2026 College Rankings

Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Northeast 10 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	Bentley University	93	45.05	1,290 – 1,430	43858	86679	#1 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Northeast 10 Conference Bentley University Waltham, MA A private school, Bentley University offers students up to Doctor's degrees. It originally opened as the Bentley School of Accounting and Finance, and today many students choose to major in Finance, General, Business Administration and Management, General, and Business Statistics....Read more First Year Retention Rate 93 % Acceptance Rate 45.1% SAT Score 1,290 – 1,430 Avg. Net Price $43,858 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $86,679
2	Saint Anselm College	88	78.05	1,110 – 1,280	35091	63347	#2 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Northeast 10 Conference Saint Anselm College Manchester, NH Saint Anselm College is the third oldest Catholic college in New England, having been founded in 1889. The school has been the site of presidential policy speeches from John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon as well as several national presidential debates....Read more First Year Retention Rate 88 % 2.2% Acceptance Rate 78.1% SAT Score 1,110 – 1,280 Avg. Net Price $35,091 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $63,347
3	Le Moyne College	84	75.29	1,160 – 1,320	22139	53493	#3 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Northeast 10 Conference Le Moyne College Syracuse, NY Located in Syracuse, Le Moyne College’s acceptance rate is 75%. They charge unknown for undergraduate applications and . Approximately 100% of students attending Le Moyne College will receive grant aid from the school....Read more First Year Retention Rate 84 % Acceptance Rate 75.3% SAT Score 1,160 – 1,320 Avg. Net Price $22,139 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $53,493
4	Assumption University	83.9	82.98	990 – 1,180	29072	46029	#4 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Northeast 10 Conference Assumption University Worcester, MA Assumption University has a student-to-faculty ratio of 11 to 1 and a first year retention rate of 83%. It’s a NCAA Division II with football school and the Greyhounds compete in the Northeast 10 Conference. Wearing blue and white, they’re cheered on by Pierre the Greyhound. First Year Retention Rate 84 % 0.5% Acceptance Rate 83.0% SAT Score 990 – 1,180 Avg. Net Price $29,072 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $46,029
5	Adelphi University	82	65.91	1,110 – 1,330	28671	63688	#5 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Northeast 10 Conference Adelphi University Garden City, NY Adelphi University was founded as Adelphi College in 1896, becoming a university in 1963. Its motto is Vita Sine Litteris Mors Est, which is Latin for, “Life without learning is death.” Graduates have gone on to have careers in politics, acting, professional sports, writing, music, and more....Read more First Year Retention Rate 82 % 3.5% Acceptance Rate 65.9% SAT Score 1,110 – 1,330 Avg. Net Price $28,671 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $63,688
6	Saint Michael's College	79.94	84.51	1,160 – 1,320	30806	46898	#6 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Northeast 10 Conference Saint Michael's College Colchester, VT Saint Michael’s College has over 30 majors available to students, the most popular of which is Business Administration and Management, General. The college has a 9 to 1 student to faculty ratio, 79% first year retention rate, 75% 4-year graduation rate, and 100% of students receive institutional aid....Read more First Year Retention Rate 80 % 4.9% Acceptance Rate 84.5% SAT Score 1,160 – 1,320 Avg. Net Price $30,806 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $46,898
7	Southern Connecticut State University	77.87	94.82	830 – 1,100	19870	45422	#7 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Northeast 10 Conference Southern Connecticut State University New Haven, CT Found in New Haven, Southern Connecticut State University accepted 95% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. They charge $50 for undergraduate applications. About 52% of students attending Southern Connecticut State University currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more......Read more First Year Retention Rate 78 % 2.7% Acceptance Rate 94.8% SAT Score 830 – 1,100 Avg. Net Price $19,870 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $45,422
8	University of New Haven	77	60.38	1,080 – 1,280	34201	49829	#8 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Northeast 10 Conference University of New Haven West Haven, CT Located in West Haven, the University of New Haven accepted 60% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. They request $50 for undergraduate applications and $50 for graduate applications. Approximately 100% of students attending the University of New Haven will receive institutional grant aid. At the......Read more First Year Retention Rate 77 % Acceptance Rate 60.4% SAT Score 1,080 – 1,280 Avg. Net Price $34,201 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $49,829
9	Pace University	75.5	75.92	1,190 – 1,360	34299	52767	#9 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Northeast 10 Conference Pace University New York, NY Located in New York, Pace University’s acceptance rate is 76%. They charge $50 for undergraduate applications and $70 for graduate applications. Approximately 99% of students attending Pace University currently receive institutional grant aid. The institution’s first year retention rate is 75% and its four year graduation rate......Read more First Year Retention Rate 76 % 1.9% Acceptance Rate 75.9% SAT Score 1,190 – 1,360 Avg. Net Price $34,299 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $52,767
10	Southern New Hampshire University	71.1	96.12	870 – 1,060	33163	41945	#10 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Northeast 10 Conference Southern New Hampshire University Manchester, NH Located in Manchester, Southern New Hampshire University accepted 96% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle and charges unknown for undergraduate applications. Approximately 12% of students attending Southern New Hampshire University will receive grant aid from the school. The first year retention......Read more First Year Retention Rate 71 % Acceptance Rate 96.1% SAT Score 870 – 1,060 Avg. Net Price $33,163 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $41,945
11	American International College	62	96.9	930 – 1,110	21454	41451	#11 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Northeast 10 Conference American International College Springfield, MA Located in Springfield, American International College’s acceptance rate is 97%. They request unknown for undergraduate applications and $50 for graduate applications. About 98% of students attending American International College will receive institutional grant aid....Read more First Year Retention Rate 62 % Acceptance Rate 96.9% SAT Score 930 – 1,110 Avg. Net Price $21,454 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $41,451
12	Post University	60	96.54	800 – 1,030	18619	31401	#12 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Northeast 10 Conference Post University Waterbury, CT Found in Waterbury, Post University’s acceptance rate is 97%. Undergraduates have to pay unknown to apply. About 18% of attending students will receive grant aid from the school. They are given $18,555 on average. 60% of students decide to stay at Post University after completing their first year....Read more First Year Retention Rate 60 % Acceptance Rate 96.5% SAT Score 800 – 1,030 Avg. Net Price $18,619 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $31,401
13	Franklin Pierce University	0	90.83	1,020 – 1,170	25557	45563	#13 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Northeast 10 Conference Franklin Pierce University Rindge, NH First Year Retention Rate -- Acceptance Rate 90.8% SAT Score 1,020 – 1,170 Avg. Net Price $25,557 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $45,563