2026 College Rankings

Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Ohio 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	Baldwin Wallace University	83.84	75.7	1,090 – 1,300	28190	44972	#1 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Ohio Athletic Conference Baldwin Wallace University Berea, OH Baldwin Wallace University is a private liberal arts and sciences university found in 1845. The school boasts a 12 to 1 student to faculty ratio and 83% first year retention rate....Read more First Year Retention Rate 84 % 1.4% Acceptance Rate 75.7% SAT Score 1,090 – 1,300 Avg. Net Price $28,190 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $44,972
2	John Carroll University	83	80.9	1,200 – 1,390	30790	53187	#2 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Ohio Athletic Conference John Carroll University University Heights, OH John Carroll University was founded in 1886 as the St. Ignatius College. It changed its name to its current moniker in 1923 and became coeducational in 1968. Many of the buildings on the 65-acre campus are of Collegiate Gothic architecture. JCU has a first year retention rate of 83%. First Year Retention Rate 83 % 2.7% Acceptance Rate 80.9% SAT Score 1,200 – 1,390 Avg. Net Price $30,790 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $53,187
3	Ohio Northern University	80	73.35	1,210 – 1,370	26396	62686	#3 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Ohio Athletic Conference Ohio Northern University Ada, OH Ohio Northern University has a 12 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio and 80% first year retention rate. Pharmacy, Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration, Other, and Mechanical Engineering are among the most common academic programs. ONU’s motto is “Out of diversity strength” in Latin. First Year Retention Rate 80 % Acceptance Rate 73.4% SAT Score 1,210 – 1,370 Avg. Net Price $26,396 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $62,686
4	Otterbein University	79.8	84.52	990 – 1,240	22242	44539	#4 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Ohio Athletic Conference Otterbein University Westerville, OH Otterbein University is a private institution that offers up to Doctor's degrees. It was founded by the Church of United Brethren in Christ in 1947, but today it’s affiliated with the United Methodist Church....Read more First Year Retention Rate 80 % 3.2% Acceptance Rate 84.5% SAT Score 990 – 1,240 Avg. Net Price $22,242 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $44,539
5	Capital University	75.6	70.22	960 – 1,210	22480	45767	#5 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Ohio Athletic Conference Capital University Columbus, OH Found in Columbus, Capital University accepts 70% of applicants. They charge unknown for undergraduate applications and . Approximately 99% of students attending Capital University will receive institutional grant aid. At Capital University, there is a 75% first year retention rate and around 54% of students will graduate......Read more First Year Retention Rate 76 % 2.2% Acceptance Rate 70.2% SAT Score 960 – 1,210 Avg. Net Price $22,480 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $45,767
6	Muskingum University	74	81.84	930 – 1,110	20269	40536	#6 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Ohio Athletic Conference Muskingum University New Concord, OH Found in New Concord, Muskingum University accepted 82% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. They request unknown for undergraduate applications. Approximately 97% of students at Muskingum University will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more First Year Retention Rate 74 % 8.8% Acceptance Rate 81.8% SAT Score 930 – 1,110 Avg. Net Price $20,269 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $40,536
7	University of Mount Union	72	80.13	1,000 – 1,210	22835	45919	#7 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Ohio Athletic Conference University of Mount Union Alliance, OH 20% of accepted students enroll in the University of Mount Union, a somewhat selective liberal arts school. The 123-acre campus is home to two buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and the Kehres Stadium is the oldest college stadium in the state. The university also has a 162-acre nature center. First Year Retention Rate 72 % Acceptance Rate 80.1% SAT Score 1,000 – 1,210 Avg. Net Price $22,835 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $45,919
8	Marietta College	69	79.29	960 – 1,190	21333	51252	#8 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Ohio Athletic Conference Marietta College Marietta, OH Found in Marietta, Marietta College accepted 79% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. They request unknown for undergraduate applications, but fee waivers may be available. About 88% of students at Marietta College currently receive institutional grant aid....Read more First Year Retention Rate 69 % 5.8% Acceptance Rate 79.3% SAT Score 960 – 1,190 Avg. Net Price $21,333 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $51,252
9	Wilmington College	65.4	84.6	970 – 1,170	24915	41889	#9 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Ohio Athletic Conference Wilmington College Wilmington, OH Located in Wilmington, Wilmington College accepted 85% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. Undergraduates have to send in unknown to apply. Approximately 100% of students attending Wilmington College currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. The first year......Read more First Year Retention Rate 65 % Acceptance Rate 84.6% SAT Score 970 – 1,170 Avg. Net Price $24,915 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $41,889
10	Heidelberg University	0	67.73	1,020 – 1,180	19620	41440	#10 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Ohio Athletic Conference Heidelberg University Tiffin, OH First Year Retention Rate -- Acceptance Rate 67.7% SAT Score 1,020 – 1,180 Avg. Net Price $19,620 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $41,440

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 – Ohio Athletic Conference

About

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

84 % 1.4%

75.7%

1,090 – 1,300

$28,190

$44,972

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

83 % 2.7%

80.9%

1,200 – 1,390

$30,790

$53,187

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

80 %

73.4%

1,210 – 1,370

$26,396

$62,686

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

80 % 3.2%

84.5%

990 – 1,240

$22,242

$44,539

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

76 % 2.2%

70.2%

960 – 1,210

$22,480

$45,767

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

74 % 8.8%

81.8%

930 – 1,110

$20,269

$40,536

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

72 %

80.1%

1,000 – 1,210

$22,835

$45,919

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

69 % 5.8%

79.3%

960 – 1,190

$21,333

$51,252

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

65 %

84.6%

970 – 1,170

$24,915

$41,889

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

--

67.7%

1,020 – 1,180

$19,620

$41,440

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84 %
1.4%

83 %
2.7%

80 %
3.2%

76 %
2.2%

74 %
8.8%

69 %
5.8%