2026 College Rankings

Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Sooner 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	College of the Ozarks	90	11.99	1,050 – 1,220	12279	36507	#1 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Sooner Athletic Conference College of the Ozarks Point Lookout, MO Thanks to a student work program and donations, students don’t have to pay tuition to attend the College of the Ozarks. It has a 14 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio and 90% first year retention rate. CofO is extremely selective and out of those accepted, 81% decided to attend. First Year Retention Rate 90 % Acceptance Rate 12.0% SAT Score 1,050 – 1,220 Avg. Net Price $12,279 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $36,507
2	John Brown University	84	67.64	1,090 – 1,370	21464	46114	#2 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Sooner Athletic Conference John Brown University Siloam Springs, AR John Brown University sits on a 200-acre campus featuring the Cathedral of the Ozarks and the Windgate Visual Art Buildings. A fairly selective school, 36% of those accepted decided to enroll. It offers up to Master's degrees, and popular programs include andConstruction Management. First Year Retention Rate 84 % 2.6% Acceptance Rate 67.6% SAT Score 1,090 – 1,370 Avg. Net Price $21,464 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $46,114
3	Oklahoma City University	84	77.02	1,070 – 1,280	23143	42312	#3 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Sooner Athletic Conference Oklahoma City University Oklahoma City, OK Oklahoma City University has a 77% acceptance rate, and 99% of enrolled students receive institutional aid. On the field, the Stars wear blue and white and are cheered on by their mascot, a ram named Starsky. A NAIA Division I school, the average athletic scholarship is $8,577. First Year Retention Rate 84 % 9.1% Acceptance Rate 77.0% SAT Score 1,070 – 1,280 Avg. Net Price $23,143 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $42,312
4	Nelson University	81	84.23	930 – 1,110	19834	37425	#4 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Sooner Athletic Conference Nelson University Waxahachie, TX Found in Waxahachie, Nelson University’s acceptance rate is 84%. They charge $35 for undergraduate applications, but fee waivers may be requested. Approximately 91% of students at Nelson University currently receive institutional grant aid. At Nelson University, there is a 81% first year retention rate and around 40% of......Read more First Year Retention Rate 81 % 12.5% Acceptance Rate 84.2% SAT Score 930 – 1,110 Avg. Net Price $19,834 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $37,425
5	University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma	71	55.77	1,080 – 1,210	8685	35520	#5 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Sooner Athletic Conference University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma Chickasha, OK Based in Chickasha, the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma accepted 56% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle and requires $40 for undergraduate applications and . About 93% of attending students currently receive grant aid from the school. At the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma,......Read more First Year Retention Rate 71 % 36.5% Acceptance Rate 55.8% SAT Score 1,080 – 1,210 Avg. Net Price $8,685 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $35,520
6	Mid-America Christian University	70	0	--	16187	39265	#6 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Sooner Athletic Conference Mid-America Christian University Oklahoma City, OK First Year Retention Rate 70 % 16.7% Acceptance Rate -- SAT Score -- Avg. Net Price $16,187 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $39,265
7	University of North Texas at Dallas	70	93.86	800 – 1,040	9109	51716	#7 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Sooner Athletic Conference University of North Texas at Dallas Dallas, TX Found in Dallas, the University of North Texas at Dallas accepts 94% of applicants. Undergraduates have to pay unknown to apply. Approximately 41% of students attending the University of North Texas at Dallas will receive grant aid from the school. The college’s first year retention rate is 70% and its four year graduation......Read more First Year Retention Rate 70 % Acceptance Rate 93.9% SAT Score 800 – 1,040 Avg. Net Price $9,109 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $51,716
8	Texas Wesleyan University	63	62.39	950 – 1,150	21169	44773	#8 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Sooner Athletic Conference Texas Wesleyan University Fort Worth, TX Based in Fort Worth, Texas Wesleyan University accepted 62% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. Undergraduates have to pay unknown to apply. Approximately 89% of students at Texas Wesleyan University will receive institutional grant aid. The college’s first year retention rate is 63% and around 17%......Read more First Year Retention Rate 63 % 53.7% Acceptance Rate 62.4% SAT Score 950 – 1,150 Avg. Net Price $21,169 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $44,773
9	Louisiana Christian University	61	83.79	940 – 1,190	15470	40615	#9 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Sooner Athletic Conference Louisiana Christian University Pineville, LA Located in Pineville, Louisiana Christian University accepted 84% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle and charges $25 for undergraduate applications. Approximately 100% of students at Louisiana Christian University currently receive institutional grant aid. 61% of students decide to stay at......Read more First Year Retention Rate 61 % 4.1% Acceptance Rate 83.8% SAT Score 940 – 1,190 Avg. Net Price $15,470 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $40,615
10	Texas College	60	42.6	--	10901	27901	#10 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Sooner Athletic Conference Texas College Tyler, TX Found in Tyler, Texas College accepted 43% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. Undergraduates have to send in $20 to apply. Approximately 5% of students attending Texas College will receive grant aid from the school. 60% of students continued studying at Texas College after completing their first......Read more First Year Retention Rate 60 % 14.3% Acceptance Rate 42.6% SAT Score -- Avg. Net Price $10,901 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $27,901
11	Central Christian College of Kansas	59	95.7	920 – 1,120	12217	37685	#11 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Sooner Athletic Conference Central Christian College of Kansas McPherson, KS Based in McPherson, Central Christian College of Kansas accepts 96% of applicants and charges unknown for undergraduate applications. About 95% of students attending Central Christian College of Kansas will receive institutional grant aid....Read more First Year Retention Rate 59 % 7.8% Acceptance Rate 95.7% SAT Score 920 – 1,120 Avg. Net Price $12,217 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $37,685
12	Langston University	59	0	760 – 1,040	10589	29691	#12 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Sooner Athletic Conference Langston University Langston, OK First Year Retention Rate 59 % 13.5% Acceptance Rate -- SAT Score 760 – 1,040 Avg. Net Price $10,589 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $29,691
13	Southwestern Christian University	50	80.34	850 – 1,010	20714	34574	#13 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Sooner Athletic Conference Southwestern Christian University Bethany, OK Based in Bethany, Southwestern Christian University accepts 80% of applicants. They request unknown for undergraduate applications, but some schools offer fee waivers. Approximately 99% of attending students currently receive institutional grant aid....Read more First Year Retention Rate 50 % 0.0% Acceptance Rate 80.3% SAT Score 850 – 1,010 Avg. Net Price $20,714 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $34,574
14	Oklahoma Panhandle State University	47	97.07	890 – 1,080	5274	39089	#14 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Sooner Athletic Conference Oklahoma Panhandle State University Goodwell, OK Located in Goodwell, Oklahoma Panhandle State University accepts 97% of applicants and charges unknown for undergraduate applications. About 74% of students attending Oklahoma Panhandle State University currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more First Year Retention Rate 47 % 20.3% Acceptance Rate 97.1% SAT Score 890 – 1,080 Avg. Net Price $5,274 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $39,089
15	Wayland Baptist University	44	55.96	840 – 1,010	20222	44159	#15 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Sooner Athletic Conference Wayland Baptist University Plainview, TX Found in Plainview, Wayland Baptist University’s acceptance rate is 56%. They request $35 for undergraduate applications. About 82% of students at Wayland Baptist University will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. The first year retention rate is 44%....Read more First Year Retention Rate 44 % Acceptance Rate 56.0% SAT Score 840 – 1,010 Avg. Net Price $20,222 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $44,159