2027 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	The University of Texas at Austin	97.09	22.22	1,260 – 1,500	17942	60896	#1 2027 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southeastern Conference The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX The University of Texas at Austin was founded in 1883, but the first mention of it can be traced back to 1827. Famous alumni include Wes Anderson, James Baker, Matthew McConaughey, and Neil deGrasse Tyson....Read more First Year Retention Rate 97 % 0.4% Acceptance Rate 22.2% SAT Score 1,260 – 1,500 Avg. Net Price $17,942 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $60,896
2	University of Florida	97	20.33	1,340 – 1,480	11936	56398	#2 2027 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 555 athletes, are known as the Gators, wearing orange and blue....Read more First Year Retention Rate 97 % 1.0% Acceptance Rate 20.3% SAT Score 1,340 – 1,480 Avg. Net Price $11,936 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $56,398
3	Vanderbilt University	96	5.86	1,500 – 1,560	25186	73909	#3 2027 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 Social Sciences, General, Computer Science, Management Sciences and......Read more First Year Retention Rate 96 % Acceptance Rate 5.9% SAT Score 1,500 – 1,560 Avg. Net Price $25,186 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $73,909
4	University of Florida-Online	95	61.26	1,270 – 1,410	10965	56398	#4 2027 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southeastern Conference University of Florida-Online Gainesville, FL Based in Gainesville, the University of Florida-Online accepts 61% of applicants and requests $30 to apply, but fee waivers may be available. About 20% of attending students will receive grant aid from the school. The first year retention rate is 95%....Read more First Year Retention Rate 95 % Acceptance Rate 61.3% SAT Score 1,270 – 1,410 Avg. Net Price $10,965 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $56,398
5	Auburn University	94.7	45.93	1,250 – 1,400	25242	54629	#5 2027 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 78% of attending students currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more First Year Retention Rate 95 % Acceptance Rate 45.9% SAT Score 1,250 – 1,400 Avg. Net Price $25,242 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $54,629
6	Texas A&M University-College Station	94.31	57.32	1,170 – 1,400	21437	59386	#6 2027 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 53% 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 94 % Acceptance Rate 57.3% SAT Score 1,170 – 1,400 Avg. Net Price $21,437 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $59,386
7	University of Georgia	93.58	34.25	1,260 – 1,450	16662	57565	#7 2027 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 94 % 0.8% Acceptance Rate 34.3% SAT Score 1,260 – 1,450 Avg. Net Price $16,662 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $57,565
8	The University of Tennessee-Knoxville	92.43	43.58	1,250 – 1,400	21648	47782	#8 2027 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 44% of applicants and requires $75 for undergraduate applications and $60 for graduate applications. About 88% of students at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville currently receive institutional grant aid....Read more First Year Retention Rate 92 % 0.6% Acceptance Rate 43.6% SAT Score 1,250 – 1,400 Avg. Net Price $21,648 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $47,782
9	University of South Carolina-Columbia	92.32	56.51	1,210 – 1,390	24488	50621	#9 2027 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southeastern Conference University of South Carolina-Columbia Columbia, SC Columbia, or USC, is the flagship campus of the eight-school University of South Carolina system. There are 16 schools and colleges that make up the institution, with 164 undergraduate majors to choose from. Public Health, General is a popular area of study....Read more First Year Retention Rate 92 % 0.3% Acceptance Rate 56.5% SAT Score 1,210 – 1,390 Avg. Net Price $24,488 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $50,621
10	University of Missouri-Columbia	90.4	76.13	1,150 – 1,370	22169	52756	#10 2027 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 90 % 2.5% Acceptance Rate 76.1% SAT Score 1,150 – 1,370 Avg. Net Price $22,169 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $52,756
11	University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus	89.1	77.62	1,140 – 1,310	18574	52216	#11 2027 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southeastern Conference University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus Norman, OK The University of Oklahoma offers up to Doctor's degrees and has a first year retention rate of 89%. It originally opened as the Norman Territorial University in 1890, 17 years before Oklahoma became a state. Competing in the Southeastern Conference, the Sooners have brought home over 40 national titles. First Year Retention Rate 89 % 1.0% Acceptance Rate 77.6% SAT Score 1,140 – 1,310 Avg. Net Price $18,574 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $52,216
12	The University of Alabama	88	71.17	1,110 – 1,390	22559	52233	#12 2027 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southeastern Conference The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, AL Found in Tuscaloosa, The University of Alabama accepts 71% of applicants and charges $40 for undergraduate applications. Approximately 76% of attending students will receive grant aid from the school. 88% of students continued studying at The University of Alabama after completing their first year....Read more First Year Retention Rate 88 % 1.7% Acceptance Rate 71.2% SAT Score 1,110 – 1,390 Avg. Net Price $22,559 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $52,233
13	University of Kentucky	87	92.94	1,080 – 1,310	21958	47266	#13 2027 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 87% of students attending the University of Kentucky will receive institutional grant aid. The school’s first year retention rate is 87% and around 55% 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 $21,958 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $47,266
14	University of Mississippi	86.67	97.38	1,050 – 1,300	15045	45336	#14 2027 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 68% of students at the University of Mississippi currently receive institutional grant aid....Read more First Year Retention Rate 87 % 0.6% Acceptance Rate 97.4% SAT Score 1,050 – 1,300 Avg. Net Price $15,045 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $45,336
15	University of Arkansas	85.93	73.88	1,070 – 1,290	18408	49686	#15 2027 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 44% of attending students currently receive institutional grant aid. The first year retention rate is 85%....Read more First Year Retention Rate 86 % 0.5% Acceptance Rate 73.9% SAT Score 1,070 – 1,290 Avg. Net Price $18,408 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $49,686
16	Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College	84.62	69.39	1,210 – 1,370	21430	49218	#16 2027 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 69% and requires $50 for undergraduate applications and $50 for graduate applications. About 76% of attending students currently receive institutional grant aid. At Louisiana State University and Agricultural &......Read more First Year Retention Rate 85 % 0.1% Acceptance Rate 69.4% SAT Score 1,210 – 1,370 Avg. Net Price $21,430 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $49,218
17	Mississippi State University	83	83.63	1,080 – 1,340	18478	43487	#17 2027 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southeastern Conference Mississippi State University Mississippi State, MS Found in Mississippi State, Mississippi State University accepts 84% of applicants. They request $50 for undergraduate applications and $60 for graduate applications. Approximately 91% of attending students currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more First Year Retention Rate 83 % Acceptance Rate 83.6% SAT Score 1,080 – 1,340 Avg. Net Price $18,478 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $43,487