2026 College Rankings

Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference

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Pennsylvania State 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	Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania	84	71.47	980 – 1,200	18407	45398	#1 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Slippery Rock, PA Found in Slippery Rock, Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania accepted 71% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle and requires $30 for undergraduate applications and $25 for graduate applications. Approximately 59% of attending students currently receive grant aid from the school....Read more First Year Retention Rate 84 % 3.7% Acceptance Rate 71.5% SAT Score 980 – 1,200 Avg. Net Price $18,407 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $45,398
2	West Chester University of Pennsylvania	83.11	78.16	1,110 – 1,280	21684	51013	#2 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference West Chester University of Pennsylvania West Chester, PA West Chester University of Pennsylvania is part of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE). Popular undergraduate majors include Business Administration and Management, General, Psychology, General, and Early Childhood Education and Teaching....Read more First Year Retention Rate 83 % 1.1% Acceptance Rate 78.2% SAT Score 1,110 – 1,280 Avg. Net Price $21,684 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $51,013
3	Mercyhurst University	79.5	81.02	1,080 – 1,300	26962	39565	#3 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Mercyhurst University Erie, PA Based in Erie, Mercyhurst University’s acceptance rate is 81%. They charge unknown for undergraduate applications and . About 95% of students at Mercyhurst University will receive institutional grant aid. They are given $28,508 on average. The first year retention rate is 79%....Read more First Year Retention Rate 80 % 3.2% Acceptance Rate 81.0% SAT Score 1,080 – 1,300 Avg. Net Price $26,962 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $39,565
4	Seton Hill University	79.4	75.79	1,050 – 1,250	23732	43700	#4 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Seton Hill University Greensburg, PA Seton Hill University opened in 1885 as a women’s college. It only became co-educational in 2002 – as a result, a majority of the student body are women. Common majors include Business Administration and Management, General, Physician Assistant, and Art Therapy/Therapist....Read more First Year Retention Rate 79 % Acceptance Rate 75.8% SAT Score 1,050 – 1,250 Avg. Net Price $23,732 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $43,700
5	Kutztown University of Pennsylvania	77.8	90.75	1,120 – 1,310	21856	43309	#5 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Kutztown University of Pennsylvania Kutztown, PA Found in Kutztown, Kutztown University of Pennsylvania’s acceptance rate is 91% and requires $35 for undergraduate applications and $35 for graduate applications. Approximately 90% of students at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more First Year Retention Rate 78 % 4.0% Acceptance Rate 90.8% SAT Score 1,120 – 1,310 Avg. Net Price $21,856 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $43,309
6	Millersville University of Pennsylvania	77.1	86.19	1,060 – 1,240	20860	44813	#6 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Millersville University of Pennsylvania Millersville, PA Located in Millersville, Millersville University of Pennsylvania accepted 86% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle and charges unknown for undergraduate applications. Approximately 82% of students at Millersville University of Pennsylvania currently receive grant aid from the school. 77% of students......Read more First Year Retention Rate 77 % 1.2% Acceptance Rate 86.2% SAT Score 1,060 – 1,240 Avg. Net Price $20,860 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $44,813
7	Gannon University	76.17	74.16	1,060 – 1,290	23942	55319	#7 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Gannon University Erie, PA Based in Erie, Gannon University’s acceptance rate is 74%. They request unknown for undergraduate applications and . About 82% of attending students currently receive institutional grant aid....Read more First Year Retention Rate 76 % 3.6% Acceptance Rate 74.2% SAT Score 1,060 – 1,290 Avg. Net Price $23,942 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $55,319
8	Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus	75.3	90.77	980 – 1,190	17665	42278	#8 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus Indiana, PA Based in Indiana, Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus’s acceptance rate is 91%. Undergraduates have to pay unknown to apply. Approximately 94% of attending students currently receive grant aid from the school....Read more First Year Retention Rate 75 % 6.1% Acceptance Rate 90.8% SAT Score 980 – 1,190 Avg. Net Price $17,665 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $42,278
9	University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown	75.1	94.84	990 – 1,230	17909	54240	#9 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown Johnstown, PA Found in Johnstown, the University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown accepted 95% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle and requires unknown for undergraduate applications and . Approximately 88% of students at the University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown currently receive institutional grant aid. The school’s first......Read more First Year Retention Rate 75 % 0.0% Acceptance Rate 94.8% SAT Score 990 – 1,230 Avg. Net Price $17,909 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $54,240
10	Shepherd University	73.32	95.65	960 – 1,190	12651	43726	#10 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Shepherd University Shepherdstown, WV Located in Shepherdstown, Shepherd University accepts 96% of applicants and requires $45 for undergraduate applications and $40 for graduate applications. About 86% of attending students will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. The college’s first year retention rate is 73% and its four......Read more First Year Retention Rate 73 % Acceptance Rate 95.7% SAT Score 960 – 1,190 Avg. Net Price $12,651 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $43,726
11	East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania	72.1	85.96	1,000 – 1,180	15318	44290	#11 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania East Stroudsburg, PA East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania is a part of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE). It opened in 1893 and would undergo several name changes before landing on its current name in 1983. Many students study Business Administration and Management, General, and Kinesiology and Exercise Science. First Year Retention Rate 72 % 1.5% Acceptance Rate 86.0% SAT Score 1,000 – 1,180 Avg. Net Price $15,318 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $44,290
12	Pennsylvania Western University	71.7	94.33	960 – 1,180	19579	38474	#12 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Pennsylvania Western University California, PA Based in California, Pennsylvania Western University accepted 94% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. Undergraduates have to pay $35 to apply. Approximately 83% of students attending Pennsylvania Western University will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. At......Read more First Year Retention Rate 72 % 1.8% Acceptance Rate 94.3% SAT Score 960 – 1,180 Avg. Net Price $19,579 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $38,474
13	Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania	68.54	85.55	980 – 1,220	23344	45010	#13 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania Shippensburg, PA Based in Shippensburg, Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania’s acceptance rate is 86% and requires $45 for undergraduate applications and $45 for graduate applications. About 69% of students at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania currently receive institutional grant aid. The first year retention rate is 68%....Read more First Year Retention Rate 69 % Acceptance Rate 85.6% SAT Score 980 – 1,220 Avg. Net Price $23,344 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $45,010