2026 College Rankings

Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Northeast 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	Duquesne University	84	83.56	1,190 – 1,360	37917	62627	#1 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Northeast Conference Duquesne University Pittsburgh, PA Located in Pittsburgh, Duquesne University’s acceptance rate is 84%. Undergraduates have to send in unknown to apply. About 100% of students attending Duquesne University currently receive grant aid from the school. 84% of students continued studying at Duquesne University after completing their first year....Read more First Year Retention Rate 84 % 2.3% Acceptance Rate 83.6% SAT Score 1,190 – 1,360 Avg. Net Price $37,917 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $62,627
2	Le Moyne College	84	82.98	1,170 – 1,340	23702	53493	#2 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Northeast Conference Le Moyne College Syracuse, NY Located in Syracuse, Le Moyne College’s acceptance rate is 83%. 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 83.0% SAT Score 1,170 – 1,340 Avg. Net Price $23,702 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $53,493
3	Stonehill College	84	66.28	1,050 – 1,250	33385	63285	#3 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Northeast Conference Stonehill College Easton, MA Located in Easton, Stonehill College accepted 66% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. Undergraduates have to send in $60 to apply. Approximately 100% of students at Stonehill College will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. The first year retention rate is......Read more First Year Retention Rate 84 % 1.2% Acceptance Rate 66.3% SAT Score 1,050 – 1,250 Avg. Net Price $33,385 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $63,285
4	Robert Morris University	83	89.89	1,050 – 1,240	23933	54449	#4 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Northeast Conference Robert Morris University Moon Township, PA Found in Moon Township, Robert Morris University’s acceptance rate is 90% and requires $30 for undergraduate applications and $35 for graduate applications. Approximately 91% of students at Robert Morris University currently receive institutional grant aid....Read more First Year Retention Rate 83 % Acceptance Rate 89.9% SAT Score 1,050 – 1,240 Avg. Net Price $23,933 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $54,449
5	Sacred Heart University	83	65.36	860 – 1,040	47848	63925	#5 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Northeast Conference Sacred Heart University Fairfield, CT Located in Fairfield, Sacred Heart University’s acceptance rate is 65% and charges $50 for undergraduate applications. About 99% of students at Sacred Heart University currently receive grant aid from the school. 83% of students continued their studies at Sacred Heart University after completing their first year....Read more First Year Retention Rate 83 % 2.4% Acceptance Rate 65.4% SAT Score 860 – 1,040 Avg. Net Price $47,848 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $63,925
6	Saint Francis University	83	76.82	1,060 – 1,240	28326	56920	#6 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Northeast Conference Saint Francis University Loretto, PA Founded in 1847, Saint Francis University is affiliated with the Catholic Church. The 600-acre campus is home to a museum of art, The Institute for Contemporary Franciscan Life, and a 9-hole golf course. SFU is a NCAA Division I-FCS member and the Red Flash compete in the Northeast Conference. First Year Retention Rate 83 % 5.7% Acceptance Rate 76.8% SAT Score 1,060 – 1,240 Avg. Net Price $28,326 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $56,920
7	Wagner College	83	88	1,180 – 1,300	28033	63439	#7 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Northeast Conference Wagner College Staten Island, NY Wagner College’s 105-acre campus overlooks the New York Harbor, Downtown Brooklyn, Lower Manhattan, and the Verrazzano Bridge. Affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the school opened in 1883. It's a member of the NCAA Division I-FCS, and the Seahawks participate in the Northeast Conference. First Year Retention Rate 83 % 1.2% Acceptance Rate 88.0% SAT Score 1,180 – 1,300 Avg. Net Price $28,033 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $63,439
8	Mercyhurst University	80	81.02	990 – 1,190	25946	39565	#8 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Northeast Conference Mercyhurst University Erie, PA Based in Erie, Mercyhurst University’s acceptance rate is 81%. They charge unknown for undergraduate applications and . About 98% of students at Mercyhurst University will receive institutional grant aid. They are given $30,422 on average. The first year retention rate is 80%....Read more First Year Retention Rate 80 % Acceptance Rate 81.0% SAT Score 990 – 1,190 Avg. Net Price $25,946 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $39,565
9	Central Connecticut State University	77	73.33	960 – 1,190	17528	49016	#9 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Northeast Conference Central Connecticut State University New Britain, CT Central Connecticut State University is fairly selective, and alumni include professional athletes, actors, and politicians. Founded in 1849, it’s the oldest publicly-funded university in the state. Psychology, General, Educational Leadership and Administration, and General are popular undergraduate areas of study. First Year Retention Rate 77 % 2.5% Acceptance Rate 73.3% SAT Score 960 – 1,190 Avg. Net Price $17,528 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $49,016
10	Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus	77	90.71	930 – 1,180	16920	45916	#10 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Northeast Conference Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus Teaneck, NJ Located in Teaneck, Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus’s acceptance rate is 91%. They charge $50 for undergraduate applications, but some students qualify for fee waivers. Approximately 98% of students at Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus will receive institutional grant aid to make attending......Read more First Year Retention Rate 77 % 1.3% Acceptance Rate 90.7% SAT Score 930 – 1,180 Avg. Net Price $16,920 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $45,916
11	Long Island University	77	86.16	1,110 – 1,360	24867	47543	#11 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Northeast Conference Long Island University Brookville, NY Found in Brookville, Long Island University accepts 86% of applicants. Undergraduates have to pay $50 to apply. Approximately 96% of students at Long Island University currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more First Year Retention Rate 77 % Acceptance Rate 86.2% SAT Score 1,110 – 1,360 Avg. Net Price $24,867 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $47,543

School data is from 2023–2024 (top 500 results shown) for schools with at least 100 undergraduate students.

2026 College Rankings

Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Northeast Conference

About

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Northeast Conference

84 % 2.3%

83.6%

1,190 – 1,360

$37,917

$62,627

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Northeast Conference

84 %

83.0%

1,170 – 1,340

$23,702

$53,493

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Northeast Conference

84 % 1.2%

66.3%

1,050 – 1,250

$33,385

$63,285

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Northeast Conference

83 %

89.9%

1,050 – 1,240

$23,933

$54,449

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Northeast Conference

83 % 2.4%

65.4%

860 – 1,040

$47,848

$63,925

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Northeast Conference

83 % 5.7%

76.8%

1,060 – 1,240

$28,326

$56,920

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Northeast Conference

83 % 1.2%

88.0%

1,180 – 1,300

$28,033

$63,439

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Northeast Conference

80 %

81.0%

990 – 1,190

$25,946

$39,565

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Northeast Conference

77 % 2.5%

73.3%

960 – 1,190

$17,528

$49,016

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Northeast Conference

77 % 1.3%

90.7%

930 – 1,180

$16,920

$45,916

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Northeast Conference

77 %

86.2%

1,110 – 1,360

$24,867

$47,543

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84 %
2.3%

84 %
1.2%

83 %
2.4%

83 %
5.7%

83 %
1.2%

77 %
2.5%

77 %
1.3%