2026 College Rankings

Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Sunshine State 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	The University of Tampa	85.45	40.34	1,100 – 1,270	35975	48397	#1 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Sunshine State Conference The University of Tampa Tampa, FL Found in Tampa, The University of Tampa’s acceptance rate is 40%. Undergraduates have to send in $40 to apply. About 94% of attending students will receive grant aid from the school. The school’s first year retention rate is 85% and around 52% of students will graduate within four years. The top three majors among......Read more First Year Retention Rate 85 % 6.7% Acceptance Rate 40.3% SAT Score 1,100 – 1,270 Avg. Net Price $35,975 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $48,397
2	Rollins College	85.2	47.54	1,200 – 1,360	37134	48239	#2 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Sunshine State Conference Rollins College Winter Park, FL Rollins College was founded in 1885, making it the fourth oldest post-secondary institution in Florida. Rollins has won over 20 National Championships and more than 60 Sunshine State Conference Championships. Student athletes, known as Tars, participate in Basketball, Soccer, and Baseball, among others....Read more First Year Retention Rate 85 % 2.7% Acceptance Rate 47.5% SAT Score 1,200 – 1,360 Avg. Net Price $37,134 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $48,239
3	Florida Institute of Technology	80	57.7	1,130 – 1,320	36364	41941	#3 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Sunshine State Conference Florida Institute of Technology Melbourne, FL During the last admissions cycle, the Florida Institute of Technology had a 9% yield. Alumni include astronauts, CEOs, politicians, and professors. 100% of FIA’s students receive grant aid, averaging $23,953 each. Classes are typically on the smaller size, with a 9 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio. First Year Retention Rate 80 % 3.9% Acceptance Rate 57.7% SAT Score 1,130 – 1,320 Avg. Net Price $36,364 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $41,941
4	Florida Southern College	79.2	59.09	1,120 – 1,320	30462	47749	#4 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Sunshine State Conference Florida Southern College Lakeland, FL Based in Lakeland, Florida Southern College accepts 59% of applicants and requests unknown to apply, but fee waivers may be available. Approximately 99% of students attending Florida Southern College will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. The first year retention rate is 79%....Read more First Year Retention Rate 79 % Acceptance Rate 59.1% SAT Score 1,120 – 1,320 Avg. Net Price $30,462 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $47,749
5	Lynn University	76.6	73.47	1,050 – 1,210	39582	41427	#5 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Sunshine State Conference Lynn University Boca Raton, FL Located in Boca Raton, Lynn University accepts 73% of applicants. They charge unknown for undergraduate applications. Approximately 96% of students at Lynn University will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more First Year Retention Rate 77 % 3.5% Acceptance Rate 73.5% SAT Score 1,050 – 1,210 Avg. Net Price $39,582 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $41,427
6	Nova Southeastern University	76	73.24	1,030 – 1,310	32756	58153	#6 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Sunshine State Conference Nova Southeastern University Fort Lauderdale, FL Based in Fort Lauderdale, Nova Southeastern University accepts 73% of applicants. They charge $50 for undergraduate applications and $50 for graduate applications. Approximately 99% of students at Nova Southeastern University currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. The first year......Read more First Year Retention Rate 76 % Acceptance Rate 73.2% SAT Score 1,030 – 1,310 Avg. Net Price $32,756 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $58,153
7	Eckerd College	75.8	75.8	1,170 – 1,340	40122	37505	#7 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Sunshine State Conference Eckerd College Saint Petersburg, FL A private liberal arts school located not far from the beach, Eckerd College is home to several sustainability initiatives, bikesharing systems, and the Galbraith Marine Science Laboratory. In fact, Marine Biology and Biological Oceanography is a commonly chosen program....Read more First Year Retention Rate 76 % 2.8% Acceptance Rate 75.8% SAT Score 1,170 – 1,340 Avg. Net Price $40,122 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $37,505
8	Palm Beach Atlantic University	67	88.32	990 – 1,220	31103	42366	#8 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Sunshine State Conference Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach, FL Based in West Palm Beach, Palm Beach Atlantic University accepted 88% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. Undergraduates have to send in unknown to apply. About 99% of attending students currently receive institutional grant aid....Read more First Year Retention Rate 67 % Acceptance Rate 88.3% SAT Score 990 – 1,220 Avg. Net Price $31,103 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $42,366
9	Barry University	63	77.21	910 – 1,120	23930	47637	#9 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Sunshine State Conference Barry University Miami, FL Based in Miami, Barry University accepts 77% of applicants and requires unknown for undergraduate applications and $30 for graduate applications. Approximately 100% of students at Barry University currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. 63% of students decide to stay at Barry......Read more First Year Retention Rate 63 % 8.6% Acceptance Rate 77.2% SAT Score 910 – 1,120 Avg. Net Price $23,930 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $47,637
10	Saint Leo University	55.4	72.1	980 – 1,190	19478	41619	#10 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Sunshine State Conference Saint Leo University Saint Leo, FL Based in Saint Leo, Saint Leo University accepts 72% of applicants. Undergraduates have to send in unknown to apply. About 100% of attending students currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. At Saint Leo University, there is a 55% first year retention rate and a 35% four year......Read more First Year Retention Rate 55 % Acceptance Rate 72.1% SAT Score 980 – 1,190 Avg. Net Price $19,478 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $41,619

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 – Sunshine State Conference

About

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Sunshine State Conference

85 % 6.7%

40.3%

1,100 – 1,270

$35,975

$48,397

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Sunshine State Conference

85 % 2.7%

47.5%

1,200 – 1,360

$37,134

$48,239

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Sunshine State Conference

80 % 3.9%

57.7%

1,130 – 1,320

$36,364

$41,941

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Sunshine State Conference

79 %

59.1%

1,120 – 1,320

$30,462

$47,749

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Sunshine State Conference

77 % 3.5%

73.5%

1,050 – 1,210

$39,582

$41,427

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Sunshine State Conference

76 %

73.2%

1,030 – 1,310

$32,756

$58,153

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Sunshine State Conference

76 % 2.8%

75.8%

1,170 – 1,340

$40,122

$37,505

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Sunshine State Conference

67 %

88.3%

990 – 1,220

$31,103

$42,366

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Sunshine State Conference

63 % 8.6%

77.2%

910 – 1,120

$23,930

$47,637

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Sunshine State Conference

55 %

72.1%

980 – 1,190

$19,478

$41,619

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

85 %
6.7%

85 %
2.7%

80 %
3.9%

77 %
3.5%

76 %
2.8%

63 %
8.6%