2026 College Rankings

Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – United East 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	St. Mary's College of Maryland	86	68.63	1,160 – 1,350	21071	52286	#1 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – United East Conference St. Mary's College of Maryland St. Mary's City, MD Founded in 1840, St. Mary’s College of Maryland was originally known as St. Mary’s Female Seminary. It shares its campus with Historic St. Mary’s City, which was the state’s first colony and capital. A majority of students attending today are female, but the school has been co-educational since 1949. First Year Retention Rate 86 % 6.2% Acceptance Rate 68.6% SAT Score 1,160 – 1,350 Avg. Net Price $21,071 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $52,286
2	Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg	82	97.6	1,120 – 1,320	23788	55620	#2 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – United East Conference Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg Middletown, PA Located in Middletown, Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg accepts 98% of applicants. They charge $65 for undergraduate applications and $65 for graduate applications. Approximately 58% of students at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg will receive institutional grant aid to make attending......Read more First Year Retention Rate 82 % Acceptance Rate 97.6% SAT Score 1,120 – 1,320 Avg. Net Price $23,788 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $55,620
3	Pennsylvania College of Technology	81	0	--	23675	47995	#3 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – United East Conference Pennsylvania College of Technology Williamsport, PA First Year Retention Rate 81 % 6.6% Acceptance Rate -- SAT Score -- Avg. Net Price $23,675 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $47,995
4	University of Valley Forge	78	61.2	840 – 1,100	27083	35671	#4 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – United East Conference University of Valley Forge Phoenixville, PA Based in Phoenixville, the University of Valley Forge’s acceptance rate is 61% and requests unknown to apply, but fee waivers may be available. About 97% of students attending the University of Valley Forge currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. The school’s first year retention......Read more First Year Retention Rate 78 % 11.4% Acceptance Rate 61.2% SAT Score 840 – 1,100 Avg. Net Price $27,083 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $35,671
5	Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Abington	77	96.77	1,080 – 1,270	19232	55620	#5 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – United East Conference Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Abington Abington, PA Located in Abington, Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Abington’s acceptance rate is 97% and charges $65 for undergraduate applications. Approximately 76% of students attending Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Abington will receive grant aid from the school. The college’s first year retention rate is 77% and......Read more First Year Retention Rate 77 % Acceptance Rate 96.8% SAT Score 1,080 – 1,270 Avg. Net Price $19,232 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $55,620
6	Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks	77	98.67	1,090 – 1,280	23721	55620	#6 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – United East Conference Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks Reading, PA Found in Reading, Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks’s acceptance rate is 99%. They charge $65 for undergraduate applications and $65 for graduate applications. About 64% of attending students currently receive grant aid from the school. 77% of students continued studying at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State......Read more First Year Retention Rate 77 % Acceptance Rate 98.7% SAT Score 1,090 – 1,280 Avg. Net Price $23,721 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $55,620
7	Wilson College	74	92.11	930 – 1,180	21748	37049	#7 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – United East Conference Wilson College Chambersburg, PA Based in Chambersburg, Wilson College’s acceptance rate is 92% and requires unknown for undergraduate applications and . Approximately 95% of attending students currently receive institutional grant aid....Read more First Year Retention Rate 74 % 3.9% Acceptance Rate 92.1% SAT Score 930 – 1,180 Avg. Net Price $21,748 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $37,049
8	Bryn Athyn College of the New Church	73	82.94	1,060 – 1,300	20728	32083	#8 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – United East Conference Bryn Athyn College of the New Church Bryn Athyn, PA Located in Bryn Athyn, Bryn Athyn College of the New Church’s acceptance rate is 83% and requires unknown for undergraduate applications and . About 100% of attending students will receive grant aid from the school....Read more First Year Retention Rate 73 % Acceptance Rate 82.9% SAT Score 1,060 – 1,300 Avg. Net Price $20,728 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $32,083
9	Notre Dame of Maryland University	73	82.16	920 – 1,140	21191	63918	#9 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – United East Conference Notre Dame of Maryland University Baltimore, MD Located in Baltimore, Notre Dame of Maryland University accepted 82% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. Undergraduates have to send in unknown to apply. About 99% of students attending Notre Dame of Maryland University currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more......Read more First Year Retention Rate 73 % 5.2% Acceptance Rate 82.2% SAT Score 920 – 1,140 Avg. Net Price $21,191 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $63,918
10	Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Brandywine	73	98.11	1,080 – 1,310	22710	55620	#10 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – United East Conference Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Brandywine Media, PA Found in Media, Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Brandywine’s acceptance rate is 98%. They require $65 for undergraduate applications. Approximately 67% of students at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Brandywine will receive grant aid from the school. The first year retention rate is 73%....Read more First Year Retention Rate 73 % Acceptance Rate 98.1% SAT Score 1,080 – 1,310 Avg. Net Price $22,710 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $55,620
11	Saint Elizabeth University	65	71.03	890 – 1,090	23437	49479	#11 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – United East Conference Saint Elizabeth University Morristown, NJ Based in Morristown, Saint Elizabeth University accepts 71% of applicants and requests unknown to apply, but fee waivers may be available. Approximately 89% of students at Saint Elizabeth University will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. At Saint Elizabeth University, there is a 65%......Read more First Year Retention Rate 65 % 18.8% Acceptance Rate 71.0% SAT Score 890 – 1,090 Avg. Net Price $23,437 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $49,479

School data is from 2023–2024 (top 500 results shown) for schools with at least 100 undergraduate students.

2026 College Rankings

Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – United East Conference

About

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – United East Conference

86 % 6.2%

68.6%

1,160 – 1,350

$21,071

$52,286

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – United East Conference

82 %

97.6%

1,120 – 1,320

$23,788

$55,620

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – United East Conference

81 % 6.6%

--

--

$23,675

$47,995

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – United East Conference

78 % 11.4%

61.2%

840 – 1,100

$27,083

$35,671

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – United East Conference

77 %

96.8%

1,080 – 1,270

$19,232

$55,620

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – United East Conference

77 %

98.7%

1,090 – 1,280

$23,721

$55,620

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – United East Conference

74 % 3.9%

92.1%

930 – 1,180

$21,748

$37,049

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – United East Conference

73 %

82.9%

1,060 – 1,300

$20,728

$32,083

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – United East Conference

73 % 5.2%

82.2%

920 – 1,140

$21,191

$63,918

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – United East Conference

73 %

98.1%

1,080 – 1,310

$22,710

$55,620

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – United East Conference

65 % 18.8%

71.0%

890 – 1,090

$23,437

$49,479

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86 %
6.2%

81 %
6.6%

78 %
11.4%

74 %
3.9%

73 %
5.2%

65 %
18.8%