2026 College Rankings

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

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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	Davidson College	95	13.37	1,400 – 1,520	27720	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 % Acceptance Rate 13.4% SAT Score 1,400 – 1,520 Avg. Net Price $27,720 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	37918	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 $37,918 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $64,995
3	University of Dayton	89	65.45	1,210 – 1,400	32794	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 65% 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 % Acceptance Rate 65.5% SAT Score 1,210 – 1,400 Avg. Net Price $32,794 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $62,477
4	University of St Thomas	88	85.36	1,220 – 1,380	31250	62412	#4 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 88 % 2.3% Acceptance Rate 85.4% SAT Score 1,220 – 1,380 Avg. Net Price $31,250 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $62,412
5	Butler University	87	85.08	1,190 – 1,370	38438	61627	#5 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 87 % 1.1% Acceptance Rate 85.1% SAT Score 1,190 – 1,370 Avg. Net Price $38,438 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $61,627
6	Marist University	86	56.51	1,200 – 1,360	42508	62546	#6 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Pioneer Football League Marist University Poughkeepsie, NY Located in Poughkeepsie, Marist University accepted 57% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. They require $50 for undergraduate applications. Approximately 95% of students attending Marist University will receive grant aid from the school. At Marist University, there is a 86% first year retention......Read more First Year Retention Rate 86 % 3.4% Acceptance Rate 56.5% SAT Score 1,200 – 1,360 Avg. Net Price $42,508 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $62,546
7	Drake University	84	63.85	1,170 – 1,350	29565	58233	#7 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Pioneer Football League Drake University Des Moines, IA Located in Des Moines, Drake University accepted 64% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. They request unknown for undergraduate applications and $35 for graduate applications. About 100% of attending students will receive grant aid from the school....Read more First Year Retention Rate 84 % Acceptance Rate 63.9% SAT Score 1,170 – 1,350 Avg. Net Price $29,565 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $58,233
8	Presbyterian College	80	68.37	1,020 – 1,220	20840	44387	#8 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 % 8.1% Acceptance Rate 68.4% SAT Score 1,020 – 1,220 Avg. Net Price $20,840 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $44,387
9	Stetson University	78	71.6	1,070 – 1,290	20319	44792	#9 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 % 6.8% Acceptance Rate 71.6% SAT Score 1,070 – 1,290 Avg. Net Price $20,319 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $44,792
10	Valparaiso University	75	89.43	1,080 – 1,300	21766	55216	#10 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 100% of students at Valparaiso University currently receive institutional grant aid. At Valparaiso University, there is a 75% first year retention rate and 62% of students will graduate......Read more First Year Retention Rate 75 % 5.1% Acceptance Rate 89.4% SAT Score 1,080 – 1,300 Avg. Net Price $21,766 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $55,216
11	Morehead State University	65	77.21	1,040 – 1,240	9630	37131	#11 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 $30 for undergraduate applications. Approximately 71% of students at Morehead State University currently receive grant aid from the school. The college’s first year retention rate is 65% and......Read more First Year Retention Rate 65 % 5.8% Acceptance Rate 77.2% SAT Score 1,040 – 1,240 Avg. Net Price $9,630 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $37,131

School data is from 2023–2024 (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 %

13.4%

1,400 – 1,520

$27,720

$62,866

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

91 % 1.1%

52.4%

1,210 – 1,390

$37,918

$64,995

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

89 %

65.5%

1,210 – 1,400

$32,794

$62,477

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

88 % 2.3%

85.4%

1,220 – 1,380

$31,250

$62,412

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

87 % 1.1%

85.1%

1,190 – 1,370

$38,438

$61,627

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

86 % 3.4%

56.5%

1,200 – 1,360

$42,508

$62,546

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

84 %

63.9%

1,170 – 1,350

$29,565

$58,233

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

80 % 8.1%

68.4%

1,020 – 1,220

$20,840

$44,387

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

78 % 6.8%

71.6%

1,070 – 1,290

$20,319

$44,792

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

75 % 5.1%

89.4%

1,080 – 1,300

$21,766

$55,216

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

65 % 5.8%

77.2%

1,040 – 1,240

$9,630

$37,131

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91 %
1.1%

88 %
2.3%

87 %
1.1%

86 %
3.4%

80 %
8.1%

78 %
6.8%

75 %
5.1%

65 %
5.8%