2026 College Rankings

Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – The Sun 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	Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach	85.5	64.81	1,170 – 1,380	41550	65391	#1 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – The Sun Conference Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach Daytona Beach, FL Located in Daytona Beach, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach accepted 65% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. They charge $50 for undergraduate applications and $50 for graduate applications. About 98% of students attending Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach will......Read more First Year Retention Rate 86 % 4.5% Acceptance Rate 64.8% SAT Score 1,170 – 1,380 Avg. Net Price $41,550 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $65,391
2	Savannah College of Art and Design	85	83.68	1,080 – 1,280	46524	34110	#2 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – The Sun Conference Savannah College of Art and Design Savannah, GA Located in Savannah, Savannah College of Art and Design accepted 84% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle and requires $100 for undergraduate applications and $100 for graduate applications. About 97% of students attending Savannah College of Art and Design currently receive institutional grant aid to......Read more First Year Retention Rate 85 % Acceptance Rate 83.7% SAT Score 1,080 – 1,280 Avg. Net Price $46,524 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $34,110
3	St. Thomas University	72.33	99.4	890 – 1,110	27029	44435	#3 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – The Sun Conference St. Thomas University Miami Gardens, FL Based in Miami Gardens, St- Thomas University accepted 99% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. They charge unknown for undergraduate applications, but some schools offer fee waivers. About 99% of attending students will receive institutional grant aid. At St- Thomas University, there is a 72%......Read more First Year Retention Rate 72 % Acceptance Rate 99.4% SAT Score 890 – 1,110 Avg. Net Price $27,029 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $44,435
4	Ave Maria University	72	44.81	1,080 – 1,310	23515	43572	#4 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – The Sun Conference Ave Maria University Ave Maria, FL Ave Maria University is a private Catholic university located in southwest Florida. Found in 2003 by Tom Monaghan, AMU is the first new Catholic university since 1963. The school has a 14 to 1 student to faculty ratio and 72% first year retention rate. First Year Retention Rate 72 % Acceptance Rate 44.8% SAT Score 1,080 – 1,310 Avg. Net Price $23,515 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $43,572
5	Florida Memorial University	70	74.31	--	18366	28943	#5 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – The Sun Conference Florida Memorial University Miami Gardens, FL Based in Miami Gardens, Florida Memorial University accepts 74% of applicants. They charge $25 for undergraduate applications. About 25% of students at Florida Memorial University currently receive institutional grant aid. At Florida Memorial University, there is a 70% first year retention rate and around 21% of......Read more First Year Retention Rate 70 % Acceptance Rate 74.3% SAT Score -- Avg. Net Price $18,366 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $28,943
6	Southeastern University	69.21	61.65	1,030 – 1,230	27935	36314	#6 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – The Sun Conference Southeastern University Lakeland, FL Found in Lakeland, Southeastern University accepts 62% of applicants. They charge $40 for undergraduate applications and $50 for graduate applications. About 65% of attending students will receive institutional grant aid....Read more First Year Retention Rate 69 % 1.9% Acceptance Rate 61.7% SAT Score 1,030 – 1,230 Avg. Net Price $27,935 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $36,314
7	College of Coastal Georgia	58.7	98.13	850 – 1,120	12670	35382	#7 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – The Sun Conference College of Coastal Georgia Brunswick, GA Found in Brunswick, the College of Coastal Georgia accepted 98% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle and requires $25 for undergraduate applications and . Approximately 24% of students attending the College of Coastal Georgia will receive grant aid from the school. At the College of Coastal Georgia,......Read more First Year Retention Rate 59 % 10.8% Acceptance Rate 98.1% SAT Score 850 – 1,120 Avg. Net Price $12,670 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $35,382
8	Thomas University	0	43.16	920 – 1,140	19087	45305	#8 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – The Sun Conference Thomas University Thomasville, GA Thomas University received 500 last admissions cycle and, out of the accepted students, 62% enrolled. Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration is the most popular area of study by far, followed by andLiberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies. First Year Retention Rate -- Acceptance Rate 43.2% SAT Score 920 – 1,140 Avg. Net Price $19,087 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $45,305
9	Webber International University	0	77.56	890 – 1,040	29716	37691	#9 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – The Sun Conference Webber International University Babson Park, FL First Year Retention Rate -- Acceptance Rate 77.6% SAT Score 890 – 1,040 Avg. Net Price $29,716 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $37,691

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 – The Sun Conference

About

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – The Sun Conference

86 % 4.5%

64.8%

1,170 – 1,380

$41,550

$65,391

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – The Sun Conference

85 %

83.7%

1,080 – 1,280

$46,524

$34,110

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – The Sun Conference

72 %

99.4%

890 – 1,110

$27,029

$44,435

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – The Sun Conference

72 %

44.8%

1,080 – 1,310

$23,515

$43,572

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – The Sun Conference

70 %

74.3%

--

$18,366

$28,943

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – The Sun Conference

69 % 1.9%

61.7%

1,030 – 1,230

$27,935

$36,314

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – The Sun Conference

59 % 10.8%

98.1%

850 – 1,120

$12,670

$35,382

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – The Sun Conference

--

43.2%

920 – 1,140

$19,087

$45,305

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – The Sun Conference

--

77.6%

890 – 1,040

$29,716

$37,691

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86 %
4.5%

69 %
1.9%

59 %
10.8%