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Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

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Southern California Intercollegiate 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	Claremont McKenna College	98.13	9.59	1,470 – 1,560	29978	87603	#1 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Claremont McKenna College Claremont, CA Claremont McKenna College, a private liberal arts school, was founded as a men’s college in 1946. It became co-educational in 1976. The most commonly chosen major is Econometrics and Quantitative Economics. With an 8 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio, 98% of students will stay after their freshman year. First Year Retention Rate 98 % 1.9% Acceptance Rate 9.6% SAT Score 1,470 – 1,560 Avg. Net Price $29,978 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $87,603
2	Pomona College	97.5	7.09	1,490 – 1,560	17423	60850	#2 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Pomona College Claremont, CA Pomona College is a private, liberal arts college offering 39 major programs. Three commonly chosen majors include Econometrics and Quantitative Economics, Computer Science, and Neuroscience. The school was created with a “college of the New England type” in mind. Their mascot is Cecil the Sagehen. First Year Retention Rate 98 % 1.6% Acceptance Rate 7.1% SAT Score 1,490 – 1,560 Avg. Net Price $17,423 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $60,850
3	California Institute of Technology	97.4	2.57	1,540 – 1,590	23397	132140	#3 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference California Institute of Technology Pasadena, CA Also known as Caltech, the California Institute of Technology is a private, doctoral/research university located on a 124-acre campus in Pasadena. The school's motto is, “the truth shall make you free.” Computer Science, Physics, and General are top majors among students, and there have been over 75 Nobel laureates that have......Read more First Year Retention Rate 97 % 0.4% Acceptance Rate 2.6% SAT Score 1,540 – 1,590 Avg. Net Price $23,397 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $132,140
4	Harvey Mudd College	96	12.66	1,500 – 1,580	42720	115107	#4 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Harvey Mudd College Claremont, CA Harvey Mudd College only offers programs related to Science and Engineering. Part of the Claremont Colleges, their colors are black and gold. The men’s teams are known as the Stags, and the women are known as the Athenas. It has a 96% first year retention rate and 8 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio. First Year Retention Rate 96 % 1.0% Acceptance Rate 12.7% SAT Score 1,500 – 1,580 Avg. Net Price $42,720 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $115,107
5	Scripps College	94	38.29	1,430 – 1,530	45505	68027	#5 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Scripps College Claremont, CA A member of the Claremont Colleges, Scripps College is a liberal arts women’s school well known for its extensive curriculum and historic, beautiful campus. In fact, their campus is currently listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Scripps has a 94% first year retention rate. First Year Retention Rate 94 % 6.7% Acceptance Rate 38.3% SAT Score 1,430 – 1,530 Avg. Net Price $45,505 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $68,027
6	Pitzer College	93.8	25.16	1,190 – 1,370	34801	51784	#6 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Pitzer College Claremont, CA Pitzer College’s motto is “Mindful of the Future” (“Provida Futuri” in Latin). It’s extremely selective and out of the accepted students during the last admissions cycle, 34% enrolled. 81% of undergraduates graduate in four years, 88% in six. Pitzer is part of the Claremont Colleges consortium. First Year Retention Rate 94 % 0.4% Acceptance Rate 25.2% SAT Score 1,190 – 1,370 Avg. Net Price $34,801 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $51,784
7	Chapman University	91.81	65.43	1,280 – 1,440	48037	58080	#7 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Chapman University Orange, CA A fairly selective school, Chapman University received 15,600 applications during the last admissions cycle. It opened as the Hesperian College in 1861, within the same hour of Abraham Lincoln’s presidential inauguration. Chapman’s students tend to stay on after their freshman year – it has a 91% first year retention rate. First Year Retention Rate 92 % 2.0% Acceptance Rate 65.4% SAT Score 1,280 – 1,440 Avg. Net Price $48,037 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $58,080
8	Occidental College	89.8	44.17	1,390 – 1,520	47113	52209	#8 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Occidental College Los Angeles, CA Occidental College is extremely close to Hollywood, so a number of movies and television shows have been filmed on its campus. Some examples include Clueless, Arrested Development, The Good Place, and Star Trek III: the Search for Spock....Read more First Year Retention Rate 90 % 3.0% Acceptance Rate 44.2% SAT Score 1,390 – 1,520 Avg. Net Price $47,113 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $52,209
9	University of Redlands	84.4	82.71	1,110 – 1,350	28054	61686	#9 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference University of Redlands Redlands, CA 84% of students return to the University of Redlands after completing their first year. 69% go on to graduate within six years. There are 69 programs available, but Business Administration and Management, General is the most popular by far. The Bulldogs are cheered on by George Willis, a live bulldog. First Year Retention Rate 84 % 4.5% Acceptance Rate 82.7% SAT Score 1,110 – 1,350 Avg. Net Price $28,054 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $61,686
10	California Lutheran University	79	75.67	1,160 – 1,360	27080	54981	#10 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference California Lutheran University Thousand Oaks, CA Located in Thousand Oaks, California Lutheran University’s acceptance rate is 76% and requires $25 for undergraduate applications and $30 for graduate applications. About 100% of attending students will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more First Year Retention Rate 79 % 2.5% Acceptance Rate 75.7% SAT Score 1,160 – 1,360 Avg. Net Price $27,080 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $54,981
11	University of La Verne	77	48.47	970 – 1,290	27216	53806	#11 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference University of La Verne La Verne, CA Found in La Verne, the University of La Verne’s acceptance rate is 48%. They require $50 for undergraduate applications. About 97% of students attending the University of La Verne currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. At the University of La Verne, there is a 77% first year......Read more First Year Retention Rate 77 % Acceptance Rate 48.5% SAT Score 970 – 1,290 Avg. Net Price $27,216 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $53,806
12	Whittier College	66.21	83.5	1,070 – 1,250	32436	46025	#12 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Whittier College Whittier, CA Found in Whittier, Whittier College accepts 84% of applicants and requests unknown to apply, but fee waivers may be available. Approximately 99% of students attending Whittier College will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more First Year Retention Rate 66 % 26.4% Acceptance Rate 83.5% SAT Score 1,070 – 1,250 Avg. Net Price $32,436 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $46,025

School data is from 2022–2023 (top 500 results shown) for schools with at least 100 undergraduate students.

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Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

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2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

98 % 1.9%

9.6%

1,470 – 1,560

$29,978

$87,603

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

98 % 1.6%

7.1%

1,490 – 1,560

$17,423

$60,850

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

97 % 0.4%

2.6%

1,540 – 1,590

$23,397

$132,140

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

96 % 1.0%

12.7%

1,500 – 1,580

$42,720

$115,107

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

94 % 6.7%

38.3%

1,430 – 1,530

$45,505

$68,027

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

94 % 0.4%

25.2%

1,190 – 1,370

$34,801

$51,784

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

92 % 2.0%

65.4%

1,280 – 1,440

$48,037

$58,080

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

90 % 3.0%

44.2%

1,390 – 1,520

$47,113

$52,209

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

84 % 4.5%

82.7%

1,110 – 1,350

$28,054

$61,686

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

79 % 2.5%

75.7%

1,160 – 1,360

$27,080

$54,981

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

77 %

48.5%

970 – 1,290

$27,216

$53,806

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

66 % 26.4%

83.5%

1,070 – 1,250

$32,436

$46,025

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98 %
1.9%

98 %
1.6%

97 %
0.4%

96 %
1.0%

94 %
6.7%

94 %
0.4%

92 %
2.0%

90 %
3.0%

84 %
4.5%

79 %
2.5%

66 %
26.4%