2026 College Rankings

Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southeastern 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	University of Florida	98	24.2	1,330 – 1,480	11521	56398	#1 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southeastern Conference University of Florida Gainesville, FL Part of the Southeastern Conference and a NCAA Division I-FBS school, the University of Florida has a wide variety of sports from football to gymnastics. The student body, including 564 athletes, are known as the Gators, wearing orange and blue....Read more First Year Retention Rate 98 % 1.0% Acceptance Rate 24.2% SAT Score 1,330 – 1,480 Avg. Net Price $11,521 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $56,398
2	Vanderbilt University	96	5.86	1,500 – 1,560	26689	73909	#2 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southeastern Conference Vanderbilt University Nashville, TN Vanderbilt University was named in honor of Cornelius Vanderbilt, a shipping and rail magnate, due to his gift of $1 million. Its campus spans 330 acres in midtown Nashville and the school's motto is "dare to grow." Many students at Vanderbilt major in Econometrics and Quantitative Economics, Social Sciences, General, and......Read more First Year Retention Rate 96 % 0.4% Acceptance Rate 5.9% SAT Score 1,500 – 1,560 Avg. Net Price $26,689 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $73,909
3	Auburn University	94.7	45.93	1,250 – 1,400	24524	54629	#3 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southeastern Conference Auburn University Auburn, AL Found in Auburn, Auburn University’s acceptance rate is 46% and requests $50 to apply, but fee waivers may be available. About 73% of attending students currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more First Year Retention Rate 95 % 1.7% Acceptance Rate 45.9% SAT Score 1,250 – 1,400 Avg. Net Price $24,524 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $54,629
4	University of Georgia	94.6	37.19	1,250 – 1,430	16303	57565	#4 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southeastern Conference University of Georgia Athens, GA At the University of Georgia, many undergraduates will go on to major in Psychology, General. Founded in 1785, it’s a Public Ivy and one of the oldest public schools in the country. Over the years, UGA has produced many well known public figures, including football players, Pulitzer prize winners, and more. First Year Retention Rate 95 % Acceptance Rate 37.2% SAT Score 1,250 – 1,430 Avg. Net Price $16,303 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $57,565
5	University of Missouri-Columbia	92.7	78.47	1,150 – 1,370	20006	52756	#5 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southeastern Conference University of Missouri-Columbia Columbia, MO The University of Missouri was established in 1839, making it the first public university west of the Mississippi River. It’s also home to the world’s first journalism school, which opened in 1909. Alumni include Chris Cooper, Sheryl Crow, Jon Hamm, and Brad Pitt....Read more First Year Retention Rate 93 % 1.5% Acceptance Rate 78.5% SAT Score 1,150 – 1,370 Avg. Net Price $20,006 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $52,756
6	University of South Carolina-Columbia	92	60.15	1,200 – 1,390	26068	50621	#6 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southeastern Conference University of South Carolina-Columbia Columbia, SC Based in Columbia, the University of South Carolina-Columbia accepts 60% of applicants. They charge $65 for undergraduate applications and $50 for graduate applications. About 71% of attending students currently receive grant aid from the school. At the University of South Carolina-Columbia, there is a 92% first year......Read more First Year Retention Rate 92 % 1.1% Acceptance Rate 60.2% SAT Score 1,200 – 1,390 Avg. Net Price $26,068 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $50,621
7	The University of Tennessee-Knoxville	91.9	41.6	1,210 – 1,390	20885	47782	#7 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southeastern Conference The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Knoxville, TN Located in Knoxville, The University of Tennessee-Knoxville accepts 42% of applicants and requires $75 for undergraduate applications and $60 for graduate applications. About 78% of students at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville currently receive institutional grant aid....Read more First Year Retention Rate 92 % 0.9% Acceptance Rate 41.6% SAT Score 1,210 – 1,390 Avg. Net Price $20,885 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $47,782
8	The University of Alabama	89.5	76.65	1,110 – 1,370	21761	52233	#8 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southeastern Conference The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, AL Found in Tuscaloosa, The University of Alabama accepts 77% of applicants and charges $40 for undergraduate applications. Approximately 66% of attending students will receive grant aid from the school. 89% of students continued studying at The University of Alabama after completing their first year....Read more First Year Retention Rate 90 % 3.9% Acceptance Rate 76.7% SAT Score 1,110 – 1,370 Avg. Net Price $21,761 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $52,233
9	University of Kentucky	87	92.94	1,080 – 1,310	19838	47266	#9 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southeastern Conference University of Kentucky Lexington, KY Based in Lexington, the University of Kentucky’s acceptance rate is 93% and charges $50 for undergraduate applications. Approximately 89% of students attending the University of Kentucky will receive institutional grant aid. The school’s first year retention rate is 87% and around 51% of students will graduate in four years or......Read more First Year Retention Rate 87 % Acceptance Rate 92.9% SAT Score 1,080 – 1,310 Avg. Net Price $19,838 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $47,266
10	University of Arkansas	86.37	74.31	1,070 – 1,290	17475	49686	#10 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southeastern Conference University of Arkansas Fayetteville, AR Located in Fayetteville, the University of Arkansas accepted 74% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. Undergraduates have to pay $40 to apply. Approximately 39% of attending students currently receive institutional grant aid. The first year retention rate is 86%....Read more First Year Retention Rate 86 % 0.1% Acceptance Rate 74.3% SAT Score 1,070 – 1,290 Avg. Net Price $17,475 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $49,686
11	Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College	84.7	73.33	1,180 – 1,370	21808	49218	#11 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southeastern Conference Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College Baton Rouge, LA Found in Baton Rouge, Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College’s acceptance rate is 73% and requires $50 for undergraduate applications and $50 for graduate applications. About 75% of attending students currently receive institutional grant aid. At Louisiana State University and Agricultural &......Read more First Year Retention Rate 85 % 0.8% Acceptance Rate 73.3% SAT Score 1,180 – 1,370 Avg. Net Price $21,808 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $49,218
12	Mississippi State University	83	77.64	1,090 – 1,350	16480	43487	#12 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southeastern Conference Mississippi State University Mississippi State, MS Found in Mississippi State, Mississippi State University accepts 78% of applicants. They request $40 for undergraduate applications and $60 for graduate applications. Approximately 93% of attending students currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more First Year Retention Rate 83 % Acceptance Rate 77.6% SAT Score 1,090 – 1,350 Avg. Net Price $16,480 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $43,487
13	Texas A&M University-College Station	0	57.32	1,170 – 1,400	21610	59386	#13 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southeastern Conference Texas A&M University-College Station College Station, TX Found in College Station, Texas A&M University-College Station accepts 57% of applicants and requests $75 to apply, but fee waivers may be available. About 59% of students attending Texas A&M University-College Station currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more First Year Retention Rate -- Acceptance Rate 57.3% SAT Score 1,170 – 1,400 Avg. Net Price $21,610 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $59,386
14	University of Florida-Online	0	64.38	1,270 – 1,400	10412	56398	#14 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southeastern Conference University of Florida-Online Gainesville, FL First Year Retention Rate -- Acceptance Rate 64.4% SAT Score 1,270 – 1,400 Avg. Net Price $10,412 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $56,398
15	University of Mississippi	0	96.58	1,060 – 1,310	14946	45336	#15 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southeastern Conference University of Mississippi University, MS Found in University, the University of Mississippi accepts 97% of applicants and charges $75 for undergraduate applications. About 73% of students at the University of Mississippi currently receive institutional grant aid....Read more First Year Retention Rate -- Acceptance Rate 96.6% SAT Score 1,060 – 1,310 Avg. Net Price $14,946 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $45,336