2026 College Rankings

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

Home
College Rankings
First Year Retention Rate
Conference
Southern States Athletic Conference

About

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.

Sort by:

View as:

Rank	Institution	First Year Retention Rate	Acceptance Rate	SAT Score	Your Est. Net Price Avg. Net Price	Median Starting Salary	Save
1	Loyola University New Orleans	80.06	93.05	1,050 – 1,240	26150	34092	#1 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southern States Athletic Conference Loyola University New Orleans New Orleans, LA Located in New Orleans, Loyola University New Orleans accepts 93% of applicants. Undergraduates have to pay unknown to apply. Approximately 99% of students at Loyola University New Orleans currently receive grant aid from the school. At Loyola University New Orleans, there is a 80% first year retention rate and a 54% four......Read more First Year Retention Rate 80 % 3.5% Acceptance Rate 93.1% SAT Score 1,050 – 1,240 Avg. Net Price $26,150 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $34,092
2	William Carey University	74	57.97	1,080 – 1,310	17192	37639	#2 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southern States Athletic Conference William Carey University Hattiesburg, MS Based in Hattiesburg, William Carey University accepts 58% of applicants and requests $40 to apply, but fee waivers may be available. About 95% of students at William Carey University currently receive grant aid from the school. 74% of students continued studying at William Carey University after completing their first year....Read more First Year Retention Rate 74 % Acceptance Rate 58.0% SAT Score 1,080 – 1,310 Avg. Net Price $17,192 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $37,639
3	Dalton State College	72.5	43.43	930 – 1,110	5083	37491	#3 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southern States Athletic Conference Dalton State College Dalton, GA Based in Dalton, Dalton State College accepted 43% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. They charge $30 for undergraduate applications, but some students qualify for fee waivers. Approximately 3% of students attending Dalton State College currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending......Read more First Year Retention Rate 73 % Acceptance Rate 43.4% SAT Score 930 – 1,110 Avg. Net Price $5,083 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $37,491
4	Blue Mountain Christian University	65	100	980 – 1,240	16525	35401	#4 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southern States Athletic Conference Blue Mountain Christian University Blue Mountain, MS Blue Mountain Christian University was originally a women's school when it opened in 1873. It only became coeducational in 2005. During the last admissions cycle, 56% of accepted students enrolled....Read more First Year Retention Rate 65 % Acceptance Rate 100.0% SAT Score 980 – 1,240 Avg. Net Price $16,525 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $35,401
5	Middle Georgia State University	55	99.77	940 – 1,150	13326	39624	#5 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southern States Athletic Conference Middle Georgia State University Macon, GA Located in Macon, Middle Georgia State University accepts 100% of applicants. They charge $30 for undergraduate applications, but some schools offer fee waivers. Approximately 7% of students attending Middle Georgia State University will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more First Year Retention Rate 55 % Acceptance Rate 99.8% SAT Score 940 – 1,150 Avg. Net Price $13,326 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $39,624
6	Stillman College	52	74.22	890 – 970	12479	29790	#6 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southern States Athletic Conference Stillman College Tuscaloosa, AL Located in Tuscaloosa, Stillman College’s acceptance rate is 74%. They request $15 for undergraduate applications. Approximately 53% of students attending Stillman College currently receive grant aid from the school....Read more First Year Retention Rate 52 % Acceptance Rate 74.2% SAT Score 890 – 970 Avg. Net Price $12,479 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $29,790
7	Brewton-Parker Christian University	46	86.35	850 – 1,040	22488	35732	#7 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southern States Athletic Conference Brewton-Parker Christian University Mount Vernon, GA Based in Mount Vernon, Brewton-Parker Christian University accepts 86% of applicants and requests $35 to apply, but fee waivers may be available. Approximately 100% of students at Brewton-Parker Christian University currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more First Year Retention Rate 46 % Acceptance Rate 86.4% SAT Score 850 – 1,040 Avg. Net Price $22,488 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $35,732
8	The University of Tennessee Southern	0	82.71	1,030 – 1,160	15642	36151	#8 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southern States Athletic Conference The University of Tennessee Southern Pulaski, TN First Year Retention Rate -- Acceptance Rate 82.7% SAT Score 1,030 – 1,160 Avg. Net Price $15,642 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $36,151
9	University of Mobile	0	72.51	1,080 – 1,280	20503	37411	#9 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southern States Athletic Conference University of Mobile Mobile, AL First Year Retention Rate -- Acceptance Rate 72.5% SAT Score 1,080 – 1,280 Avg. Net Price $20,503 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $37,411

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 States Athletic Conference

About

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

80 % 3.5%

93.1%

1,050 – 1,240

$26,150

$34,092

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

74 %

58.0%

1,080 – 1,310

$17,192

$37,639

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

73 %

43.4%

930 – 1,110

$5,083

$37,491

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

65 %

100.0%

980 – 1,240

$16,525

$35,401

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

55 %

99.8%

940 – 1,150

$13,326

$39,624

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

52 %

74.2%

890 – 970

$12,479

$29,790

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

46 %

86.4%

850 – 1,040

$22,488

$35,732

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

--

82.7%

1,030 – 1,160

$15,642

$36,151

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

--

72.5%

1,080 – 1,280

$20,503

$37,411

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

80 %
3.5%