2026 College Rankings

Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Middle Atlantic States Athletic Corporation

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Middle Atlantic States Athletic Corporation

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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	Stevens Institute of Technology	94	47.58	1,390 – 1,510	46165	90326	#1 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Middle Atlantic States Athletic Corporation Stevens Institute of Technology Hoboken, NJ Located right on the Hudson River a few minutes from New York City, Stevens Institute of Technology has an 11 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio and about 65% of students will graduate in 4 years....Read more First Year Retention Rate 94 % Acceptance Rate 47.6% SAT Score 1,390 – 1,510 Avg. Net Price $46,165 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $90,326
2	Messiah University	89	78.97	1,130 – 1,360	29408	50192	#2 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Middle Atlantic States Athletic Corporation Messiah University Mechanicsburg, PA Messiah University has a 12 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio and 89% first year retention rate. Originally known as the Messiah Bible School and Missionary Training House in 1909, the school became a college in 1951 and a university in 2020. Incoming students have to sign a Community Covenant. First Year Retention Rate 89 % 4.7% Acceptance Rate 79.0% SAT Score 1,130 – 1,360 Avg. Net Price $29,408 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $50,192
3	DeSales University	83	77.09	1,100 – 1,270	31732	52721	#3 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Middle Atlantic States Athletic Corporation DeSales University Center Valley, PA A Catholic liberal arts school, DeSales University offers 57 degree programs—Business Administration and Management, General, and Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse being the most sought after. The school has a 12 to 1 student to faculty ratio, 83% first year retention rate, and 61% 4-year graduation rate. First Year Retention Rate 83 % 2.5% Acceptance Rate 77.1% SAT Score 1,100 – 1,270 Avg. Net Price $31,732 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $52,721
4	Lebanon Valley College	83	83.77	1,140 – 1,310	27995	54021	#4 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Middle Atlantic States Athletic Corporation Lebanon Valley College Annville, PA 100% of students attending Lebanon Valley College receive institutional grants averaging $34,994, and 83% will stay on after they complete their first year. Many opt to study Kinesiology and Exercise Science, Business Administration and Management, General, and Physical Therapy/Therapist....Read more First Year Retention Rate 83 % Acceptance Rate 83.8% SAT Score 1,140 – 1,310 Avg. Net Price $27,995 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $54,021
5	Arcadia University	79	80.22	1,070 – 1,270	30037	44004	#5 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Middle Atlantic States Athletic Corporation Arcadia University Glenside, PA Found in Glenside, Arcadia University accepted 80% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. They request unknown for undergraduate applications, but some students qualify for fee waivers. Approximately 99% of attending students currently receive institutional grant aid....Read more First Year Retention Rate 79 % 2.5% Acceptance Rate 80.2% SAT Score 1,070 – 1,270 Avg. Net Price $30,037 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $44,004
6	Stevenson University	79	78.91	1,010 – 1,190	27162	54574	#6 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Middle Atlantic States Athletic Corporation Stevenson University Owings Mills, MD Based in Owings Mills, Stevenson University accepted 79% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle and charges unknown for undergraduate applications. Approximately 100% of students attending Stevenson University currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. 79% of......Read more First Year Retention Rate 79 % 1.3% Acceptance Rate 78.9% SAT Score 1,010 – 1,190 Avg. Net Price $27,162 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $54,574
7	Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus	78	95.19	1,040 – 1,320	25585	45916	#7 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Middle Atlantic States Athletic Corporation Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus Madison, NJ The Florham campus Fairleigh Dickinson opened in 1958, with other campuses located in New Jersey, Canada, and the United Kingdom. With an 78% first year retention rate, many students major in Pharmacy, Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Business Administration and Management, and General. First Year Retention Rate 78 % 1.3% Acceptance Rate 95.2% SAT Score 1,040 – 1,320 Avg. Net Price $25,585 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $45,916
8	Misericordia University	78	70.93	1,060 – 1,230	26747	55910	#8 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Middle Atlantic States Athletic Corporation Misericordia University Dallas, PA Misericordia University is a private liberal arts school located just north of Philadelphia. Many of its students come from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York. Roman Catholic, College Misericordia was founded in 1924 by the Religious Sisters of Mercy – it became a university in 2007. First Year Retention Rate 78 % 2.5% Acceptance Rate 70.9% SAT Score 1,060 – 1,230 Avg. Net Price $26,747 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $55,910
9	Widener University	78	70.93	1,080 – 1,290	26778	63375	#9 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Middle Atlantic States Athletic Corporation Widener University Chester, PA Based in Chester, Widener University accepted 71% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle and charges unknown for undergraduate applications. About 100% of students attending Widener University will receive institutional grant aid. At Widener University, there is a 78% first year retention rate and......Read more First Year Retention Rate 78 % Acceptance Rate 70.9% SAT Score 1,080 – 1,290 Avg. Net Price $26,778 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $63,375
10	York College of Pennsylvania	78	73.74	1,030 – 1,280	20096	50940	#10 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Middle Atlantic States Athletic Corporation York College of Pennsylvania York, PA Based in York, York College of Pennsylvania accepts 74% of applicants. They require unknown for undergraduate applications. Approximately 98% of students at York College of Pennsylvania will receive institutional grant aid. 78% of students continued studying at York College of Pennsylvania after completing their first year....Read more First Year Retention Rate 78 % 1.3% Acceptance Rate 73.7% SAT Score 1,030 – 1,280 Avg. Net Price $20,096 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $50,940
11	Alvernia University	72	58.06	1,100 – 1,290	28645	49938	#11 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Middle Atlantic States Athletic Corporation Alvernia University Reading, PA Based in Reading, Alvernia University accepted 58% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle and requests unknown to apply, but fee waivers may be available. About 99% of attending students will receive grant aid from the school....Read more First Year Retention Rate 72 % 1.4% Acceptance Rate 58.1% SAT Score 1,100 – 1,290 Avg. Net Price $28,645 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $49,938
12	Delaware Valley University	69	93.21	1,100 – 1,320	28975	41324	#12 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Middle Atlantic States Athletic Corporation Delaware Valley University Doylestown, PA Based in Doylestown, Delaware Valley University accepted 93% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. They request unknown for undergraduate applications. About 100% of attending students will receive grant aid from the school....Read more First Year Retention Rate 69 % 4.5% Acceptance Rate 93.2% SAT Score 1,100 – 1,320 Avg. Net Price $28,975 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $41,324
13	Hood College	68	77.77	930 – 1,180	23350	48415	#13 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Middle Atlantic States Athletic Corporation Hood College Frederick, MD Based in Frederick, Hood College’s acceptance rate is 78%. They charge unknown for undergraduate applications and . Approximately 100% of students at Hood College currently receive institutional grant aid. On average, these students receive $32,476 each. The first year retention rate is 68%....Read more First Year Retention Rate 68 % 15.0% Acceptance Rate 77.8% SAT Score 930 – 1,180 Avg. Net Price $23,350 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $48,415
14	Eastern University	65	90.77	1,020 – 1,190	27422	41580	#14 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Middle Atlantic States Athletic Corporation Eastern University Saint Davids, PA Found in Saint Davids, Eastern University’s acceptance rate is 91%. They request unknown for undergraduate applications, but fee waivers may be requested. About 100% of students at Eastern University currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more First Year Retention Rate 65 % 8.5% Acceptance Rate 90.8% SAT Score 1,020 – 1,190 Avg. Net Price $27,422 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $41,580
15	Albright College	62	76.33	950 – 1,150	20587	45391	#15 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Middle Atlantic States Athletic Corporation Albright College Reading, PA Found in Reading, Albright College accepts 76% of applicants and requires unknown for undergraduate applications and . About 99% of students at Albright College will receive institutional grant aid....Read more First Year Retention Rate 62 % 1.6% Acceptance Rate 76.3% SAT Score 950 – 1,150 Avg. Net Price $20,587 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $45,391