2026 College Rankings

Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – North Atlantic 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	Lesley University	81	94.42	1,040 – 1,240	33111	40150	#1 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – North Atlantic Conference Lesley University Cambridge, MA Opened in 1909 as Lesley School, a women’s college for future kindergarten teachers, Lesley University began admitting men in 2005. Today, women still make up a majority of the student body. The school’s motto is “I Would Have Perished Had I Not Persisted,” or “Perissem Ni Perstitissem” in Latin. First Year Retention Rate 81 % Acceptance Rate 94.4% SAT Score 1,040 – 1,240 Avg. Net Price $33,111 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $40,150
2	University of Maine at Farmington	72.65	96.72	1,000 – 1,250	15383	31513	#2 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – North Atlantic Conference University of Maine at Farmington Farmington, ME The University of Maine at Farmington opened in 1864, originally known as the Western State Normal School. It underwent several name changes over the following century. The school newspaper is “The Farmington Flyer,” and the Beavers wear maroon, gold, and gray, and compete in the North Atlantic Conference. First Year Retention Rate 73 % 8.0% Acceptance Rate 96.7% SAT Score 1,000 – 1,250 Avg. Net Price $15,383 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $31,513
3	SUNY College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill	72	83.25	950 – 1,160	18122	37901	#3 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – North Atlantic Conference SUNY College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill Cobleskill, NY Located in Cobleskill, SUNY College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill accepts 83% of applicants. They require $50 for undergraduate applications. Approximately 90% of attending students will receive grant aid from the school....Read more First Year Retention Rate 72 % Acceptance Rate 83.3% SAT Score 950 – 1,160 Avg. Net Price $18,122 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $37,901
4	Thomas College	71	97.07	800 – 1,010	18882	40495	#4 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – North Atlantic Conference Thomas College Waterville, ME Located in Waterville, Thomas College accepts 97% of applicants and charges unknown for undergraduate applications. About 100% of attending students currently receive institutional grant aid. At Thomas College, there is a 71% first year retention rate and around 44% of students will earn a degree within four years....Read more First Year Retention Rate 71 % Acceptance Rate 97.1% SAT Score 800 – 1,010 Avg. Net Price $18,882 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $40,495
5	SUNY College of Technology at Delhi	70	88.41	940 – 1,120	16923	42826	#5 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – North Atlantic Conference SUNY College of Technology at Delhi Delhi, NY Found in Delhi, SUNY College of Technology at Delhi’s acceptance rate is 88%. They require $50 for undergraduate applications. Approximately 81% of students at SUNY College of Technology at Delhi currently receive grant aid from the school. The first year retention rate is 70%....Read more First Year Retention Rate 70 % Acceptance Rate 88.4% SAT Score 940 – 1,120 Avg. Net Price $16,923 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $42,826
6	SUNY College of Technology at Canton	69	92.15	1,000 – 1,160	14451	42079	#6 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – North Atlantic Conference SUNY College of Technology at Canton Canton, NY Based in Canton, SUNY College of Technology at Canton accepted 92% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle and requires $50 for undergraduate applications and . Approximately 82% of students attending SUNY College of Technology at Canton currently receive institutional grant aid....Read more First Year Retention Rate 69 % 3.0% Acceptance Rate 92.2% SAT Score 1,000 – 1,160 Avg. Net Price $14,451 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $42,079
7	SUNY Polytechnic Institute	69	78.44	1,160 – 1,330	14646	58662	#7 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – North Atlantic Conference SUNY Polytechnic Institute Utica, NY Found in Utica, SUNY Polytechnic Institute accepted 78% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. They charge $50 for undergraduate applications. About 89% of students attending SUNY Polytechnic Institute currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more First Year Retention Rate 69 % Acceptance Rate 78.4% SAT Score 1,160 – 1,330 Avg. Net Price $14,646 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $58,662
8	University of Maine at Presque Isle	67	97.09	810 – 1,040	9773	33793	#8 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – North Atlantic Conference University of Maine at Presque Isle Presque Isle, ME Found in Presque Isle, the University of Maine at Presque Isle’s acceptance rate is 97% and requires $40 for undergraduate applications and . About 76% of students attending the University of Maine at Presque Isle will receive grant aid from the school....Read more First Year Retention Rate 67 % Acceptance Rate 97.1% SAT Score 810 – 1,040 Avg. Net Price $9,773 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $33,793
9	New England College	61	92.13	820 – 1,040	30280	31050	#9 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – North Atlantic Conference New England College Henniker, NH Located in Henniker, New England College accepts 92% of applicants. They require unknown for undergraduate applications. About 95% of students at New England College will receive grant aid from the school....Read more First Year Retention Rate 61 % 1.7% Acceptance Rate 92.1% SAT Score 820 – 1,040 Avg. Net Price $30,280 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $31,050

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 – North Atlantic Conference

About

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – North Atlantic Conference

81 %

94.4%

1,040 – 1,240

$33,111

$40,150

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – North Atlantic Conference

73 % 8.0%

96.7%

1,000 – 1,250

$15,383

$31,513

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – North Atlantic Conference

72 %

83.3%

950 – 1,160

$18,122

$37,901

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – North Atlantic Conference

71 %

97.1%

800 – 1,010

$18,882

$40,495

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – North Atlantic Conference

70 %

88.4%

940 – 1,120

$16,923

$42,826

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – North Atlantic Conference

69 % 3.0%

92.2%

1,000 – 1,160

$14,451

$42,079

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – North Atlantic Conference

69 %

78.4%

1,160 – 1,330

$14,646

$58,662

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – North Atlantic Conference

67 %

97.1%

810 – 1,040

$9,773

$33,793

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – North Atlantic Conference

61 % 1.7%

92.1%

820 – 1,040

$30,280

$31,050

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73 %
8.0%

69 %
3.0%

61 %
1.7%