2026 College Rankings

Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southland 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	Nicholls State University	73	96.02	940 – 1,130	11029	38829	#1 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southland Conference Nicholls State University Thibodaux, LA Located in Thibodaux, Nicholls State University’s acceptance rate is 96%. Undergraduates have to pay $20 to apply. Approximately 54% of students attending Nicholls State University currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more First Year Retention Rate 73 % Acceptance Rate 96.0% SAT Score 940 – 1,130 Avg. Net Price $11,029 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $38,829
2	Southeastern Louisiana University	72.5	93.87	1,040 – 1,210	12007	37124	#2 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southland Conference Southeastern Louisiana University Hammond, LA Found in Hammond, Southeastern Louisiana University accepts 94% of applicants and charges $20 for undergraduate applications. About 53% of attending students will receive grant aid from the school....Read more First Year Retention Rate 73 % 4.6% Acceptance Rate 93.9% SAT Score 1,040 – 1,210 Avg. Net Price $12,007 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $37,124
3	University of the Incarnate Word	71	98.13	920 – 1,150	21246	47625	#3 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southland Conference University of the Incarnate Word San Antonio, TX Based in San Antonio, the University of the Incarnate Word’s acceptance rate is 98%. Undergraduates have to pay unknown to apply. Approximately 99% of students attending the University of the Incarnate Word will receive grant aid from the school....Read more First Year Retention Rate 71 % Acceptance Rate 98.1% SAT Score 920 – 1,150 Avg. Net Price $21,246 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $47,625
4	Northwestern State University of Louisiana	69.85	92.26	970 – 1,180	13156	39485	#4 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southland Conference Northwestern State University of Louisiana Natchitoches, LA Found in Natchitoches, Northwestern State University of Louisiana accepts 92% of applicants. They charge $20 for undergraduate applications and $25 for graduate applications. About 71% of attending students currently receive grant aid from the school....Read more First Year Retention Rate 70 % 0.2% Acceptance Rate 92.3% SAT Score 970 – 1,180 Avg. Net Price $13,156 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $39,485
5	Houston Christian University	69.3	84.58	990 – 1,190	20530	44595	#5 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southland Conference Houston Christian University Houston, TX Based in Houston, Houston Christian University accepted 85% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle and requires unknown for undergraduate applications and . About 100% of students at Houston Christian University will receive grant aid from the school. The school’s first year retention rate is 69% and......Read more First Year Retention Rate 69 % 0.2% Acceptance Rate 84.6% SAT Score 990 – 1,190 Avg. Net Price $20,530 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $44,595
6	Lamar University	62.7	85.7	940 – 1,150	10999	47077	#6 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southland Conference Lamar University Beaumont, TX Found in Beaumont, Lamar University accepts 86% of applicants and charges unknown for undergraduate applications. Approximately 79% of students at Lamar University will receive institutional grant aid....Read more First Year Retention Rate 63 % 2.8% Acceptance Rate 85.7% SAT Score 940 – 1,150 Avg. Net Price $10,999 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $47,077
7	University of New Orleans	62	66.77	1,040 – 1,210	11190	38410	#7 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southland Conference University of New Orleans New Orleans, LA Based in New Orleans, the University of New Orleans’s acceptance rate is 67%. They request unknown for undergraduate applications. Approximately 92% of students at the University of New Orleans currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. The first year retention rate is 62%....Read more First Year Retention Rate 62 % Acceptance Rate 66.8% SAT Score 1,040 – 1,210 Avg. Net Price $11,190 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $38,410
8	Texas A&M University-Commerce	58.3	74.98	930 – 1,150	11902	43157	#8 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southland Conference Texas A&M University-Commerce Commerce, TX Found in Commerce, Texas A&M University-Commerce’s acceptance rate is 75% and charges unknown for undergraduate applications. Approximately 78% of students attending Texas A&M University-Commerce will receive institutional grant aid....Read more First Year Retention Rate 58 % 9.3% Acceptance Rate 75.0% SAT Score 930 – 1,150 Avg. Net Price $11,902 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $43,157
9	Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi	58	88.58	950 – 1,200	14991	42933	#9 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southland Conference Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Corpus Christi, TX Based in Corpus Christi, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi accepted 89% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. Undergraduates have to send in $40 to apply. About 63% of students at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more First Year Retention Rate 58 % Acceptance Rate 88.6% SAT Score 950 – 1,200 Avg. Net Price $14,991 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $42,933
10	McNeese State University	0	67.55	1,040 – 1,180	11393	38713	#10 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southland Conference McNeese State University Lake Charles, LA First Year Retention Rate -- Acceptance Rate 67.6% SAT Score 1,040 – 1,180 Avg. Net Price $11,393 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $38,713

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 – Southland Conference

About

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

73 %

96.0%

940 – 1,130

$11,029

$38,829

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

73 % 4.6%

93.9%

1,040 – 1,210

$12,007

$37,124

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

71 %

98.1%

920 – 1,150

$21,246

$47,625

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

70 % 0.2%

92.3%

970 – 1,180

$13,156

$39,485

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

69 % 0.2%

84.6%

990 – 1,190

$20,530

$44,595

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

63 % 2.8%

85.7%

940 – 1,150

$10,999

$47,077

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

62 %

66.8%

1,040 – 1,210

$11,190

$38,410

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

58 % 9.3%

75.0%

930 – 1,150

$11,902

$43,157

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

58 %

88.6%

950 – 1,200

$14,991

$42,933

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

--

67.6%

1,040 – 1,180

$11,393

$38,713

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73 %
4.6%

70 %
0.2%

69 %
0.2%

63 %
2.8%

58 %
9.3%