2026 College Rankings

Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – South Atlantic 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	Anderson University	82.57	54.71	1,110 – 1,310	22222	42073	#1 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – South Atlantic Conference Anderson University Anderson, SC A member of the South Atlantic Conference, Anderson University added a football team, starting in the 2024 season. Other popular sports include Baseball, Lacrosse, and Soccer....Read more First Year Retention Rate 83 % 0.7% Acceptance Rate 54.7% SAT Score 1,110 – 1,310 Avg. Net Price $22,222 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $42,073
2	Emory & Henry University	75.6	96.33	970 – 1,170	21714	39448	#2 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – South Atlantic Conference Emory & Henry University Emory, VA Found in Emory, Emory & Henry University accepts 96% of applicants and requires unknown for undergraduate applications and . Approximately 97% of attending students will receive grant aid from the school....Read more First Year Retention Rate 76 % Acceptance Rate 96.3% SAT Score 970 – 1,170 Avg. Net Price $21,714 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $39,448
3	Newberry College	74	74.8	910 – 1,100	20941	38983	#3 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – South Atlantic Conference Newberry College Newberry, SC Based in Newberry, Newberry College accepts 75% of applicants. They require unknown for undergraduate applications. Approximately 99% of students at Newberry College currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more First Year Retention Rate 74 % Acceptance Rate 74.8% SAT Score 910 – 1,100 Avg. Net Price $20,941 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $38,983
4	Lenoir-Rhyne University	71	80.68	970 – 1,180	24042	44799	#4 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – South Atlantic Conference Lenoir-Rhyne University Hickory, NC Located in Hickory, Lenoir-Rhyne University’s acceptance rate is 81%. They request $35 for undergraduate applications. About 100% of students attending Lenoir-Rhyne University currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more First Year Retention Rate 71 % Acceptance Rate 80.7% SAT Score 970 – 1,180 Avg. Net Price $24,042 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $44,799
5	Wingate University	70.48	91.13	990 – 1,210	21464	43992	#5 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – South Atlantic Conference Wingate University Wingate, NC Based in Wingate, Wingate University accepted 91% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle and charges unknown for undergraduate applications. Approximately 97% of attending students currently receive grant aid from the school....Read more First Year Retention Rate 70 % 5.2% Acceptance Rate 91.1% SAT Score 990 – 1,210 Avg. Net Price $21,464 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $43,992
6	Lincoln Memorial University	69.5	62.6	980 – 1,190	19401	45242	#6 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – South Atlantic Conference Lincoln Memorial University Harrogate, TN Based in Harrogate, Lincoln Memorial University’s acceptance rate is 63% and requests unknown to apply, but fee waivers may be available. Approximately 99% of attending students will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. 69% of students continued studying at Lincoln Memorial University......Read more First Year Retention Rate 70 % 0.7% Acceptance Rate 62.6% SAT Score 980 – 1,190 Avg. Net Price $19,401 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $45,242
7	Mars Hill University	69	68.22	1,000 – 1,200	19842	35680	#7 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – South Atlantic Conference Mars Hill University Mars Hill, NC Found in Mars Hill, Mars Hill University accepted 68% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle and charges unknown for undergraduate applications. Approximately 97% of students attending Mars Hill University will receive institutional grant aid....Read more First Year Retention Rate 69 % 13.1% Acceptance Rate 68.2% SAT Score 1,000 – 1,200 Avg. Net Price $19,842 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $35,680
8	University of Virginia's College at Wise	69	93.92	950 – 1,180	10409	39725	#8 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – South Atlantic Conference University of Virginia's College at Wise Wise, VA Found in Wise, the University of Virginia's College at Wise accepted 94% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. Undergraduates have to send in $25 to apply. About 93% of students attending the University of Virginia's College at Wise will receive institutional grant aid. The institution’s first year......Read more First Year Retention Rate 69 % Acceptance Rate 93.9% SAT Score 950 – 1,180 Avg. Net Price $10,409 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $39,725
9	Barton College	65	94.2	950 – 1,150	23804	40785	#9 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – South Atlantic Conference Barton College Wilson, NC Found in Wilson, Barton College’s acceptance rate is 94%. They require unknown for undergraduate applications. About 100% of attending students will receive institutional grant aid. The school’s first year retention rate is 65% and around 44% of students will graduate in four years or less. Three popular areas of study among......Read more First Year Retention Rate 65 % Acceptance Rate 94.2% SAT Score 950 – 1,150 Avg. Net Price $23,804 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $40,785
10	Coker University	61	97.23	930 – 1,080	18910	36650	#10 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – South Atlantic Conference Coker University Hartsville, SC Coker University was originally a high school when it opened in 1894. It was converted to the Coker College for Women in 1908 and became a university in 2019. Competing in the NCAA Division II without football South Atlantic Conference, the Cobras wear navy blue, light blue, and gold....Read more First Year Retention Rate 61 % Acceptance Rate 97.2% SAT Score 930 – 1,080 Avg. Net Price $18,910 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $36,650
11	Tusculum University	55	60.42	930 – 1,140	22961	39925	#11 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – South Atlantic Conference Tusculum University Greeneville, TN Found in Greeneville, Tusculum University’s acceptance rate is 60%. They charge unknown for undergraduate applications, but some students qualify for fee waivers. Approximately 100% of attending students will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more First Year Retention Rate 55 % Acceptance Rate 60.4% SAT Score 930 – 1,140 Avg. Net Price $22,961 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $39,925
12	Carson-Newman University	0	90.45	1,010 – 1,210	19755	39324	#12 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – South Atlantic Conference Carson-Newman University Jefferson City, TN First Year Retention Rate -- Acceptance Rate 90.5% SAT Score 1,010 – 1,210 Avg. Net Price $19,755 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $39,324
13	Catawba College	0	75.21	960 – 1,240	18319	36912	#13 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – South Atlantic Conference Catawba College Salisbury, NC First Year Retention Rate -- Acceptance Rate 75.2% SAT Score 960 – 1,240 Avg. Net Price $18,319 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $36,912

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 – South Atlantic Conference

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2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – South Atlantic Conference

83 % 0.7%

54.7%

1,110 – 1,310

$22,222

$42,073

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – South Atlantic Conference

76 %

96.3%

970 – 1,170

$21,714

$39,448

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – South Atlantic Conference

74 %

74.8%

910 – 1,100

$20,941

$38,983

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – South Atlantic Conference

71 %

80.7%

970 – 1,180

$24,042

$44,799

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – South Atlantic Conference

70 % 5.2%

91.1%

990 – 1,210

$21,464

$43,992

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – South Atlantic Conference

70 % 0.7%

62.6%

980 – 1,190

$19,401

$45,242

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – South Atlantic Conference

69 % 13.1%

68.2%

1,000 – 1,200

$19,842

$35,680

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – South Atlantic Conference

69 %

93.9%

950 – 1,180

$10,409

$39,725

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – South Atlantic Conference

65 %

94.2%

950 – 1,150

$23,804

$40,785

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – South Atlantic Conference

61 %

97.2%

930 – 1,080

$18,910

$36,650

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – South Atlantic Conference

55 %

60.4%

930 – 1,140

$22,961

$39,925

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – South Atlantic Conference

--

90.5%

1,010 – 1,210

$19,755

$39,324

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – South Atlantic Conference

--

75.2%

960 – 1,240

$18,319

83 %
0.7%

70 %
5.2%

70 %
0.7%

69 %
13.1%