2026 College Rankings

Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Pacific-12 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	Stanford University	98.2	3.61	1,510 – 1,570	17998	102887	#1 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Pacific-12 Conference Stanford University Stanford, CA Stanford University is a private college that goes by a Quarter academic calendar rather than a Semester. Alumni have included Fulbright Scholars, members of Congress, astronauts, and billionaires, as well as former President Herbert Hoover. Known as the Stanford Cardinals, athletes wear cardinal and white....Read more First Year Retention Rate 98 % 0.2% Acceptance Rate 3.6% SAT Score 1,510 – 1,570 Avg. Net Price $17,998 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $102,887
2	University of California-Los Angeles	97.29	8.97	1,320 – 1,540	15166	59063	#2 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Pacific-12 Conference University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA The University of California, Los Angeles is the second-oldest branch of the state school system. Its motto is “fiat lux,” or “let there be light.” Famous alumni have included Sean Astin, Francis Ford Coppola, Michael Morhaime, Jim Morrison, and Troy Aikman. First Year Retention Rate 97 % 0.5% Acceptance Rate 9.0% SAT Score 1,320 – 1,540 Avg. Net Price $15,166 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $59,063
3	University of California-Berkeley	96.8	11.04	1,330 – 1,540	16997	74919	#3 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Pacific-12 Conference University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA The University of California, Berkeley was the state’s first land-grant university and the first campus in the school system. The California Golden Bears, competing in the Pacific-12 Conference, have won over 110 team titles. With a 96% first year retention rate, 79% go on to graduate within four years, 93% within six. First Year Retention Rate 97 % 0.2% Acceptance Rate 11.0% SAT Score 1,330 – 1,540 Avg. Net Price $16,997 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $74,919
4	University of Southern California	96	10.02	1,440 – 1,550	41496	74461	#4 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Pacific-12 Conference University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA The University of Southern California is a extremely selective school. The most popular area of study is currently Management Science. Just some notable alumni are LeVar Burton, Neil Armstrong, Will Ferrell, and George Lucas. First Year Retention Rate 96 % Acceptance Rate 10.0% SAT Score 1,440 – 1,550 Avg. Net Price $41,496 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $74,461
5	University of Washington-Seattle Campus	95	39.15	1,310 – 1,510	11023	62979	#5 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Pacific-12 Conference University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle, WA As a large school, the University of Washington, Seattle has a 20 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio. Many freshmen come from Washington, Oregon, and California. 95% will stay on after their first year. Computer Science is a commonly pursued program. First Year Retention Rate 95 % Acceptance Rate 39.2% SAT Score 1,310 – 1,510 Avg. Net Price $11,023 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $62,979
6	University of Colorado Boulder	89	81.15	1,190 – 1,400	22640	54939	#6 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Pacific-12 Conference University of Colorado Boulder Boulder, CO The Boulder campus is the flagship school of the University of Colorado system. It was actually founded a few months before Colorado became a state in 1876. Athletes, called the Buffaloes, are part of the Pacific-12 Conference....Read more First Year Retention Rate 89 % Acceptance Rate 81.2% SAT Score 1,190 – 1,400 Avg. Net Price $22,640 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $54,939
7	Oregon State University	87.8	77.3	1,160 – 1,400	21868	50843	#7 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Pacific-12 Conference Oregon State University Corvallis, OR Based in Corvallis, Oregon State University’s acceptance rate is 77% and requests $65 to apply, but fee waivers may be available. Approximately 87% of students at Oregon State University currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more First Year Retention Rate 88 % 0.3% Acceptance Rate 77.3% SAT Score 1,160 – 1,400 Avg. Net Price $21,868 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $50,843
8	University of Oregon	86.4	88.3	1,140 – 1,370	23917	46084	#8 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Pacific-12 Conference University of Oregon Eugene, OR Found in Eugene, the University of Oregon accepts 88% of applicants. They charge $65 for undergraduate applications and $70 for graduate applications. Approximately 80% of students attending the University of Oregon will receive grant aid from the school. At the University of Oregon, there is a 86% first year retention rate......Read more First Year Retention Rate 86 % 1.8% Acceptance Rate 88.3% SAT Score 1,140 – 1,370 Avg. Net Price $23,917 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $46,084
9	University of Utah	86	85.98	1,130 – 1,350	13341	55239	#9 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Pacific-12 Conference University of Utah Salt Lake City, UT The University of Utah’s campus is nestled between mountains and the Great Salt Lake. 28,000 are undergraduate students. The oldest higher education institution in the state, U of U was founded in 1850 and originally called University of Deseret. Class sizes are larger, with a student-to-faculty ratio of 19 to 1. First Year Retention Rate 86 % 1.2% Acceptance Rate 86.0% SAT Score 1,130 – 1,350 Avg. Net Price $13,341 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $55,239
10	Arizona State University Campus Immersion	85	89.89	1,090 – 1,320	16401	52843	#10 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Pacific-12 Conference Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZ Arizona State University was founded in 1885, first known as the Territorial Normal School, an institution to train teachers. The campus is home to the Grady Gammage Memorial Auditorium, which was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. ASU has an 86% first year retention rate, and many students major in Computer Science. First Year Retention Rate 85 % Acceptance Rate 89.9% SAT Score 1,090 – 1,320 Avg. Net Price $16,401 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $52,843
11	University of Arizona	82.8	86.14	1,100 – 1,330	18144	47665	#11 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Pacific-12 Conference University of Arizona Tucson, AZ The University of Arizona is older than the state, having been founded in 1885 (Arizona only became a state in 1912). A public research university, the school charges $50 for undergraduate applications. The Arizona Wildcats, or simply “Cats,” play in the Pacific-12 Conference. First Year Retention Rate 83 % 5.6% Acceptance Rate 86.1% SAT Score 1,100 – 1,330 Avg. Net Price $18,144 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $47,665
12	Washington State University	0	87.97	1,020 – 1,260	18155	53510	#12 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Pacific-12 Conference Washington State University Pullman, WA Found in Pullman, Washington State University’s acceptance rate is 88% and requires $70 for undergraduate applications and $75 for graduate applications. About 83% of attending students currently receive institutional grant aid. At Washington State University, there is a 79% first year retention rate and 37% of students will......Read more First Year Retention Rate -- Acceptance Rate 88.0% SAT Score 1,020 – 1,260 Avg. Net Price $18,155 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $53,510