2026 College Rankings

Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Peach Belt 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	Georgia College & State University	84.4	87.79	1,070 – 1,240	19769	50644	#1 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Peach Belt Conference Georgia College & State University Milledgeville, GA Found in Milledgeville, Georgia College & State University accepted 88% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. They request $40 for undergraduate applications, but some students qualify for fee waivers. Approximately 13% of attending students currently receive institutional grant aid. At Georgia......Read more First Year Retention Rate 84 % Acceptance Rate 87.8% SAT Score 1,070 – 1,240 Avg. Net Price $19,769 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $50,644
2	Augusta University	75.1	89.31	1,020 – 1,230	13486	45037	#2 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Peach Belt Conference Augusta University Augusta, GA Found in Augusta, Augusta University’s acceptance rate is 89% and requests $50 to apply, but fee waivers may be available. Approximately 16% of students attending Augusta University currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. The first year retention rate is 75%....Read more First Year Retention Rate 75 % Acceptance Rate 89.3% SAT Score 1,020 – 1,230 Avg. Net Price $13,486 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $45,037
3	Columbus State University	72	99.18	900 – 1,140	11384	39190	#3 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Peach Belt Conference Columbus State University Columbus, GA Located in Columbus, Columbus State University accepted 99% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle and charges $40 for undergraduate applications. About 22% of students attending Columbus State University currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. The school’s......Read more First Year Retention Rate 72 % Acceptance Rate 99.2% SAT Score 900 – 1,140 Avg. Net Price $11,384 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $39,190
4	Clayton State University	69	70.56	890 – 1,070	9397	41633	#4 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Peach Belt Conference Clayton State University Morrow, GA Located in Morrow, Clayton State University accepts 71% of applicants and requires $40 for undergraduate applications and $50 for graduate applications. About 10% of attending students will receive institutional grant aid....Read more First Year Retention Rate 69 % Acceptance Rate 70.6% SAT Score 890 – 1,070 Avg. Net Price $9,397 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $41,633
5	University of South Carolina Aiken	67	78.57	1,000 – 1,230	11697	39689	#5 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Peach Belt Conference University of South Carolina Aiken Aiken, SC Found in Aiken, the University of South Carolina Aiken accepted 79% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle and requests $45 to apply, but fee waivers may be available. Approximately 35% of attending students currently receive institutional grant aid....Read more First Year Retention Rate 67 % 4.7% Acceptance Rate 78.6% SAT Score 1,000 – 1,230 Avg. Net Price $11,697 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $39,689
6	Georgia Southwestern State University	63.9	77.16	970 – 1,140	11779	42047	#6 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Peach Belt Conference Georgia Southwestern State University Americus, GA Based in Americus, Georgia Southwestern State University’s acceptance rate is 77% and charges $25 for undergraduate applications. About 39% of attending students will receive institutional grant aid. The college’s first year retention rate is 63% and its four year graduation rate is 20%. Business Administration and......Read more First Year Retention Rate 64 % Acceptance Rate 77.2% SAT Score 970 – 1,140 Avg. Net Price $11,779 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $42,047
7	Lander University	60.8	67.92	970 – 1,150	14657	36851	#7 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Peach Belt Conference Lander University Greenwood, SC Located in Greenwood, Lander University’s acceptance rate is 68% and requests unknown to apply, but fee waivers may be available. About 64% of students attending Lander University will receive grant aid from the school....Read more First Year Retention Rate 61 % Acceptance Rate 67.9% SAT Score 970 – 1,150 Avg. Net Price $14,657 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $36,851
8	University of South Carolina Beaufort	58	69.18	940 – 1,110	15781	39214	#8 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Peach Belt Conference University of South Carolina Beaufort Bluffton, SC Located in Bluffton, the University of South Carolina Beaufort’s acceptance rate is 69%. They charge $40 for undergraduate applications and $40 for graduate applications. About 50% of students attending the University of South Carolina Beaufort currently receive institutional grant aid. The college’s first year retention rate......Read more First Year Retention Rate 58 % Acceptance Rate 69.2% SAT Score 940 – 1,110 Avg. Net Price $15,781 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $39,214
9	Flagler College	0	80.76	710 – 860	31085	41963	#9 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Peach Belt Conference Flagler College Saint Augustine, FL First Year Retention Rate -- Acceptance Rate 80.8% SAT Score 710 – 860 Avg. Net Price $31,085 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $41,963
10	University of North Georgia	0	67.94	990 – 1,210	11687	43085	#10 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Peach Belt Conference University of North Georgia Dahlonega, GA First Year Retention Rate -- Acceptance Rate 67.9% SAT Score 990 – 1,210 Avg. Net Price $11,687 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $43,085