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Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

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Minnesota Intercollegiate 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	Carleton College	96.5	20.41	1,450 – 1,560	29434	53989	#1 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Carleton College Northfield, MN Part of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, the most popular sports at Carleton College are Track and Field and Cross Country (combined), Football, and Swimming and Diving (combined). They’re known as the Knights and wear blue and maize. Computer Science is a commonly chosen undergraduate major. First Year Retention Rate 97 % 0.5% Acceptance Rate 20.4% SAT Score 1,450 – 1,560 Avg. Net Price $29,434 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $53,989
2	Macalester College	92.28	28.52	1,350 – 1,500	38571	46244	#2 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Macalester College Saint Paul, MN Macalester College is a private liberal arts college that sits near the Mississippi River in the heart of the Twin Cities. Students can earn up to a bachelor’s degree and a commonly selected major is Econometrics and Quantitative Economics....Read more First Year Retention Rate 92 % 2.9% Acceptance Rate 28.5% SAT Score 1,350 – 1,500 Avg. Net Price $38,571 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $46,244
3	St Olaf College	92.2	48.32	1,310 – 1,450	27282	48373	#3 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference St Olaf College Northfield, MN Founded by Norwegian-American immigrant pastors and farmers, St. Olaf has actually been visited by King Olav and King Harald V. Their mascot is St. Olaf Lion and the school’s athletes are known as the Oles. With 45 majors offered, the most popular area of study is Biology/Biological Sciences, General. First Year Retention Rate 92 % 1.9% Acceptance Rate 48.3% SAT Score 1,310 – 1,450 Avg. Net Price $27,282 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $48,373
4	College of Saint Benedict	86.3	88.87	1,040 – 1,280	29720	54567	#4 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference College of Saint Benedict Saint Joseph, MN Partnered with Saint John’s University for men, the College of Saint Benedict is exclusively for women. The school got its start in 1913 with only six students. Since 1955, the two campuses have shared resources. CSB has an 11 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio, 86% first year retention rate, and 74% four year graduation rate. First Year Retention Rate 86 % 3.0% Acceptance Rate 88.9% SAT Score 1,040 – 1,280 Avg. Net Price $29,720 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $54,567
5	Saint Johns University	85.8	77.43	1,080 – 1,280	29473	59843	#5 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Saint Johns University Collegeville, MN Saint John’s University is an all-male school that has a partnership with the College of Saint Benedict, the women’s college. They share curriculum and access to resources. Saint John’s has a 12 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio and a 85% first year retention rate. First Year Retention Rate 86 % 0.2% Acceptance Rate 77.4% SAT Score 1,080 – 1,280 Avg. Net Price $29,473 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $59,843
6	Bethel University	85.71	87.8	1,110 – 1,310	30375	55145	#6 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Bethel University Saint Paul, MN At Bethel University, 27% of accepted students will decide to attend. Business Administration and Management, General, and Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse are two popular undergraduate majors. The school has an 11 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio and 85% first year retention rate. First Year Retention Rate 86 % 1.5% Acceptance Rate 87.8% SAT Score 1,110 – 1,310 Avg. Net Price $30,375 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $55,145
7	Gustavus Adolphus College	84	61.8	1,210 – 1,400	28805	51546	#7 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Gustavus Adolphus College Saint Peter, MN Psychology, General is the most popular major at Gustavus Adolphus College. A fairly selective school, it received 4,450 applications during the last admissions cycle and accepted 2,750 of them. The college has an 11 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio and 84% first year retention rate. First Year Retention Rate 84 % Acceptance Rate 61.8% SAT Score 1,210 – 1,400 Avg. Net Price $28,805 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $51,546
8	Concordia College at Moorhead	80.23	63.06	1,080 – 1,280	25488	48225	#8 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Concordia College at Moorhead Moorhead, MN Concordia College at Moorhead has an 11 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio and 80% first year retention rate. It’s home to a robust music program with several choirs, bands, and orchestras. Students are known as the Cobbers and compete in the NCAA Division III with football Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. First Year Retention Rate 80 % Acceptance Rate 63.1% SAT Score 1,080 – 1,280 Avg. Net Price $25,488 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $48,225
9	St Catherine University	80	91.85	1,040 – 1,230	22357	52795	#9 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference St Catherine University Saint Paul, MN Based in Saint Paul, St Catherine University’s acceptance rate is 92%. Undergraduates have to send in unknown to apply. About 99% of students attending St Catherine University currently receive grant aid from the school....Read more First Year Retention Rate 80 % 2.6% Acceptance Rate 91.9% SAT Score 1,040 – 1,230 Avg. Net Price $22,357 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $52,795
10	The College of Saint Scholastica	77.7	93.89	1,080 – 1,280	23913	62332	#10 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference The College of Saint Scholastica Duluth, MN A Roman Catholic school founded by the Benedictine Sisters, the College of St. Scholastica’s motto is “All her paths are peace” in Latin. It’s non selective, and 23% of those accepted during the last admissions cycle enrolled....Read more First Year Retention Rate 78 % Acceptance Rate 93.9% SAT Score 1,080 – 1,280 Avg. Net Price $23,913 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $62,332
11	Saint Mary's University of Minnesota	74.6	92.78	1,080 – 1,340	22518	54549	#11 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Winona, MN Found in Winona, Saint Mary's University of Minnesota accepted 93% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle and charges unknown for undergraduate applications. Approximately 100% of students attending Saint Mary's University of Minnesota currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college......Read more First Year Retention Rate 75 % 5.1% Acceptance Rate 92.8% SAT Score 1,080 – 1,340 Avg. Net Price $22,518 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $54,549
12	Hamline University	74	89.83	1,040 – 1,250	22759	47139	#12 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Hamline University Saint Paul, MN Based in Saint Paul, Hamline University accepts 90% of applicants and charges unknown for undergraduate applications. About 100% of students attending Hamline University currently receive institutional grant aid....Read more First Year Retention Rate 74 % Acceptance Rate 89.8% SAT Score 1,040 – 1,250 Avg. Net Price $22,759 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $47,139
13	Augsburg University	72.3	81.98	940 – 1,190	24807	48616	#13 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Augsburg University Minneapolis, MN Based in Minneapolis, Augsburg University’s acceptance rate is 82% and requests unknown to apply, but fee waivers may be available. About 100% of students attending Augsburg University currently receive grant aid from the school. At Augsburg University, there is a 72% first year retention rate and around 45% of students will......Read more First Year Retention Rate 72 % 3.3% Acceptance Rate 82.0% SAT Score 940 – 1,190 Avg. Net Price $24,807 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $48,616