2026 College Rankings

Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

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St. Louis 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	Principia College	82.14	42.99	1,060 – 1,250	14904	63721	#1 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Principia College Elsah, IL Principia College offers up to Bachelor's degrees. Found on the Mississippi River, part of the campus is named a National Historic Landmark District. Class sizes are extremely small, with an average 6 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio. 82% of students stay on after the first year and 86% graduate within six years. First Year Retention Rate 82 % 9.5% Acceptance Rate 43.0% SAT Score 1,060 – 1,250 Avg. Net Price $14,904 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $63,721
2	Webster University	68.66	95.94	990 – 1,220	27695	39656	#2 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Webster University Saint Louis, MO Based in Saint Louis, Webster University accepts 96% of applicants and requires unknown for undergraduate applications and $50 for graduate applications. Approximately 98% of students at Webster University currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. The college’s first year retention......Read more First Year Retention Rate 69 % 9.7% Acceptance Rate 95.9% SAT Score 990 – 1,220 Avg. Net Price $27,695 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $39,656
3	Blackburn College	67	80.14	890 – 1,150	21349	36665	#3 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Blackburn College Carlinville, IL Located in Carlinville, Blackburn College accepts 80% of applicants and requires unknown for undergraduate applications and . Approximately 93% of attending students will receive institutional grant aid. At Blackburn College, there is a 67% first year retention rate and around 36% of students will earn a degree within four......Read more First Year Retention Rate 67 % Acceptance Rate 80.1% SAT Score 890 – 1,150 Avg. Net Price $21,349 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $36,665
4	Mississippi University for Women	63	100	970 – 1,180	12617	47458	#4 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Mississippi University for Women Columbus, MS Based in Columbus, Mississippi University for Women’s acceptance rate is 100%. They request unknown for undergraduate applications, but fee waivers may be requested. About 72% of students at Mississippi University for Women will receive grant aid from the school....Read more First Year Retention Rate 63 % Acceptance Rate 100.0% SAT Score 970 – 1,180 Avg. Net Price $12,617 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $47,458
5	Spalding University	0	98.64	960 – 1,140	25539	42870	#5 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Spalding University Louisville, KY First Year Retention Rate -- Acceptance Rate 98.6% SAT Score 960 – 1,140 Avg. Net Price $25,539 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $42,870

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 – St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

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2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

Principia CollegeElsah, IL

82 % 9.5%

43.0%

1,060 – 1,250

$14,904

$63,721

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

Webster UniversitySaint Louis, MO

69 % 9.7%

95.9%

990 – 1,220

$27,695

$39,656

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

Blackburn CollegeCarlinville, IL

67 %

80.1%

890 – 1,150

$21,349

$36,665

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

Mississippi University for WomenColumbus, MS

63 %

100.0%

970 – 1,180

$12,617

$47,458

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

Spalding UniversityLouisville, KY

--

98.6%

960 – 1,140

$25,539

$42,870

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Principia College
Elsah, IL

82 %
9.5%

Webster University
Saint Louis, MO

69 %
9.7%

Blackburn College
Carlinville, IL

Mississippi University for Women
Columbus, MS

Spalding University
Louisville, KY