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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	97.92	9.44	1,470 – 1,550	33895	87603	#1 2027 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, 97% of students will stay after their freshman year. First Year Retention Rate 98 % 0.2% Acceptance Rate 9.4% SAT Score 1,470 – 1,550 Avg. Net Price $33,895 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $87,603
2	California Institute of Technology	96	3.79	1,550 – 1,590	14513	132140	#2 2027 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, and Mechanical Engineering are top majors among students, and there have been over 75 Nobel laureates that......Read more First Year Retention Rate 96 % 1.4% Acceptance Rate 3.8% SAT Score 1,550 – 1,590 Avg. Net Price $14,513 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $132,140
3	Harvey Mudd College	95.24	12.33	1,520 – 1,580	43966	115107	#3 2027 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 95% first year retention rate and 8 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio. First Year Retention Rate 95 % 0.8% Acceptance Rate 12.3% SAT Score 1,520 – 1,580 Avg. Net Price $43,966 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $115,107
4	Pomona College	95	7.14	1,460 – 1,550	19938	60850	#4 2027 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 38 major programs. Three commonly chosen majors include Computer Science, Econometrics and Quantitative Economics, Mathematics, and General. The school was created with a “college of the New England type” in mind. Their mascot is Cecil the Sagehen. First Year Retention Rate 95 % 2.6% Acceptance Rate 7.1% SAT Score 1,460 – 1,550 Avg. Net Price $19,938 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $60,850
5	Scripps College	92.33	39.88	1,430 – 1,520	44396	68027	#5 2027 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 92% first year retention rate. First Year Retention Rate 92 % 1.8% Acceptance Rate 39.9% SAT Score 1,430 – 1,520 Avg. Net Price $44,396 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $68,027
6	Occidental College	91.16	44.85	1,380 – 1,520	48400	52209	#6 2027 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 91 % 1.5% Acceptance Rate 44.9% SAT Score 1,380 – 1,520 Avg. Net Price $48,400 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $52,209
7	Chapman University	90.56	72.06	1,250 – 1,430	47902	58080	#7 2027 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Chapman University Orange, CA A fairly selective school, Chapman University received 14,800 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 90% first year retention rate. First Year Retention Rate 91 % 1.4% Acceptance Rate 72.1% SAT Score 1,250 – 1,430 Avg. Net Price $47,902 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $58,080
8	Pitzer College	89.68	26.85	1,190 – 1,370	34979	51784	#8 2027 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, 29% enrolled. 57% of undergraduates graduate in four years, 83% in six. Pitzer is part of the Claremont Colleges consortium. First Year Retention Rate 90 % 4.4% Acceptance Rate 26.9% SAT Score 1,190 – 1,370 Avg. Net Price $34,979 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $51,784
9	California Lutheran University	80	76.31	1,110 – 1,330	32774	54981	#9 2027 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 99% of attending students will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more First Year Retention Rate 80 % 1.3% Acceptance Rate 76.3% SAT Score 1,110 – 1,330 Avg. Net Price $32,774 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $54,981
10	University of Redlands	79.8	82.72	1,130 – 1,340	28482	61686	#10 2027 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference University of Redlands Redlands, CA 79% of students return to the University of Redlands after completing their first year. 64% go on to graduate within six years. There are 65 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 80 % 5.5% Acceptance Rate 82.7% SAT Score 1,130 – 1,340 Avg. Net Price $28,482 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $61,686
11	Whittier College	67.94	83.38	1,160 – 1,360	28101	46025	#11 2027 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Whittier College Whittier, CA Found in Whittier, Whittier College accepts 83% of applicants and requests unknown to apply, but fee waivers may be available. Approximately 98% of students attending Whittier College will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more First Year Retention Rate 68 % 2.6% Acceptance Rate 83.4% SAT Score 1,160 – 1,360 Avg. Net Price $28,101 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $46,025
12	University of La Verne	64	71.17	990 – 1,230	21530	53806	#12 2027 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 71%. They require $50 for undergraduate applications. About 99% 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 64% first year......Read more First Year Retention Rate 64 % Acceptance Rate 71.2% SAT Score 990 – 1,230 Avg. Net Price $21,530 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $53,806

School data is from 2023–2024 (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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2027 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

98 % 0.2%

9.4%

1,470 – 1,550

$33,895

$87,603

2027 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

96 % 1.4%

3.8%

1,550 – 1,590

$14,513

$132,140

2027 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

95 % 0.8%

12.3%

1,520 – 1,580

$43,966

$115,107

2027 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

95 % 2.6%

7.1%

1,460 – 1,550

$19,938

$60,850

2027 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

92 % 1.8%

39.9%

1,430 – 1,520

$44,396

$68,027

2027 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

91 % 1.5%

44.9%

1,380 – 1,520

$48,400

$52,209

2027 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

91 % 1.4%

72.1%

1,250 – 1,430

$47,902

$58,080

2027 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

90 % 4.4%

26.9%

1,190 – 1,370

$34,979

$51,784

2027 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

80 % 1.3%

76.3%

1,110 – 1,330

$32,774

$54,981

2027 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

80 % 5.5%

82.7%

1,130 – 1,340

$28,482

$61,686

2027 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

68 % 2.6%

83.4%

1,160 – 1,360

$28,101

$46,025

2027 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

64 %

71.2%

990 – 1,230

$21,530

$53,806

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98 %
0.2%

96 %
1.4%

95 %
0.8%

95 %
2.6%

92 %
1.8%

91 %
1.5%

91 %
1.4%

90 %
4.4%

80 %
1.3%

80 %
5.5%

68 %
2.6%