2026 College Rankings

Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Upper Midwest Athletic Conference

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Upper Midwest 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	Martin Luther College	85	87.17	1,080 – 1,310	21072	40760	#1 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Upper Midwest Athletic Conference Martin Luther College New Ulm, MN Martin Luther College’s motto is “Via Veritas Vita,” or “The Way, the Truth, the Life.” Many students study Theology and Religious Vocations, and Other. The school was established in 1995 when Northwestern College (1865) merged with Dr. Martin Luther College (1884). First Year Retention Rate 85 % Acceptance Rate 87.2% SAT Score 1,080 – 1,310 Avg. Net Price $21,072 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $40,760
2	University of Northwestern-St Paul	83	93.47	1,030 – 1,310	26779	47544	#2 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Upper Midwest Athletic Conference University of Northwestern-St Paul Saint Paul, MN Out of 1 available programs and majors, andLiberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies are the most popular at University of Northwestern, St. Paul. The school got its start as the Northwestern Bible and Missionary Training School in 1902, becoming a university in 2013....Read more First Year Retention Rate 83 % 1.2% Acceptance Rate 93.5% SAT Score 1,030 – 1,310 Avg. Net Price $26,779 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $47,544
3	Crown College	79	62.81	1,010 – 1,210	27196	39003	#3 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Upper Midwest Athletic Conference Crown College Saint Bonifacius, MN Located in Saint Bonifacius, Crown College’s acceptance rate is 63%. They request unknown for undergraduate applications and $25 for graduate applications. Approximately 96% of students attending Crown College currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more First Year Retention Rate 79 % Acceptance Rate 62.8% SAT Score 1,010 – 1,210 Avg. Net Price $27,196 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $39,003
4	North Central University	76	90.82	970 – 1,180	23694	37688	#4 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Upper Midwest Athletic Conference North Central University Minneapolis, MN Located in Minneapolis, North Central University’s acceptance rate is 91%. They request $25 for undergraduate applications, but some students qualify for fee waivers. Approximately 92% of students attending North Central University currently receive grant aid from the school. At North Central University, there is a 76% first......Read more First Year Retention Rate 76 % Acceptance Rate 90.8% SAT Score 970 – 1,180 Avg. Net Price $23,694 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $37,688
5	University of Minnesota-Morris	73.9	74.93	1,040 – 1,240	9539	43163	#5 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Upper Midwest Athletic Conference University of Minnesota-Morris Morris, MN Based in Morris, the University of Minnesota-Morris’s acceptance rate is 75% and charges $30 for undergraduate applications. About 95% of attending students currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more First Year Retention Rate 74 % 1.2% Acceptance Rate 74.9% SAT Score 1,040 – 1,240 Avg. Net Price $9,539 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $43,163
6	Northland College	73	78.87	1,050 – 1,250	24020	35819	#6 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Upper Midwest Athletic Conference Northland College Ashland, WI Based in Ashland, Northland College accepted 79% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle and requests unknown to apply, but fee waivers may be available. Approximately 100% of students attending Northland College will receive grant aid from the school....Read more First Year Retention Rate 73 % Acceptance Rate 78.9% SAT Score 1,050 – 1,250 Avg. Net Price $24,020 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $35,819
7	Westminster College	73	77.58	1,080 – 1,240	26780	40992	#7 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Upper Midwest Athletic Conference Westminster College Fulton, MO Located in Fulton, Westminster College accepted 78% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle and requests unknown to apply, but fee waivers may be available. Approximately 97% of students attending Westminster College will receive institutional grant aid....Read more First Year Retention Rate 73 % Acceptance Rate 77.6% SAT Score 1,080 – 1,240 Avg. Net Price $26,780 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $40,992
8	Bethany Lutheran College	72	38.97	1,080 – 1,240	19456	40652	#8 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Upper Midwest Athletic Conference Bethany Lutheran College Mankato, MN Bethany Lutheran College has a 12 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio and 72% first-year retention rate. 53% of students will graduate within 4 years. The school offers generous aid packages. In fact, 100% of students who attend receive grant aid, $20,192 on average. First Year Retention Rate 72 % 10.0% Acceptance Rate 39.0% SAT Score 1,080 – 1,240 Avg. Net Price $19,456 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $40,652
9	Greenville University	71	97.66	840 – 1,210	21442	40307	#9 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Upper Midwest Athletic Conference Greenville University Greenville, IL Based in Greenville, Greenville University’s acceptance rate is 98%. Undergraduates have to pay unknown to apply. Approximately 98% of attending students will receive grant aid from the school. The first year retention rate is 71%....Read more First Year Retention Rate 71 % 6.3% Acceptance Rate 97.7% SAT Score 840 – 1,210 Avg. Net Price $21,442 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $40,307

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 – Upper Midwest Athletic Conference

About

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

85 %

87.2%

1,080 – 1,310

$21,072

$40,760

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

83 % 1.2%

93.5%

1,030 – 1,310

$26,779

$47,544

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

79 %

62.8%

1,010 – 1,210

$27,196

$39,003

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

76 %

90.8%

970 – 1,180

$23,694

$37,688

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

74 % 1.2%

74.9%

1,040 – 1,240

$9,539

$43,163

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

73 %

78.9%

1,050 – 1,250

$24,020

$35,819

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

73 %

77.6%

1,080 – 1,240

$26,780

$40,992

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

72 % 10.0%

39.0%

1,080 – 1,240

$19,456

$40,652

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

71 % 6.3%

97.7%

840 – 1,210

$21,442

$40,307

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83 %
1.2%

74 %
1.2%

72 %
10.0%

71 %
6.3%