2026 College Rankings

Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Presidents Athletic Conference

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Presidents 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	Allegheny College	78.3	54.52	1,180 – 1,360	27929	45603	#1 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Presidents Athletic Conference Allegheny College Meadville, PA Found in Meadville, Allegheny College accepted 55% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle and requires unknown for undergraduate applications and . Approximately 97% of students at Allegheny College will receive institutional grant aid....Read more First Year Retention Rate 78 % 7.9% Acceptance Rate 54.5% SAT Score 1,180 – 1,360 Avg. Net Price $27,929 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $45,603
2	Bethany College	63.41	60.49	930 – 1,110	16844	37124	#2 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Presidents Athletic Conference Bethany College Bethany, WV Located in Bethany, Bethany College accepts 60% of applicants and charges unknown for undergraduate applications. Approximately 98% of students at Bethany College currently receive institutional grant aid. They receive $28,014 on average. 63% of students continued studying at Bethany College after completing their first year....Read more First Year Retention Rate 63 % Acceptance Rate 60.5% SAT Score 930 – 1,110 Avg. Net Price $16,844 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $37,124
3	Case Western Reserve University	92	37.78	1,440 – 1,550	41351	75613	#3 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Presidents Athletic Conference Case Western Reserve University Cleveland, OH Case Western Reserve University is known as the “Yale of the West,” as its campus imitated Yale’s. 86% receive grant aid to help offset the cost, or $38,578 on average. A NCAA Division III with football school, the Spartans often compete in Basketball, Football, and Soccer. First Year Retention Rate 92 % Acceptance Rate 37.8% SAT Score 1,440 – 1,550 Avg. Net Price $41,351 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $75,613
4	Chatham University	78	61.96	1,080 – 1,320	29051	48709	#4 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Presidents Athletic Conference Chatham University Pittsburgh, PA Chatham University is a private liberal arts college initially founded in 1869 as a college to empower women. Today, the campus is made up of 63% women and 36% men. Top majors among students include Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, Occupational Therapy/Therapist, Psychology, and General. First Year Retention Rate 78 % Acceptance Rate 62.0% SAT Score 1,080 – 1,320 Avg. Net Price $29,051 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $48,709
5	Franciscan University of Steubenville	88	72.23	1,110 – 1,340	24490	42037	#5 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Presidents Athletic Conference Franciscan University of Steubenville Steubenville, OH “Fortitude and Prudence” is the motto of the Franciscan University of Steubenville. Located along the Ohio River, the school has a first year retention rate of 88% and a student-to-faculty ratio of 13 to 1. The Barons participate in the NCAA Division III without football Presidents' Athletic Conference. First Year Retention Rate 88 % Acceptance Rate 72.2% SAT Score 1,110 – 1,340 Avg. Net Price $24,490 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $42,037
6	Geneva College	81.02	80.35	1,000 – 1,220	22145	46107	#6 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Presidents Athletic Conference Geneva College Beaver Falls, PA Courses at Geneva College focus on humanities and a Reformed Christian worldview. Its motto is “For Christ and Country.” 99% of attending students receive grant aid, averaging $20,748 each. Athletes, known as the Golden Tornadoes, compete in the Presidents' Athletic Conference. First Year Retention Rate 81 % Acceptance Rate 80.4% SAT Score 1,000 – 1,220 Avg. Net Price $22,145 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $46,107
7	Grove City College	88	72.32	1,150 – 1,370	24184	63721	#7 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Presidents Athletic Conference Grove City College Grove City, PA Grove City College is a non-denominational college founded in 1876. With an 88% first year retention rate, 87% of students will graduate in 4 years. Mechanical Engineering is the most popular undergraduate major. First Year Retention Rate 88 % Acceptance Rate 72.3% SAT Score 1,150 – 1,370 Avg. Net Price $24,184 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $63,721
8	Saint Vincent College	0.82	61.73	--	23857	47267	#8 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Presidents Athletic Conference Saint Vincent College Latrobe, PA Saint Vincent College was established in 1846, making it the first Benedictine monastery in the country. The Bearcats are part of the Presidents' Athletic Conference, competing in Football, Basketball, and Lacrosse, among others....Read more First Year Retention Rate 1 % 99.0% Acceptance Rate 61.7% SAT Score -- Avg. Net Price $23,857 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $47,267
9	Thiel College	73.7	71.89	950 – 1,180	22490	40686	#9 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Presidents Athletic Conference Thiel College Greenville, PA Located in Greenville, Thiel College accepted 72% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. They require unknown for undergraduate applications. About 100% of students at Thiel College will receive institutional grant aid....Read more First Year Retention Rate 74 % 2.5% Acceptance Rate 71.9% SAT Score 950 – 1,180 Avg. Net Price $22,490 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $40,686
10	Washington & Jefferson College	81.2	80.64	1,040 – 1,280	26051	52082	#10 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Presidents Athletic Conference Washington & Jefferson College Washington, PA Washington & Jefferson College came about in 1865 when Washington College and Jefferson College, both founded in the early 1800s, merged. The 60-acre campus is home to McMillan Hall, which was built in 1793, and the school was featured in the Netflix show, “Mindhunter.” 76% of students graduate within six years. First Year Retention Rate 81 % 1.0% Acceptance Rate 80.6% SAT Score 1,040 – 1,280 Avg. Net Price $26,051 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $52,082
11	Waynesburg University	72.3	91.69	980 – 1,220	22837	48994	#11 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Presidents Athletic Conference Waynesburg University Waynesburg, PA 100% of Waynesburg University’s students receive grant aid, averaging $18,778 each. Many undergraduates major in Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse. The campus is home to four parks, totalling 15 acres. Statue Park is dedicated to Civil War casualties. Waynesburg is non selective. First Year Retention Rate 72 % Acceptance Rate 91.7% SAT Score 980 – 1,220 Avg. Net Price $22,837 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $48,994
12	Westminster College	81	92.56	1,130 – 1,250	21089	43938	#12 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Presidents Athletic Conference Westminster College New Wilmington, PA 100% of students attending Westminster College receive grant aid, averaging $30,615 each. Affiliated with the Presbyterian Church, the school has an 81% first year retention rate, 12 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio, and 73% six year graduation rate. 505 athletes, known as the Titans, wear navy blue and white. First Year Retention Rate 81 % 2.4% Acceptance Rate 92.6% SAT Score 1,130 – 1,250 Avg. Net Price $21,089 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $43,938

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 – Presidents Athletic Conference

About

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Presidents Athletic Conference

78 % 7.9%

54.5%

1,180 – 1,360

$27,929

$45,603

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Presidents Athletic Conference

63 %

60.5%

930 – 1,110

$16,844

$37,124

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Presidents Athletic Conference

92 %

37.8%

1,440 – 1,550

$41,351

$75,613

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Presidents Athletic Conference

78 %

62.0%

1,080 – 1,320

$29,051

$48,709

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Presidents Athletic Conference

88 %

72.2%

1,110 – 1,340

$24,490

$42,037

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Presidents Athletic Conference

81 %

80.4%

1,000 – 1,220

$22,145

$46,107

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Presidents Athletic Conference

88 %

72.3%

1,150 – 1,370

$24,184

$63,721

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Presidents Athletic Conference

1 % 99.0%

61.7%

--

$23,857

$47,267

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Presidents Athletic Conference

74 % 2.5%

71.9%

950 – 1,180

$22,490

$40,686

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Presidents Athletic Conference

81 % 1.0%

80.6%

1,040 – 1,280

$26,051

$52,082

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Presidents Athletic Conference

72 %

91.7%

980 – 1,220

$22,837

$48,994

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Presidents Athletic Conference

81 % 2.4%

92.6%

1,130 – 1,250

$21,089

$43,938

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78 %
7.9%

1 %
99.0%

74 %
2.5%

81 %
1.0%

81 %
2.4%