2026 College Rankings

Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Mountain East 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	University of Charleston	74	64.58	1,000 – 1,150	21100	42698	#1 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Mountain East Conference University of Charleston Charleston, WV Found in Charleston, the University of Charleston’s acceptance rate is 65%. Undergraduates have to send in $25 to apply. About 92% of attending students currently receive grant aid from the school. The first year retention rate is 74%....Read more First Year Retention Rate 74 % Acceptance Rate 64.6% SAT Score 1,000 – 1,150 Avg. Net Price $21,100 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $42,698
2	West Virginia Wesleyan College	73.6	95.1	980 – 1,200	20093	42672	#2 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Mountain East Conference West Virginia Wesleyan College Buckhannon, WV Affiliated with the United Methodist Church, West Virginia Wesleyan College offers up to Doctor's degrees and has 38 available programs and majors. Business/Commerce, General is the most popular, followed by Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, Biology/Biological Sciences, General, and Criminal Justice/Safety Studies....Read more First Year Retention Rate 74 % Acceptance Rate 95.1% SAT Score 980 – 1,200 Avg. Net Price $20,093 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $42,672
3	University of North Carolina at Pembroke	72	93.35	890 – 1,090	9687	37126	#3 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Mountain East Conference University of North Carolina at Pembroke Pembroke, NC Located in Pembroke, the University of North Carolina at Pembroke accepted 93% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. They request $55 for undergraduate applications and $55 for graduate applications. About 42% of students at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke currently receive grant aid from......Read more First Year Retention Rate 72 % 1.4% Acceptance Rate 93.4% SAT Score 890 – 1,090 Avg. Net Price $9,687 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $37,126
4	Wheeling University	71	75.18	930 – 1,140	19164	48482	#4 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Mountain East Conference Wheeling University Wheeling, WV “Luceat Lux Vestra” – Let Your Light Shine is the motto of this small Catholic school. 78% of Wheeling University’s students receive institutional grants to help offset the cost. Many choose to study Physical Therapy/Therapist. Students wear red, black, and gold, and the school mascot is Iggy the Cardinal. First Year Retention Rate 71 % Acceptance Rate 75.2% SAT Score 930 – 1,140 Avg. Net Price $19,164 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $48,482
5	Davis & Elkins College	69	58.23	910 – 1,140	19762	38495	#5 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Mountain East Conference Davis & Elkins College Elkins, WV Found in Elkins, Davis & Elkins College’s acceptance rate is 58% and requests unknown to apply, but fee waivers may be available. About 100% of students attending Davis & Elkins College currently receive institutional grant aid. The first year retention rate is 69%....Read more First Year Retention Rate 69 % Acceptance Rate 58.2% SAT Score 910 – 1,140 Avg. Net Price $19,762 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $38,495
6	Frostburg State University	69	89.2	930 – 1,240	16521	43638	#6 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Mountain East Conference Frostburg State University Frostburg, MD Based in Frostburg, Frostburg State University’s acceptance rate is 89%. They charge unknown for undergraduate applications, but some schools offer fee waivers. About 87% of students at Frostburg State University currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. The first year retention rate......Read more First Year Retention Rate 69 % 0.0% Acceptance Rate 89.2% SAT Score 930 – 1,240 Avg. Net Price $16,521 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $43,638
7	Glenville State University	68	99.24	870 – 1,090	16745	34917	#7 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Mountain East Conference Glenville State University Glenville, WV Found in Glenville, Glenville State University’s acceptance rate is 99%. They charge $25 for undergraduate applications and $20 for graduate applications. Approximately 68% of students attending Glenville State University currently receive institutional grant aid. The first year retention rate is 68%....Read more First Year Retention Rate 68 % Acceptance Rate 99.2% SAT Score 870 – 1,090 Avg. Net Price $16,745 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $34,917
8	Concord University	64.84	92.56	860 – 1,120	10630	33094	#8 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Mountain East Conference Concord University Athens, WV Based in Athens, Concord University accepts 93% of applicants. They request unknown for undergraduate applications, but some students qualify for fee waivers. About 79% of students at Concord University will receive grant aid from the school....Read more First Year Retention Rate 65 % 32.3% Acceptance Rate 92.6% SAT Score 860 – 1,120 Avg. Net Price $10,630 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $33,094
9	Fairmont State University	64	99.24	910 – 1,100	10993	41197	#9 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Mountain East Conference Fairmont State University Fairmont, WV Located in Fairmont, Fairmont State University accepts 99% of applicants. They request unknown for undergraduate applications, but fee waivers may be offered. About 77% of students at Fairmont State University will receive institutional grant aid. At Fairmont State University, there is a 64% first year retention rate and......Read more First Year Retention Rate 64 % Acceptance Rate 99.2% SAT Score 910 – 1,100 Avg. Net Price $10,993 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $41,197
10	West Liberty University	63	72.12	920 – 1,150	14203	36822	#10 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Mountain East Conference West Liberty University West Liberty, WV Found in West Liberty, West Liberty University accepts 72% of applicants and requires unknown for undergraduate applications and $40 for graduate applications. Approximately 33% of students attending West Liberty University currently receive institutional grant aid....Read more First Year Retention Rate 63 % Acceptance Rate 72.1% SAT Score 920 – 1,150 Avg. Net Price $14,203 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $36,822
11	West Virginia State University	0	96.37	870 – 1,080	10878	32849	#11 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Mountain East Conference West Virginia State University Institute, WV First Year Retention Rate -- Acceptance Rate 96.4% SAT Score 870 – 1,080 Avg. Net Price $10,878 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $32,849

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 – Mountain East Conference

About

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Mountain East Conference

74 %

64.6%

1,000 – 1,150

$21,100

$42,698

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Mountain East Conference

74 %

95.1%

980 – 1,200

$20,093

$42,672

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Mountain East Conference

72 % 1.4%

93.4%

890 – 1,090

$9,687

$37,126

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Mountain East Conference

71 %

75.2%

930 – 1,140

$19,164

$48,482

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Mountain East Conference

69 %

58.2%

910 – 1,140

$19,762

$38,495

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Mountain East Conference

69 % 0.0%

89.2%

930 – 1,240

$16,521

$43,638

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Mountain East Conference

68 %

99.2%

870 – 1,090

$16,745

$34,917

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Mountain East Conference

65 % 32.3%

92.6%

860 – 1,120

$10,630

$33,094

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Mountain East Conference

64 %

99.2%

910 – 1,100

$10,993

$41,197

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Mountain East Conference

63 %

72.1%

920 – 1,150

$14,203

$36,822

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Mountain East Conference

--

96.4%

870 – 1,080

$10,878

$32,849

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72 %
1.4%

69 %
0.0%

65 %
32.3%