2026 College Rankings

Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Mountain West 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	United States Air Force Academy	96	13.93	1,250 – 1,460	0	63721	#1 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Mountain West Conference United States Air Force Academy USAF Academy, CO Students who complete the United States Air Force Academy’s four year program receive commissions as second lieutenants along with their bachelor’s degrees. The USAFA is extremely selective, and 79% of accepted students enroll. With a 7 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio, it also boasts a very high first year retention rate of 96%. First Year Retention Rate 96 % Acceptance Rate 13.9% SAT Score 1,250 – 1,460 Avg. Net Price $0 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $63,721
2	San Jose State University	86.79	84.61	--	13833	62448	#2 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Mountain West Conference San Jose State University San Jose, CA Located in San Jose, San Jose State University’s acceptance rate is 85% and requests $70 to apply, but fee waivers may be available. Approximately 36% of attending students will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more First Year Retention Rate 87 % 0.9% Acceptance Rate 84.6% SAT Score -- Avg. Net Price $13,833 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $62,448
3	Colorado State University-Fort Collins	85.9	88.57	1,070 – 1,300	19828	49748	#3 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Mountain West Conference Colorado State University-Fort Collins Fort Collins, CO The flagship university of Colorado, CSU’s mascot is Cam the Ram. Popular sports on campus include Football, Basketball, and Track and Field and Cross Country (combined), among others. Business Administration and Management, General is the most popular major at the school by far. CSU has a 17 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio. First Year Retention Rate 86 % 0.0% Acceptance Rate 88.6% SAT Score 1,070 – 1,300 Avg. Net Price $19,828 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $49,748
4	California State University-Fresno	82.5	96.38	890 – 1,100	7303	44012	#4 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Mountain West Conference California State University-Fresno Fresno, CA Based in Fresno, California State University-Fresno’s acceptance rate is 96% and requests $70 to apply, but fee waivers may be available. About 66% of attending students will receive grant aid from the school. At California State University-Fresno, there is a 82% first year retention rate and a 18% four year graduation rate....Read more First Year Retention Rate 83 % Acceptance Rate 96.4% SAT Score 890 – 1,100 Avg. Net Price $7,303 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $44,012
5	University of Nevada-Reno	80	73.71	1,020 – 1,250	16801	49182	#5 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Mountain West Conference University of Nevada-Reno Reno, NV Found in Reno, the University of Nevada-Reno’s acceptance rate is 74% and charges unknown for undergraduate applications. About 83% of attending students currently receive institutional grant aid. At the University of Nevada-Reno, there is a 80% first year retention rate and around 40% of undergraduates will earn a degree......Read more First Year Retention Rate 80 % Acceptance Rate 73.7% SAT Score 1,020 – 1,250 Avg. Net Price $16,801 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $49,182
6	University of Nevada-Las Vegas	79.2	84.59	980 – 1,220	11388	42865	#6 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Mountain West Conference University of Nevada-Las Vegas Las Vegas, NV Based in Las Vegas, the University of Nevada-Las Vegas accepted 85% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle and charges $60 for undergraduate applications. Approximately 76% of attending students will receive institutional grant aid....Read more First Year Retention Rate 79 % 1.5% Acceptance Rate 84.6% SAT Score 980 – 1,220 Avg. Net Price $11,388 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $42,865
7	University of Wyoming	79	96.88	1,040 – 1,280	13299	48360	#7 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Mountain West Conference University of Wyoming Laramie, WY The University of Wyoming was founded in 1886, four years before Wyoming became a state. It’s one of the rare schools that features a live animal mascot – a horse named Cowboy Joy. Another mascot, Pistol Pete, is played by a student. Brown and gold are the official school colors, and their motto is simple – “Equality.” First Year Retention Rate 79 % 2.6% Acceptance Rate 96.9% SAT Score 1,040 – 1,280 Avg. Net Price $13,299 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $48,360
8	Boise State University	78.9	87.21	920 – 1,130	19037	45251	#8 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Mountain West Conference Boise State University Boise, ID Located on the Boise River, Boise State University also offers dozens of programs online. Many choose to study Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, Business Administration and Management, General, and Social Work. A non selective school, it received 16,100 applications during the last admissions cycle and accepted 14,000. First Year Retention Rate 79 % 1.4% Acceptance Rate 87.2% SAT Score 920 – 1,130 Avg. Net Price $19,037 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $45,251
9	University of Hawaii at Manoa	76.7	69.67	1,070 – 1,290	14557	45701	#9 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Mountain West Conference University of Hawaii at Manoa Honolulu, HI Found in Honolulu, the University of Hawaii at Manoa’s acceptance rate is 70% and requires $70 for undergraduate applications and $100 for graduate applications. Approximately 63% of attending students will receive institutional grant aid. At the University of Hawaii at Manoa, there is a 76% first year retention rate and a......Read more First Year Retention Rate 77 % Acceptance Rate 69.7% SAT Score 1,070 – 1,290 Avg. Net Price $14,557 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $45,701
10	University of New Mexico-Main Campus	75	79.33	910 – 1,180	7528	37150	#10 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Mountain West Conference University of New Mexico-Main Campus Albuquerque, NM Based in Albuquerque, the University of New Mexico-Main Campus’s acceptance rate is 79% and requires $25 for undergraduate applications and $50 for graduate applications. About 74% of students attending the University of New Mexico-Main Campus will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. At......Read more First Year Retention Rate 75 % 4.2% Acceptance Rate 79.3% SAT Score 910 – 1,180 Avg. Net Price $7,528 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $37,150
11	San Diego State University	0	35.98	1,100 – 1,320	19500	52620	#11 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Mountain West Conference San Diego State University San Diego, CA Located in San Diego, San Diego State University’s acceptance rate is 36%. They request $70 for undergraduate applications, but some schools offer fee waivers. About 90% of attending students will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more First Year Retention Rate -- Acceptance Rate 36.0% SAT Score 1,100 – 1,320 Avg. Net Price $19,500 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $52,620
12	Utah State University	0	92.47	1,050 – 1,310	15825	44822	#12 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Mountain West Conference Utah State University Logan, UT Based in Logan, Utah State University accepted 92% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. They charge $50 for undergraduate applications, but fee waivers may be available. Approximately 78% of students at Utah State University will receive institutional grant aid....Read more First Year Retention Rate -- Acceptance Rate 92.5% SAT Score 1,050 – 1,310 Avg. Net Price $15,825 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $44,822