % 0.0% Acceptance Rate 41.3% SAT Score 1,100 – 1,320 Avg. Net Price $30,028 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $47,379
2	Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University	89.18	20.56	1,030 – 1,180	15491	36153	#2 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University Tallahassee, FL Often called Florida A&M, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University is a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. The Rattlers and Lady Rattlers, wearing orange and green, are led by their mascot, Venom the Rattlesnake....Read more First Year Retention Rate 89 % 3.3% Acceptance Rate 20.6% SAT Score 1,030 – 1,180 Avg. Net Price $15,491 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $36,153
3	Morgan State University	76	82.23	850 – 1,080	15350	40065	#3 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Morgan State University Baltimore, MD Morgan State University got its start in 1867 as the Centenary Biblical Institute. It changed its name in 1890 to honor Lyttleton Morgan and became a university in 1975. MSU’s 100-acre campus is a designated national historic site. The school accepts 82% of applicants and awards up to Doctor's degrees. First Year Retention Rate 76 % 7.0% Acceptance Rate 82.2% SAT Score 850 – 1,080 Avg. Net Price $15,350 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $40,065
4	Delaware State University	74.92	61.67	850 – 1,070	15555	37503	#4 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Delaware State University Dover, DE Delaware State University charges $35 for undergraduate applications. The most popular area of study at DSU is Social Work. The DSU Hornets compete in NCAA Division I-FCS Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and wear red and Columbia blue. First Year Retention Rate 75 % Acceptance Rate 61.7% SAT Score 850 – 1,070 Avg. Net Price $15,555 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $37,503
5	University of Maryland Eastern Shore	72.83	90.36	850 – 1,010	14595	34624	#5 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference University of Maryland Eastern Shore Princess Anne, MD The University of Maryland Eastern Shore has a 10 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio and 72% first year retention rate. Biology/Biological Sciences, General is a commonly chosen major, though there are nearly 40 available areas of study. A NCAA Division I without football school, 190 athletes are known as Hawks. First Year Retention Rate 73 % Acceptance Rate 90.4% SAT Score 850 – 1,010 Avg. Net Price $14,595 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $34,624
6	North Carolina Central University	72.4	86.97	810 – 1,130	13884	35967	#6 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference North Carolina Central University Durham, NC North Carolina Central University is non selective, accepting 87% of applicants. 90% receive grant aid, $12,449 on average. A NCAA Division I-FCS school, student athletes could receive athletic scholarships. Popular sports include Football, Basketball, and Tennis. First Year Retention Rate 72 % 4.0% Acceptance Rate 87.0% SAT Score 810 – 1,130 Avg. Net Price $13,884 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $35,967
7	Norfolk State University	70	87.46	870 – 1,030	12272	33412	#7 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Norfolk State University Norfolk, VA Based in Norfolk, Norfolk State University accepted 87% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. They charge $25 for undergraduate applications. Approximately 54% of attending students currently receive institutional grant aid. 70% of students decide to stay at Norfolk State University after completing......Read more First Year Retention Rate 70 % Acceptance Rate 87.5% SAT Score 870 – 1,030 Avg. Net Price $12,272 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $33,412
8	Coppin State University	61	49.56	860 – 1,040	7684	42243	#8 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Coppin State University Baltimore, MD Found in Baltimore, Coppin State University accepts 50% of applicants. They request $50 for undergraduate applications and $50 for graduate applications. Approximately 77% of attending students currently receive institutional grant aid. They are given $9,911 on average. The first year retention rate is 61%....Read more First Year Retention Rate 61 % Acceptance Rate 49.6% SAT Score 860 – 1,040 Avg. Net Price $7,684 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $42,243
9	South Carolina State University	56	82.62	710 – 1,010	17928	30064	#9 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference South Carolina State University Orangeburg, SC Found in Orangeburg, South Carolina State University accepts 83% of applicants and requires $25 for undergraduate applications and $25 for graduate applications. Approximately 65% of students attending South Carolina State University currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more First Year Retention Rate 56 % 17.6% Acceptance Rate 82.6% SAT Score 710 – 1,010 Avg. Net Price $17,928 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $30,064

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-Eastern Athletic Conference

About

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

91 % 0.0%

41.3%

1,100 – 1,320

$30,028

$47,379

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

89 % 3.3%

20.6%

1,030 – 1,180

$15,491

$36,153

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

76 % 7.0%

82.2%

850 – 1,080

$15,350

$40,065

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

75 %

61.7%

850 – 1,070

$15,555

$37,503

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

73 %

90.4%

850 – 1,010

$14,595

$34,624

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

72 % 4.0%

87.0%

810 – 1,130

$13,884

$35,967

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

70 %

87.5%

870 – 1,030

$12,272

$33,412

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

61 %

49.6%

860 – 1,040

$7,684

$42,243

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

56 % 17.6%

82.6%

710 – 1,010

$17,928

$30,064

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91 %
0.0%

89 %
3.3%

76 %
7.0%

72 %
4.0%

56 %
17.6%