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	54.71	1,110 – 1,310	24434	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 82 % Acceptance Rate 54.7% SAT Score 1,110 – 1,310 Avg. Net Price $24,434 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $42,073
2	Catawba College	77	75.21	960 – 1,240	18447	36912	#2 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – South Atlantic Conference Catawba College Salisbury, NC Located in Salisbury, Catawba College accepted 75% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. Undergraduates have to send in unknown to apply. About 100% of students attending Catawba College currently receive institutional grant aid....Read more First Year Retention Rate 77 % 5.5% Acceptance Rate 75.2% SAT Score 960 – 1,240 Avg. Net Price $18,447 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $36,912
3	Lenoir-Rhyne University	76	84.59	970 – 1,180	21546	44799	#3 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 85%. They request unknown 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 76 % 7.0% Acceptance Rate 84.6% SAT Score 970 – 1,180 Avg. Net Price $21,546 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $44,799
4	Carson-Newman University	74	90.45	1,010 – 1,210	20895	39324	#4 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – South Atlantic Conference Carson-Newman University Jefferson City, TN Based in Jefferson City, Carson-Newman University accepts 90% of applicants. They charge unknown for undergraduate applications and . About 100% of students attending Carson-Newman University will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. The first year retention rate is 74%....Read more First Year Retention Rate 74 % Acceptance Rate 90.5% SAT Score 1,010 – 1,210 Avg. Net Price $20,895 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $39,324
5	Lincoln Memorial University	72	62.59	980 – 1,190	21447	45242	#5 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 66% of attending students will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. 72% of students continued studying at Lincoln Memorial University......Read more First Year Retention Rate 72 % 4.3% Acceptance Rate 62.6% SAT Score 980 – 1,190 Avg. Net Price $21,447 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $45,242
6	University of Virginia's College at Wise	72	28.54	960 – 1,120	14378	39725	#6 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 29% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. Undergraduates have to send in unknown to apply. About 99% of students attending the University of Virginia's College at Wise will receive institutional grant aid. The institution’s first......Read more First Year Retention Rate 72 % 1.4% Acceptance Rate 28.5% SAT Score 960 – 1,120 Avg. Net Price $14,378 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $39,725
7	Wingate University	70	91.13	990 – 1,210	21282	43992	#7 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 100% of attending students currently receive grant aid from the school....Read more First Year Retention Rate 70 % 4.5% Acceptance Rate 91.1% SAT Score 990 – 1,210 Avg. Net Price $21,282 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $43,992
8	Coker University	69	93.96	930 – 1,170	19823	36650	#8 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 69 % 9.5% Acceptance Rate 94.0% SAT Score 930 – 1,170 Avg. Net Price $19,823 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $36,650
9	Mars Hill University	69	67.9	960 – 1,140	18925	35680	#9 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 99% of students attending Mars Hill University will receive institutional grant aid....Read more First Year Retention Rate 69 % 13.1% Acceptance Rate 67.9% SAT Score 960 – 1,140 Avg. Net Price $18,925 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $35,680
10	Newberry College	69	89.79	890 – 1,130	21943	38983	#10 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – South Atlantic Conference Newberry College Newberry, SC Based in Newberry, Newberry College accepts 90% of applicants. They require unknown for undergraduate applications. Approximately 71% of students at Newberry College currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more First Year Retention Rate 69 % 1.4% Acceptance Rate 89.8% SAT Score 890 – 1,130 Avg. Net Price $21,943 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $38,983
11	Emory & Henry University	66	83.65	1,050 – 1,240	21446	39448	#11 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – South Atlantic Conference Emory & Henry University Emory, VA Found in Emory, Emory & Henry University accepts 84% of applicants and requires unknown for undergraduate applications and $30 for graduate applications. Approximately 98% of attending students will receive grant aid from the school....Read more First Year Retention Rate 66 % 4.3% Acceptance Rate 83.7% SAT Score 1,050 – 1,240 Avg. Net Price $21,446 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $39,448
12	Barton College	65	94.2	950 – 1,150	23962	40785	#12 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 38% 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 $23,962 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $40,785
13	Tusculum University	63	72.17	930 – 1,110	20355	39925	#13 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 72%. They charge unknown for undergraduate applications, but some students qualify for fee waivers. Approximately 94% of attending students will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more First Year Retention Rate 63 % 8.6% Acceptance Rate 72.2% SAT Score 930 – 1,110 Avg. Net Price $20,355 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $39,925