2026 College Rankings

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

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Southern States 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	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 % 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	80	57.97	1,040 – 1,280	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. 80% of students continued studying at William Carey University after completing their first year....Read more First Year Retention Rate 80 % 8.1% Acceptance Rate 58.0% SAT Score 1,040 – 1,280 Avg. Net Price $17,192 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $37,639
3	Blue Mountain Christian University	74	100	970 – 1,110	16525	35401	#3 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 74 % 13.8% Acceptance Rate 100.0% SAT Score 970 – 1,110 Avg. Net Price $16,525 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $35,401
4	University of Mobile	72	72.51	1,080 – 1,280	20503	37411	#4 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southern States Athletic Conference University of Mobile Mobile, AL Based in Mobile, the University of Mobile accepted 73% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle and charges $25 for undergraduate applications. Approximately 90% of attending students currently receive institutional grant aid....Read more First Year Retention Rate 72 % 0.0% 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
5	Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College	69	77.16	900 – 1,110	6923	35495	#5 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southern States Athletic Conference Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College Tifton, GA Based in Tifton, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College’s acceptance rate is 77% and requests $20 to apply, but fee waivers may be available. About 59% of students attending Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more First Year Retention Rate 69 % Acceptance Rate 77.2% SAT Score 900 – 1,110 Avg. Net Price $6,923 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $35,495
6	The University of Tennessee Southern	64	82.71	1,010 – 1,150	15642	36151	#6 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southern States Athletic Conference The University of Tennessee Southern Pulaski, TN Found in Pulaski, The University of Tennessee Southern’s acceptance rate is 83%. They request unknown for undergraduate applications and . About 89% of students attending The University of Tennessee Southern currently receive institutional grant aid. The college’s first year retention rate is 64% and around 24% of students......Read more First Year Retention Rate 64 % 0.0% Acceptance Rate 82.7% SAT Score 1,010 – 1,150 Avg. Net Price $15,642 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $36,151
7	Middle Georgia State University	61	99.77	930 – 1,160	13326	39624	#7 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 61 % 10.9% Acceptance Rate 99.8% SAT Score 930 – 1,160 Avg. Net Price $13,326 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $39,624
8	Dalton State College	60	43.43	930 – 1,110	5083	37491	#8 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 60 % 17.2% 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
9	Brewton-Parker Christian University	38	86.35	850 – 1,040	22488	35732	#9 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 38 % 17.4% 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

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 %

93.1%

1,050 – 1,240

$26,150

$34,092

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

80 % 8.1%

58.0%

1,040 – 1,280

$17,192

$37,639

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

74 % 13.8%

100.0%

970 – 1,110

$16,525

$35,401

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

72 % 0.0%

72.5%

1,080 – 1,280

$20,503

$37,411

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

69 %

77.2%

900 – 1,110

$6,923

$35,495

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

64 % 0.0%

82.7%

1,010 – 1,150

$15,642

$36,151

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

61 % 10.9%

99.8%

930 – 1,160

$13,326

$39,624

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

60 % 17.2%

43.4%

930 – 1,110

$5,083

$37,491

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

38 % 17.4%

86.4%

850 – 1,040

$22,488

$35,732

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80 %
8.1%

74 %
13.8%

72 %
0.0%

64 %
0.0%

61 %
10.9%

60 %
17.2%

38 %
17.4%