2026 College Rankings

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

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Southern 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	Morehouse College	87	43.96	970 – 1,210	34733	38267	#1 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Morehouse College Atlanta, GA A men’s HBCU, alumni of Morehouse College include Martin Luther King Jr., Spike Lee, and Samuel L. Jackson. It’s highly selective and about 27% of accepted students enroll....Read more First Year Retention Rate 87 % 1.2% Acceptance Rate 44.0% SAT Score 970 – 1,210 Avg. Net Price $34,733 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $38,267
2	Fort Valley State University	74.38	62.8	870 – 1,010	11457	28649	#2 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Fort Valley State University Fort Valley, GA Found in Fort Valley, Fort Valley State University accepted 63% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. They charge $20 for undergraduate applications and $20 for graduate applications. Approximately 21% of attending students will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more......Read more First Year Retention Rate 74 % Acceptance Rate 62.8% SAT Score 870 – 1,010 Avg. Net Price $11,457 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $28,649
3	Clark Atlanta University	71	64.63	880 – 1,120	29736	28097	#3 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Clark Atlanta University Atlanta, GA Clark Atlanta University was the first HBCU in the Southern United States. Originally called Atlanta University when it opened in 1865, it was founded by two former slaves. It received its current name when it merged with Clark College in 1988. CAU is fairly selective. First Year Retention Rate 71 % Acceptance Rate 64.6% SAT Score 880 – 1,120 Avg. Net Price $29,736 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $28,097
4	Tuskegee University	70	31.43	940 – 1,120	35126	38332	#4 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tuskegee University Tuskegee, AL Tuskegee University, a historically black college or university, is the only HBCU to have a fully accredited College of Veterinary Medicine, and the school's most popular major is Animal Sciences, General. 93% of students receive institutional grant aid—$3,321 on average....Read more First Year Retention Rate 70 % Acceptance Rate 31.4% SAT Score 940 – 1,120 Avg. Net Price $35,126 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $38,332
5	Spring Hill College	69.9	74.66	1,020 – 1,190	20271	41358	#5 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Spring Hill College Mobile, AL Found in Mobile, Spring Hill College’s acceptance rate is 75% and requests unknown to apply, but fee waivers may be available. Approximately 98% of students at Spring Hill College will receive institutional grant aid....Read more First Year Retention Rate 70 % 5.9% Acceptance Rate 74.7% SAT Score 1,020 – 1,190 Avg. Net Price $20,271 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $41,358
6	Benedict College	65	67.3	840 – 1,030	18146	24908	#6 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Benedict College Columbia, SC Based in Columbia, Benedict College’s acceptance rate is 67% and requires $25 for undergraduate applications and $25 for graduate applications. About 64% of attending students will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more First Year Retention Rate 65 % Acceptance Rate 67.3% SAT Score 840 – 1,030 Avg. Net Price $18,146 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $24,908
7	Albany State University	63.1	97.14	790 – 940	13775	35579	#7 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Albany State University Albany, GA Found in Albany, Albany State University accepts 97% of applicants. They request $20 for undergraduate applications and $25 for graduate applications. Approximately 12% of attending students currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more First Year Retention Rate 63 % Acceptance Rate 97.1% SAT Score 790 – 940 Avg. Net Price $13,775 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $35,579
8	Savannah State University	62.2	83.68	890 – 1,010	8506	27494	#8 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Savannah State University Savannah, GA Based in Savannah, Savannah State University’s acceptance rate is 84% and requires unknown for undergraduate applications and $25 for graduate applications. About 26% of students attending Savannah State University will receive institutional grant aid. The college’s first year retention rate is 62% and around 11% of students......Read more First Year Retention Rate 62 % Acceptance Rate 83.7% SAT Score 890 – 1,010 Avg. Net Price $8,506 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $27,494
9	Allen University	62	32.12	--	11058	23889	#9 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Allen University Columbia, SC Located in Columbia, Allen University’s acceptance rate is 32%. They request unknown for undergraduate applications, but some students qualify for fee waivers. About 83% of students attending Allen University currently receive grant aid from the school. At Allen University, there is a 62% first year retention rate and 9% of......Read more First Year Retention Rate 62 % Acceptance Rate 32.1% SAT Score -- Avg. Net Price $11,058 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $23,889
10	Kentucky State University	61	92.51	810 – 1,040	9672	29640	#10 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Kentucky State University Frankfort, KY Based in Frankfort, Kentucky State University accepts 93% of applicants. They request unknown for undergraduate applications. Approximately 91% of students attending Kentucky State University will receive grant aid from the school....Read more First Year Retention Rate 61 % Acceptance Rate 92.5% SAT Score 810 – 1,040 Avg. Net Price $9,672 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $29,640
11	Miles College	60	59.17	--	14633	25822	#11 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Miles College Fairfield, AL Located in Fairfield, Miles College accepts 59% of applicants and requires unknown for undergraduate applications and . About 34% of attending students currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more First Year Retention Rate 60 % Acceptance Rate 59.2% SAT Score -- Avg. Net Price $14,633 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $25,822
12	Edward Waters University	59	84.81	820 – 990	13763	29809	#12 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Edward Waters University Jacksonville, FL Located in Jacksonville, Edward Waters University accepted 85% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. They charge $25 for undergraduate applications and $25 for graduate applications. About 84% of students at Edward Waters University currently receive institutional grant aid. At Edward Waters......Read more First Year Retention Rate 59 % Acceptance Rate 84.8% SAT Score 820 – 990 Avg. Net Price $13,763 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $29,809
13	Central State University	56	98.61	800 – 970	14821	27173	#13 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Central State University Wilberforce, OH Based in Wilberforce, Central State University accepts 99% of applicants and requests unknown to apply, but fee waivers may be available. About 41% of students at Central State University currently receive grant aid from the school....Read more First Year Retention Rate 56 % 36.6% Acceptance Rate 98.6% SAT Score 800 – 970 Avg. Net Price $14,821 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $27,173
14	Le Moyne-Owen College	48	97.17	800 – 930	8362	25992	#14 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Le Moyne-Owen College Memphis, TN Based in Memphis, Le Moyne-Owen College’s acceptance rate is 97% and requests $25 to apply, but fee waivers may be available. Approximately 44% of attending students currently receive grant aid from the school. 48% of students continued studying at Le Moyne-Owen College after completing their first year....Read more First Year Retention Rate 48 % Acceptance Rate 97.2% SAT Score 800 – 930 Avg. Net Price $8,362 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $25,992
15	Lane College	0	54.39	800 – 930	13384	24623	#15 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Lane College Jackson, TN First Year Retention Rate -- Acceptance Rate 54.4% SAT Score 800 – 930 Avg. Net Price $13,384 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $24,623