2026 College Rankings

Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – North Coast Athletic Conference

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North Coast 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	Wabash College	93	63.3	1,070 – 1,280	23913	52667	#1 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – North Coast Athletic Conference Wabash College Crawfordsville, IN Wabash College is an all men’s school with a 9 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio. 100% of students receive grant aid - around $38,864 each - and 83% graduate within six years. The student paper, “The Bachelor,” has been in publication since the early 1900s. First Year Retention Rate 93 % 8.6% Acceptance Rate 63.3% SAT Score 1,070 – 1,280 Avg. Net Price $23,913 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $52,667
2	Kenyon College	91.6	31.03	1,380 – 1,490	44470	46627	#2 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – North Coast Athletic Conference Kenyon College Gambier, OH Kenyon College has produced Rhodes Scholars, Truman Scholarship winners, Fulbright recipients, and Marshall Scholarship winners. Famous alumni include Rutherford B. Hayes, Paul Newman, and Bill Watterson. The school is extremely selective and has a 91% first year retention rate. First Year Retention Rate 92 % 1.5% Acceptance Rate 31.0% SAT Score 1,380 – 1,490 Avg. Net Price $44,470 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $46,627
3	DePauw University	89.57	57.19	1,150 – 1,380	30507	58476	#3 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – North Coast Athletic Conference DePauw University Greencastle, IN DePauw University was founded in 1837 as Indiana Asbury University. Its motto is “Decus lumenque reipublicae collegium,” which is Latin for “The college is the splendor and light of the common good.” Computer Science, Econometrics and Quantitative Economics, and Speech Communication and Rhetoric are commonly chosen majors. First Year Retention Rate 90 % 0.6% Acceptance Rate 57.2% SAT Score 1,150 – 1,380 Avg. Net Price $30,507 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $58,476
4	Denison University	89	16.93	1,320 – 1,450	42177	51352	#4 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – North Coast Athletic Conference Denison University Granville, OH Denison University is extremely selective - about 26% of accepted students enrolling. With an 89% first year retention rate and 9 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio, 81% will graduate in six years....Read more First Year Retention Rate 89 % Acceptance Rate 16.9% SAT Score 1,320 – 1,450 Avg. Net Price $42,177 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $51,352
5	Oberlin College	89	32.98	1,370 – 1,500	50484	38871	#5 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – North Coast Athletic Conference Oberlin College Oberlin, OH In the United States, Oberlin College is the oldest coeducational liberal arts college and its Conservatory of Music is the oldest operational conservatory. 72% of students will graduate within four years (82% within six). Oberlin’s motto is “Learning and Labor.” First Year Retention Rate 89 % Acceptance Rate 33.0% SAT Score 1,370 – 1,500 Avg. Net Price $50,484 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $38,871
6	Ohio Wesleyan University	84.7	55.6	1,130 – 1,360	23826	42495	#6 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – North Coast Athletic Conference Ohio Wesleyan University Delaware, OH Found in Delaware, Ohio Wesleyan University accepted 56% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. They charge unknown for undergraduate applications, but fee waivers may be offered. Approximately 100% of students attending Ohio Wesleyan University currently receive institutional grant aid to make......Read more First Year Retention Rate 85 % 0.5% Acceptance Rate 55.6% SAT Score 1,130 – 1,360 Avg. Net Price $23,826 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $42,495
7	The College of Wooster	82	59.53	1,250 – 1,460	29529	43895	#7 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – North Coast Athletic Conference The College of Wooster Wooster, OH Located in Wooster, The College of Wooster accepted 60% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. They charge unknown for undergraduate applications and . About 100% of students attending The College of Wooster currently receive institutional grant aid....Read more First Year Retention Rate 82 % 1.2% Acceptance Rate 59.5% SAT Score 1,250 – 1,460 Avg. Net Price $29,529 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $43,895
8	Wittenberg University	73.6	91.04	1,050 – 1,240	21457	42437	#8 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – North Coast Athletic Conference Wittenberg University Springfield, OH Found in Springfield, Wittenberg University’s acceptance rate is 91% and requests unknown to apply, but fee waivers may be available. About 100% of students attending Wittenberg University will receive grant aid from the school....Read more First Year Retention Rate 74 % Acceptance Rate 91.0% SAT Score 1,050 – 1,240 Avg. Net Price $21,457 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $42,437
9	Hiram College	71.86	92.44	890 – 1,120	21362	40270	#9 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – North Coast Athletic Conference Hiram College Hiram, OH Based in Hiram, Hiram College accepted 92% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle and requests unknown to apply, but fee waivers may be available. Approximately 100% of students attending Hiram College will receive institutional grant aid. At Hiram College, there is a 71% first year retention rate and......Read more First Year Retention Rate 72 % 10.6% Acceptance Rate 92.4% SAT Score 890 – 1,120 Avg. Net Price $21,362 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $40,270

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 Coast Athletic Conference

About

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

93 % 8.6%

63.3%

1,070 – 1,280

$23,913

$52,667

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

92 % 1.5%

31.0%

1,380 – 1,490

$44,470

$46,627

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

90 % 0.6%

57.2%

1,150 – 1,380

$30,507

$58,476

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

89 %

16.9%

1,320 – 1,450

$42,177

$51,352

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

89 %

33.0%

1,370 – 1,500

$50,484

$38,871

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

85 % 0.5%

55.6%

1,130 – 1,360

$23,826

$42,495

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

82 % 1.2%

59.5%

1,250 – 1,460

$29,529

$43,895

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

74 %

91.0%

1,050 – 1,240

$21,457

$42,437

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

72 % 10.6%

92.4%

890 – 1,120

$21,362

$40,270

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93 %
8.6%

92 %
1.5%

90 %
0.6%

85 %
0.5%

82 %
1.2%

72 %
10.6%