2026 College Rankings

Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southern 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	Samford University	93	82.36	1,100 – 1,300	32176	49466	#1 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southern Conference Samford University Birmingham, AL Founded in 1841, Samford University was originally was called Howard College and was converted to a military hospital during the Civil War. Today the school has a 13 to 1 student to faculty ratio and 93% first year retention rate....Read more First Year Retention Rate 93 % 5.7% Acceptance Rate 82.4% SAT Score 1,100 – 1,300 Avg. Net Price $32,176 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $49,466
2	Furman University	91	42.95	1,290 – 1,430	32901	50796	#2 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southern Conference Furman University Greenville, SC Furman University is the oldest private institution of higher learning in South Carolina. 91% of students stay on after they complete their first year, and many major in Kinesiology and Exercise Science. 381 Paladins compete in the Southern Conference. Furman also offers athletic scholarships, averaging $34,775 each. First Year Retention Rate 91 % 0.5% Acceptance Rate 43.0% SAT Score 1,290 – 1,430 Avg. Net Price $32,901 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $50,796
3	Wofford College	90.98	51.94	1,240 – 1,370	31061	52076	#3 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southern Conference Wofford College Spartanburg, SC Wofford College has a 12 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio and an impressive 90% first year retention rate. Many students receive institutional grants – 97% – averaging $34,084 each. Biology/Biological Sciences, General is a top undergraduate area of study. First Year Retention Rate 91 % 1.4% Acceptance Rate 51.9% SAT Score 1,240 – 1,370 Avg. Net Price $31,061 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $52,076
4	Citadel Military College of South Carolina	86	92.81	1,100 – 1,290	21041	60168	#4 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southern Conference Citadel Military College of South Carolina Charleston, SC The Citadel Military College of South Carolina is a senior military college that got its start as an arsenal in 1822. It became an academy in 1843 and some of its buildings were burned during the Civil War. The Citadel awards up to Post-master's certificates, and many students are studying Business/Commerce, General. First Year Retention Rate 86 % 2.3% Acceptance Rate 92.8% SAT Score 1,100 – 1,290 Avg. Net Price $21,041 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $60,168
5	Mercer University	81.92	68.89	1,180 – 1,370	24197	50231	#5 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southern Conference Mercer University Macon, GA Based in Macon, Mercer University accepts 69% of applicants. They request $50 for undergraduate applications, but some students qualify for fee waivers. Approximately 98% of students at Mercer University currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more First Year Retention Rate 82 % 1.3% Acceptance Rate 68.9% SAT Score 1,180 – 1,370 Avg. Net Price $24,197 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $50,231
6	Western Carolina University	79.11	81.8	1,030 – 1,230	12252	43085	#6 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southern Conference Western Carolina University Cullowhee, NC Based in Cullowhee, Western Carolina University’s acceptance rate is 82%. They request $65 for undergraduate applications, but some schools offer fee waivers. About 69% of students attending Western Carolina University will receive grant aid from the school....Read more First Year Retention Rate 79 % 4.8% Acceptance Rate 81.8% SAT Score 1,030 – 1,230 Avg. Net Price $12,252 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $43,085
7	University of North Carolina at Greensboro	79	88.51	1,120 – 1,290	10592	39869	#7 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southern Conference University of North Carolina at Greensboro Greensboro, NC Based in Greensboro, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro accepted 89% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. They charge $65 for undergraduate applications. Approximately 81% of students attending the University of North Carolina at Greensboro will receive institutional grant aid. At the......Read more First Year Retention Rate 79 % 3.9% Acceptance Rate 88.5% SAT Score 1,120 – 1,290 Avg. Net Price $10,592 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $39,869
8	The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga	74	77.02	1,040 – 1,210	13801	42209	#8 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southern Conference The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga Chattanooga, TN Located in Chattanooga, The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga accepts 77% of applicants and requires $30 for undergraduate applications and $35 for graduate applications. Approximately 61% of students attending The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more......Read more First Year Retention Rate 74 % Acceptance Rate 77.0% SAT Score 1,040 – 1,210 Avg. Net Price $13,801 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $42,209
9	East Tennessee State University	72	87.06	1,010 – 1,240	16033	38704	#9 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southern Conference East Tennessee State University Johnson City, TN Found in Johnson City, East Tennessee State University accepts 87% of applicants. Undergraduates have to pay $25 to apply. Approximately 50% of students at East Tennessee State University will receive institutional grant aid. The first year retention rate is 72%....Read more First Year Retention Rate 72 % Acceptance Rate 87.1% SAT Score 1,010 – 1,240 Avg. Net Price $16,033 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $38,704

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

2026 College Rankings

Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southern Conference

About

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

93 % 5.7%

82.4%

1,100 – 1,300

$32,176

$49,466

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

91 % 0.5%

43.0%

1,290 – 1,430

$32,901

$50,796

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

91 % 1.4%

51.9%

1,240 – 1,370

$31,061

$52,076

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

86 % 2.3%

92.8%

1,100 – 1,290

$21,041

$60,168

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

82 % 1.3%

68.9%

1,180 – 1,370

$24,197

$50,231

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

79 % 4.8%

81.8%

1,030 – 1,230

$12,252

$43,085

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

79 % 3.9%

88.5%

1,120 – 1,290

$10,592

$39,869

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

74 %

77.0%

1,040 – 1,210

$13,801

$42,209

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

72 %

87.1%

1,010 – 1,240

$16,033

$38,704

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93 %
5.7%

91 %
0.5%

91 %
1.4%

86 %
2.3%

82 %
1.3%

79 %
4.8%

79 %
3.9%