2026 College Rankings

Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southwestern Athletic Conference

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Southwestern 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	Alcorn State University	76	45.33	840 – 1,010	13155	27752	#1 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southwestern Athletic Conference Alcorn State University Alcorn State, MS Alcorn State University is highly selective, accepting 3,000 out of 6,530 applicants. 19% of accepted students enrolled. Established in 1871, this HBCU was built on the site of the old Oakland College, a school that never truly reopened after the Civil War. Women were admitted starting in 1895. First Year Retention Rate 76 % 0.0% Acceptance Rate 45.3% SAT Score 840 – 1,010 Avg. Net Price $13,155 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $27,752
2	University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff	70.2	57.54	880 – 1,050	11649	31161	#2 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southwestern Athletic Conference University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Pine Bluff, AR The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff is a public HBCU that has eight academic divisions, though Business Administration and Management, General is the most popular area of study. It’s a fairly selective school, and has a 15 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio. Alumni include professional athletes, jazz musicians, and politicians. First Year Retention Rate 70 % Acceptance Rate 57.5% SAT Score 880 – 1,050 Avg. Net Price $11,649 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $31,161
3	Texas Southern University	68	93.35	830 – 1,010	15021	32986	#3 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southwestern Athletic Conference Texas Southern University Houston, TX Located in Houston, Texas Southern University’s acceptance rate is 93% and requires $42 for undergraduate applications and $75 for graduate applications. About 84% of attending students will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. The college’s first year retention rate is 68% and its four......Read more First Year Retention Rate 68 % Acceptance Rate 93.4% SAT Score 830 – 1,010 Avg. Net Price $15,021 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $32,986
4	Alabama State University	64	95.64	850 – 1,040	13504	27453	#4 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southwestern Athletic Conference Alabama State University Montgomery, AL Found in Montgomery, Alabama State University accepts 96% of applicants and requires $25 for undergraduate applications and $30 for graduate applications. About 59% of students attending Alabama State University currently receive institutional grant aid. The college’s first year retention rate is 64% and its four year......Read more First Year Retention Rate 64 % Acceptance Rate 95.6% SAT Score 850 – 1,040 Avg. Net Price $13,504 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $27,453
5	Jackson State University	62	48.23	850 – 1,050	19892	30530	#5 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southwestern Athletic Conference Jackson State University Jackson, MS Found in Jackson, Jackson State University’s acceptance rate is 48% and requests $25 to apply, but fee waivers may be available. Approximately 71% of students at Jackson State University will receive institutional grant aid. The college’s first year retention rate is 62% and around 24% of students will graduate within four......Read more First Year Retention Rate 62 % 8.8% Acceptance Rate 48.2% SAT Score 850 – 1,050 Avg. Net Price $19,892 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $30,530
6	Mississippi Valley State University	62	51.16	760 – 970	12304	25817	#6 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southwestern Athletic Conference Mississippi Valley State University Itta Bena, MS Found in Itta Bena, Mississippi Valley State University accepts 51% of applicants and requests unknown to apply, but fee waivers may be available. About 48% of students at Mississippi Valley State University will receive grant aid from the school. At Mississippi Valley State University, there is a 62% first year retention......Read more First Year Retention Rate 62 % Acceptance Rate 51.2% SAT Score 760 – 970 Avg. Net Price $12,304 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $25,817
7	Southern University and A & M College	60.08	49.87	880 – 1,040	18937	33033	#7 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southwestern Athletic Conference Southern University and A & M College Baton Rouge, LA Located in Baton Rouge, Southern University and A & M College accepted 50% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle and requests $20 to apply, but fee waivers may be available. Approximately 15% of attending students currently receive grant aid from the school....Read more First Year Retention Rate 60 % Acceptance Rate 49.9% SAT Score 880 – 1,040 Avg. Net Price $18,937 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $33,033
8	Alabama A & M University	58	66.22	840 – 1,040	14064	27851	#8 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southwestern Athletic Conference Alabama A & M University Normal, AL Based in Normal, Alabama A & M University accepted 66% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. They require $30 for undergraduate applications. Approximately 66% of students attending Alabama A & M University will receive grant aid from the school. The first year retention rate is 58%....Read more First Year Retention Rate 58 % Acceptance Rate 66.2% SAT Score 840 – 1,040 Avg. Net Price $14,064 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $27,851
9	Bethune-Cookman University	0	88.24	830 – 990	14705	28282	#9 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southwestern Athletic Conference Bethune-Cookman University Daytona Beach, FL First Year Retention Rate -- Acceptance Rate 88.2% SAT Score 830 – 990 Avg. Net Price $14,705 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $28,282
10	Grambling State University	0	23.68	890 – 1,040	19092	25589	#10 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southwestern Athletic Conference Grambling State University Grambling, LA First Year Retention Rate -- Acceptance Rate 23.7% SAT Score 890 – 1,040 Avg. Net Price $19,092 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $25,589
11	Prairie View A & M University	0	74.41	870 – 1,040	14065	36350	#11 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Southwestern Athletic Conference Prairie View A & M University Prairie View, TX First Year Retention Rate -- Acceptance Rate 74.4% SAT Score 870 – 1,040 Avg. Net Price $14,065 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $36,350

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 – Southwestern Athletic Conference

About

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

76 % 0.0%

45.3%

840 – 1,010

$13,155

$27,752

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

70 %

57.5%

880 – 1,050

$11,649

$31,161

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

68 %

93.4%

830 – 1,010

$15,021

$32,986

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

64 %

95.6%

850 – 1,040

$13,504

$27,453

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

62 % 8.8%

48.2%

850 – 1,050

$19,892

$30,530

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

62 %

51.2%

760 – 970

$12,304

$25,817

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

60 %

49.9%

880 – 1,040

$18,937

$33,033

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

58 %

66.2%

840 – 1,040

$14,064

$27,851

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

--

88.2%

830 – 990

$14,705

$28,282

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

--

23.7%

890 – 1,040

$19,092

$25,589

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

--

74.4%

870 – 1,040

$14,065

$36,350

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76 %
0.0%

62 %
8.8%