2026 College Rankings

Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Mid-South 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	Union College	90.2	43.74	1,320 – 1,480	19223	36529	#1 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Mid-South Conference Union College Barbourville, KY Found in Barbourville, Union College’s acceptance rate is 44%. They require $60 for undergraduate applications. About 98% of students attending Union College currently receive grant aid from the school. At Union College, there is a 90% first year retention rate and 28% of students will earn their degree in four years or less....Read more First Year Retention Rate 90 % Acceptance Rate 43.7% SAT Score 1,320 – 1,480 Avg. Net Price $19,223 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $36,529
2	Freed-Hardeman University	84.86	90.61	1,080 – 1,280	18267	40086	#2 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Mid-South Conference Freed-Hardeman University Henderson, TN Found in Henderson, Freed-Hardeman University accepts 91% of applicants. They request unknown for undergraduate applications, but some students qualify for fee waivers. Approximately 99% of attending students will receive grant aid from the school. The college’s first year retention rate is 84% and 58% of students will earn......Read more First Year Retention Rate 85 % Acceptance Rate 90.6% SAT Score 1,080 – 1,280 Avg. Net Price $18,267 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $40,086
3	Bethel University	82.6	97.17	1,040 – 1,310	20606	38990	#3 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Mid-South Conference Bethel University McKenzie, TN Based in McKenzie, Bethel University’s acceptance rate is 97% and requests unknown to apply, but fee waivers may be available. Approximately 59% of attending students will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. The institution’s first year retention rate is 82% and 26% of students will earn......Read more First Year Retention Rate 83 % Acceptance Rate 97.2% SAT Score 1,040 – 1,310 Avg. Net Price $20,606 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $38,990
4	Georgetown College	69.06	91.06	970 – 1,150	14878	40393	#4 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Mid-South Conference Georgetown College Georgetown, KY Georgetown College dates back to 1829. During the last admissions cycle, it accepted 1,230 applicants, 26% of which enrolled. 100% of students receive grant aid, $41,435 each on average. Student athletes could also receive athletic scholarships. 551 Tigers compete in Football, Baseball, and Soccer, among other sports. First Year Retention Rate 69 % 2.0% Acceptance Rate 91.1% SAT Score 970 – 1,150 Avg. Net Price $14,878 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $40,393
5	University of the Cumberlands	65	71.39	1,010 – 1,210	11555	39046	#5 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Mid-South Conference University of the Cumberlands Williamsburg, KY Based in Williamsburg, the University of the Cumberlands’s acceptance rate is 71%. Undergraduates have to send in $30 to apply. About 69% of students at the University of the Cumberlands will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more First Year Retention Rate 65 % Acceptance Rate 71.4% SAT Score 1,010 – 1,210 Avg. Net Price $11,555 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $39,046
6	Lindsey Wilson College	63	0	930 – 1,140	14422	34861	#6 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Mid-South Conference Lindsey Wilson College Columbia, KY First Year Retention Rate 63 % Acceptance Rate -- SAT Score 930 – 1,140 Avg. Net Price $14,422 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $34,861
7	Cumberland University	62	67	1,040 – 1,210	17669	52246	#7 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Mid-South Conference Cumberland University Lebanon, TN Found in Lebanon, Cumberland University accepts 67% of applicants. Undergraduates have to send in $25 to apply. Approximately 100% of students at Cumberland University currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. The college’s first year retention rate is 62% and around 41% of students......Read more First Year Retention Rate 62 % Acceptance Rate 67.0% SAT Score 1,040 – 1,210 Avg. Net Price $17,669 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $52,246
8	Life University	61	93.03	930 – 1,110	30403	37368	#8 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Mid-South Conference Life University Marietta, GA Based in Marietta, Life University’s acceptance rate is 93% and requires $50 for undergraduate applications and $50 for graduate applications. About 69% of students attending Life University will receive grant aid from the school. The institution’s first year retention rate is 61% and its four year graduation rate is 24%. The......Read more First Year Retention Rate 61 % 7.0% Acceptance Rate 93.0% SAT Score 930 – 1,110 Avg. Net Price $30,403 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $37,368
9	Faulkner University	58	66.13	950 – 1,130	19908	37313	#9 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Mid-South Conference Faulkner University Montgomery, AL Found in Montgomery, Faulkner University accepts 66% of applicants. They request $25 for undergraduate applications and $75 for graduate applications. About 93% of students at Faulkner University will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more First Year Retention Rate 58 % Acceptance Rate 66.1% SAT Score 950 – 1,130 Avg. Net Price $19,908 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $37,313
10	Warner University	57	47.79	830 – 1,120	21471	39589	#10 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Mid-South Conference Warner University Lake Wales, FL Located in Lake Wales, Warner University’s acceptance rate is 48% and requires $20 for undergraduate applications and $50 for graduate applications. Approximately 99% of students attending Warner University will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more First Year Retention Rate 57 % Acceptance Rate 47.8% SAT Score 830 – 1,120 Avg. Net Price $21,471 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $39,589
11	St. Andrews University	42	30.48	890 – 1,080	31503	37691	#11 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Mid-South Conference St. Andrews University Laurinburg, NC Located in Laurinburg, St- Andrews University’s acceptance rate is 30%. They charge $35 for undergraduate applications and . Approximately 93% of students attending St- Andrews University will receive institutional grant aid. On average, these students receive $15,378 each. The first year retention rate is 42%....Read more First Year Retention Rate 42 % Acceptance Rate 30.5% SAT Score 890 – 1,080 Avg. Net Price $31,503 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $37,691
12	Campbellsville University	0	72.35	930 – 1,180	18777	34639	#12 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Mid-South Conference Campbellsville University Campbellsville, KY Based in Campbellsville, Campbellsville University’s acceptance rate is 72% and requires unknown for undergraduate applications and . Approximately 73% of attending students currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. The first year retention rate is 61%....Read more First Year Retention Rate -- Acceptance Rate 72.4% SAT Score 930 – 1,180 Avg. Net Price $18,777 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $34,639
13	Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale	0	96.97	850 – 1,010	33865	37447	#13 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Mid-South Conference Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale Fort Lauderdale, FL Found in Fort Lauderdale, Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale accepted 97% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle and requires $55 for undergraduate applications and $50 for graduate applications. Approximately 83% of students attending Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale currently receive institutional grant......Read more First Year Retention Rate -- Acceptance Rate 97.0% SAT Score 850 – 1,010 Avg. Net Price $33,865 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $37,447