2026 College Rankings

Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Pioneer Football League

About

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.

Sort by:

View as:

Rank	Institution	First Year Retention Rate	Acceptance Rate	SAT Score	Your Est. Net Price Avg. Net Price	Median Starting Salary	Save
1	Davidson College	94.6	13.37	1,400 – 1,520	26510	62866	#1 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Pioneer Football League Davidson College Davidson, NC Davidson College was founded in 1837 and started trying to reduce the cost of higher education for students by the 1850’s. Today, the school meets students’ financial needs through grants, employment, and more. 65% of students receive institutional grant aid....Read more First Year Retention Rate 95 % 0.4% Acceptance Rate 13.4% SAT Score 1,400 – 1,520 Avg. Net Price $26,510 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $62,866
2	University of San Diego	91	52.38	1,210 – 1,390	37675	64995	#2 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Pioneer Football League University of San Diego San Diego, CA Found in San Diego, the University of San Diego’s acceptance rate is 52%. They charge $55 for undergraduate applications and $45 for graduate applications. About 84% of students attending the University of San Diego currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more First Year Retention Rate 91 % 1.1% Acceptance Rate 52.4% SAT Score 1,210 – 1,390 Avg. Net Price $37,675 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $64,995
3	University of Dayton	89.1	65.66	1,180 – 1,400	31551	62477	#3 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Pioneer Football League University of Dayton Dayton, OH Found in Dayton, the University of Dayton accepted 66% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle and requires unknown for undergraduate applications and . About 95% of students at the University of Dayton will receive institutional grant aid....Read more First Year Retention Rate 89 % 0.1% Acceptance Rate 65.7% SAT Score 1,180 – 1,400 Avg. Net Price $31,551 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $62,477
4	Butler University	87.5	85.08	1,190 – 1,370	40140	61627	#4 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Pioneer Football League Butler University Indianapolis, IN 443 of students participate in varsity sports at Butler University, a NCAA Division I-FCS school. Some popular options include Basketball, Soccer, and Football. The Bulldogs have a live mascot – a bulldog named Butler Blue IV. 97% of students receive grant aid to help them afford the cost of attendance. First Year Retention Rate 88 % 0.7% Acceptance Rate 85.1% SAT Score 1,190 – 1,370 Avg. Net Price $40,140 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $61,627
5	University of St Thomas	87	91.25	1,190 – 1,350	32637	62412	#5 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Pioneer Football League University of St Thomas Saint Paul, MN The University of St. Thomas was founded in 1885 as a Catholic Seminary. The school’s namesake, Thomas Aquinas, is the patron saint of all of the attending students. Other campuses and properties of the university can be found in Minneapolis, Owatonna, and Rome, Italy. First Year Retention Rate 87 % Acceptance Rate 91.3% SAT Score 1,190 – 1,350 Avg. Net Price $32,637 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $62,412
6	Presbyterian College	79.8	68.37	990 – 1,220	20058	44387	#6 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Pioneer Football League Presbyterian College Clinton, SC Located in Clinton, Presbyterian College accepted 68% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle and charges unknown for undergraduate applications. About 100% of students attending Presbyterian College currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more First Year Retention Rate 80 % 7.8% Acceptance Rate 68.4% SAT Score 990 – 1,220 Avg. Net Price $20,058 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $44,387
7	Stetson University	78.18	71.6	1,110 – 1,310	22914	44792	#7 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Pioneer Football League Stetson University DeLand, FL Stetson University was first known as DeLand Academy when it opened in 1883. Its name changed just a few years later after generous donations from John B. Stetson. During downtime, students have plenty to do, as the campus isn’t far from the beach or amusement parks in Orlando. Stetson has a 10 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio. First Year Retention Rate 78 % 7.4% Acceptance Rate 71.6% SAT Score 1,110 – 1,310 Avg. Net Price $22,914 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $44,792
8	Valparaiso University	75.4	89.34	1,140 – 1,360	23168	55216	#8 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Pioneer Football League Valparaiso University Valparaiso, IN Based in Valparaiso, Valparaiso University accepts 89% of applicants and requests unknown to apply, but fee waivers may be available. About 99% of students at Valparaiso University currently receive institutional grant aid. At Valparaiso University, there is a 75% first year retention rate and 65% of students will graduate in......Read more First Year Retention Rate 75 % 4.3% Acceptance Rate 89.3% SAT Score 1,140 – 1,360 Avg. Net Price $23,168 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $55,216
9	Morehead State University	65.01	77.21	1,020 – 1,220	10017	37131	#9 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Pioneer Football League Morehead State University Morehead, KY Located in Morehead, Morehead State University accepted 77% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. They charge unknown for undergraduate applications. Approximately 75% of students at Morehead State University currently receive grant aid from the school. The college’s first year retention rate is 65%......Read more First Year Retention Rate 65 % 6.5% Acceptance Rate 77.2% SAT Score 1,020 – 1,220 Avg. Net Price $10,017 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $37,131
10	Drake University	0	63.85	1,190 – 1,380	30886	58233	#10 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Pioneer Football League Drake University Des Moines, IA First Year Retention Rate -- Acceptance Rate 63.9% SAT Score 1,190 – 1,380 Avg. Net Price $30,886 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $58,233
11	Marist College	0	56.51	1,200 – 1,360	40106	62546	#11 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Pioneer Football League Marist College Poughkeepsie, NY First Year Retention Rate -- Acceptance Rate 56.5% SAT Score 1,200 – 1,360 Avg. Net Price $40,106 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $62,546

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 – Pioneer Football League

About

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Pioneer Football League

95 % 0.4%

13.4%

1,400 – 1,520

$26,510

$62,866

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Pioneer Football League

91 % 1.1%

52.4%

1,210 – 1,390

$37,675

$64,995

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Pioneer Football League

89 % 0.1%

65.7%

1,180 – 1,400

$31,551

$62,477

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Pioneer Football League

88 % 0.7%

85.1%

1,190 – 1,370

$40,140

$61,627

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Pioneer Football League

87 %

91.3%

1,190 – 1,350

$32,637

$62,412

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Pioneer Football League

80 % 7.8%

68.4%

990 – 1,220

$20,058

$44,387

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Pioneer Football League

78 % 7.4%

71.6%

1,110 – 1,310

$22,914

$44,792

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Pioneer Football League

75 % 4.3%

89.3%

1,140 – 1,360

$23,168

$55,216

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Pioneer Football League

65 % 6.5%

77.2%

1,020 – 1,220

$10,017

$37,131

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Pioneer Football League

--

63.9%

1,190 – 1,380

$30,886

$58,233

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Pioneer Football League

--

56.5%

1,200 – 1,360

$40,106

$62,546

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

95 %
0.4%

91 %
1.1%

89 %
0.1%

88 %
0.7%

80 %
7.8%

78 %
7.4%

75 %
4.3%

65 %
6.5%