2026 College Rankings

Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – New England Womens and Mens Athletic Conference

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New England Womens and Mens 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	Babson College	95	17.09	1,400 – 1,530	30220	91354	#1 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – New England Womens and Mens Athletic Conference Babson College Wellesley, MA Babson College began as an all-male school in 1919, originally known as Babson Institute, and became coeducational in 1969. It has an astounding 95% first year retention rate and 90% four year graduation rate. The only available undergraduate major is Business Administration and Management, General....Read more First Year Retention Rate 95 % 1.1% Acceptance Rate 17.1% SAT Score 1,400 – 1,530 Avg. Net Price $30,220 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $91,354
2	Clark University	0	39.54	1,310 – 1,460	32767	49022	#2 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – New England Womens and Mens Athletic Conference Clark University Worcester, MA First Year Retention Rate -- Acceptance Rate 39.5% SAT Score 1,310 – 1,460 Avg. Net Price $32,767 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $49,022
3	Emerson College	86.8	47.49	1,270 – 1,410	50703	42799	#3 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – New England Womens and Mens Athletic Conference Emerson College Boston, MA Based in Boston, Emerson College accepts 47% of applicants and requests $60 to apply, but fee waivers may be available. About 78% of students attending Emerson College currently receive institutional grant aid. They receive $25,212 on average. The first year retention rate is 86%....Read more First Year Retention Rate 87 % Acceptance Rate 47.5% SAT Score 1,270 – 1,410 Avg. Net Price $50,703 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $42,799
4	Massachusetts Institute of Technology	99	4.85	1,510 – 1,590	21519	131633	#4 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – New England Womens and Mens Athletic Conference Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MA The Massachusetts Institute of Technology, or MIT, offers up to a Doctor's degree. It became a land grant-college in 1863. Top majors include Management Science, Computer Science, and Mechanical Engineering. Alumni have gone on to found well-known companies, such as Intel, Koch Industries, Dropbox, and Campbell Soup. First Year Retention Rate 99 % Acceptance Rate 4.9% SAT Score 1,510 – 1,590 Avg. Net Price $21,519 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $131,633
5	Mount Holyoke College	89	36.03	1,390 – 1,540	35782	48590	#5 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – New England Womens and Mens Athletic Conference Mount Holyoke College South Hadley, MA Mount Holyoke College is the oldest member of the Seven Sisters colleges. Their motto is Psalms 144:12 – “That our daughters may be as corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace.” The campus features a botanic garden, an art museum, and the John Payson Williston Observatory....Read more First Year Retention Rate 89 % 1.1% Acceptance Rate 36.0% SAT Score 1,390 – 1,540 Avg. Net Price $35,782 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $48,590
6	Norwich University	72.63	73.61	1,110 – 1,310	28196	59743	#6 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – New England Womens and Mens Athletic Conference Norwich University Northfield, VT Found in Northfield, Norwich University accepts 74% of applicants and requests unknown to apply, but fee waivers may be available. Approximately 99% of students attending Norwich University currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more First Year Retention Rate 73 % Acceptance Rate 73.6% SAT Score 1,110 – 1,310 Avg. Net Price $28,196 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $59,743
7	Salve Regina University	82.8	68.17	1,170 – 1,340	37794	55027	#7 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – New England Womens and Mens Athletic Conference Salve Regina University Newport, RI Located in Newport, Salve Regina University accepted 68% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. Undergraduates have to pay $50 to apply. About 100% of students attending Salve Regina University will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. At Salve Regina University,......Read more First Year Retention Rate 83 % 2.6% Acceptance Rate 68.2% SAT Score 1,170 – 1,340 Avg. Net Price $37,794 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $55,027
8	Smith College	94	21	1,420 – 1,530	27823	45731	#8 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – New England Womens and Mens Athletic Conference Smith College Northampton, MA Located just west of the Connecticut River, Smith College is among the largest women’s colleges in the US. It doesn’t cost anything to apply as an undergraduate. Students enjoy a cozy 7 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio and a 94% first year retention rate. Notable alumni include Julia Child, Gloria Steinman, and Sylvia Plath. First Year Retention Rate 94 % 1.1% Acceptance Rate 21.0% SAT Score 1,420 – 1,530 Avg. Net Price $27,823 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $45,731
9	Springfield College	81	71.89	1,080 – 1,330	29198	43692	#9 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – New England Womens and Mens Athletic Conference Springfield College Springfield, MA Gym teacher James Naismith invented Basketball at Springfield College in 1891, when it was the International Young Men's Christian Association Training School. Students are known as the Pride and wearing maroon and white, they compete in the NCAA Division III with football New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference. First Year Retention Rate 81 % 3.6% Acceptance Rate 71.9% SAT Score 1,080 – 1,330 Avg. Net Price $29,198 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $43,692
10	United States Coast Guard Academy	96.49	24.32	1,190 – 1,380	0	63721	#10 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – New England Womens and Mens Athletic Conference United States Coast Guard Academy New London, CT “Scientiæ Cedit Mare,” or “the sea yields to knowledge,” is the motto of the United States Coast Guard Academy. Founded in 1876, it’s the smallest of the five service academies. The most popular majors are Business Administration and Management, General, Political Science and Government, General, and Mechanical Engineering. First Year Retention Rate 96 % Acceptance Rate 24.3% SAT Score 1,190 – 1,380 Avg. Net Price $0 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $63,721
11	United States Merchant Marine Academy	94	32.47	1,150 – 1,330	5173	96770	#11 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – New England Womens and Mens Athletic Conference United States Merchant Marine Academy Kings Point, NY The United States Merchant Marine Academy’s motto is “Acta Non Verba”, or “Deeds not Words.” The Academy accepted 500 out of 1,390 applications last year. The only available majors are Marine Science/Merchant Marine Officer, Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, and Systems Engineering. First Year Retention Rate 94 % Acceptance Rate 32.5% SAT Score 1,150 – 1,330 Avg. Net Price $5,173 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $96,770
12	Wellesley College	96.5	14.05	1,460 – 1,560	21501	65961	#12 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – New England Womens and Mens Athletic Conference Wellesley College Wellesley, MA Wellesley College is a private women’s liberal arts college going back to 1870. It’s the largest women’s college, and it has seen famous alumni including Hillary Clinton, Madeleine Albright, and Katharine Lee Bates. Econometrics and Quantitative Economics is the most commonly chosen area of study. First Year Retention Rate 97 % 0.5% Acceptance Rate 14.1% SAT Score 1,460 – 1,560 Avg. Net Price $21,501 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $65,961
13	Wheaton College (Massachusetts)	85	71.33	1,150 – 1,320	31638	51607	#13 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – New England Womens and Mens Athletic Conference Wheaton College (Massachusetts) Norton, MA Wheaton College got its start as the Wheaton Female Seminary in 1834. It received its current moniker in 1912 and began admitting men in 1988. To offer more courses to students, Wheaton has partnerships with Brown University and nine other local schools....Read more First Year Retention Rate 85 % Acceptance Rate 71.3% SAT Score 1,150 – 1,320 Avg. Net Price $31,638 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $51,607
14	Worcester Polytechnic Institute	94	60.16	1,200 – 1,390	47799	85038	#14 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – New England Womens and Mens Athletic Conference Worcester Polytechnic Institute Worcester, MA Located in Worcester, Worcester Polytechnic Institute’s acceptance rate is 60%. They charge unknown for undergraduate applications, but fee waivers may be available. About 95% of students attending Worcester Polytechnic Institute currently receive institutional grant aid. At Worcester Polytechnic Institute, there is a 94%......Read more First Year Retention Rate 94 % Acceptance Rate 60.2% SAT Score 1,200 – 1,390 Avg. Net Price $47,799 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $85,038