2026 College Rankings

Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association

Home
College Rankings
First Year Retention Rate
Conference
Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association

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	Vassar College	95	18.57	1,460 – 1,550	29733	49177	#1 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association Vassar College Poughkeepsie, NY Vassar College offers 50 majors and programs, with the most popular being Economics, General. A few former students of Vassar include Anne Hathaway, Jane Fonda, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, and Anthony Bourdain. Opened in 1861, it was the second institution in the United States that granted degrees to women. First Year Retention Rate 95 % 1.1% Acceptance Rate 18.6% SAT Score 1,460 – 1,550 Avg. Net Price $29,733 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $49,177
2	Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute	91	63.43	1,380 – 1,510	35940	83054	#2 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Troy, NY Founded in 1824, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is one of the oldest technological universities in the world. Many undergraduate study Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace, and Aeronautical and Astronautical/Space Engineering, though the school offers up to Doctor's degrees....Read more First Year Retention Rate 91 % 2.2% Acceptance Rate 63.4% SAT Score 1,380 – 1,510 Avg. Net Price $35,940 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $83,054
3	St Lawrence University	90.8	54.34	1,290 – 1,430	36175	55037	#3 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association St Lawrence University Canton, NY Found in Canton, St Lawrence University accepts 54% of applicants. Undergraduates have to send in unknown to apply. Approximately 99% of attending students currently receive grant aid from the school....Read more First Year Retention Rate 91 % 5.5% Acceptance Rate 54.3% SAT Score 1,290 – 1,430 Avg. Net Price $36,175 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $55,037
4	Union College	90.2	43.92	1,320 – 1,480	42884	63219	#4 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association Union College Schenectady, NY Union College was founded in 1795 and is known as the “Mother of Fraternities” – several of the earliest Fraternities got their starts on campus. A highly selective school, it has a first year retention rate of 90%, and 80% will graduate within four years. 85% graduate in six. First Year Retention Rate 90 % 1.3% Acceptance Rate 43.9% SAT Score 1,320 – 1,480 Avg. Net Price $42,884 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $63,219
5	Skidmore College	89.6	21.05	1,360 – 1,490	32368	46923	#5 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association Skidmore College Saratoga Springs, NY Skidmore College is an extremely school – it received 11,900 applications during the last admissions cycle and accepted just 2,500 of them. Skidmore offers up to Bachelor's degrees, with many students majoring in Business/Commerce, General. It also has a 7 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio. First Year Retention Rate 90 % 0.9% Acceptance Rate 21.1% SAT Score 1,360 – 1,490 Avg. Net Price $32,368 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $46,923
6	Rochester Institute of Technology	88.8	66.93	1,280 – 1,460	39753	65457	#6 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association Rochester Institute of Technology Rochester, NY Located in Rochester, Rochester Institute of Technology accepts 67% of applicants and requires $65 for undergraduate applications and $65 for graduate applications. About 98% of attending students currently receive institutional grant aid....Read more First Year Retention Rate 89 % 0.7% Acceptance Rate 66.9% SAT Score 1,280 – 1,460 Avg. Net Price $39,753 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $65,457
7	Hobart William Smith Colleges	86.4	63.99	1,230 – 1,400	33172	62416	#7 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association Hobart William Smith Colleges Geneva, NY Located in Geneva, Hobart William Smith Colleges accepted 64% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. They charge unknown for undergraduate applications and . About 99% of attending students will receive institutional grant aid. At Hobart William Smith Colleges, there is a 86% first year retention......Read more First Year Retention Rate 86 % 2.9% Acceptance Rate 64.0% SAT Score 1,230 – 1,400 Avg. Net Price $33,172 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $62,416
8	Clarkson University	85.4	77.36	1,210 – 1,400	33192	76970	#8 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association Clarkson University Potsdam, NY Found in Potsdam, Clarkson University’s acceptance rate is 77% and charges unknown for undergraduate applications. Approximately 100% of students at Clarkson University will receive grant aid from the school....Read more First Year Retention Rate 85 % 1.0% Acceptance Rate 77.4% SAT Score 1,210 – 1,400 Avg. Net Price $33,192 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $76,970
9	Bard College	85	52.12	1,320 – 1,440	25218	31072	#9 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association Bard College Annandale-On-Hudson, NY Located in Annandale-On-Hudson, Bard College’s acceptance rate is 52%. Undergraduates have to pay unknown to apply. About 77% of students attending Bard College currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more First Year Retention Rate 85 % Acceptance Rate 52.1% SAT Score 1,320 – 1,440 Avg. Net Price $25,218 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $31,072
10	Ithaca College	84.7	69.01	1,240 – 1,390	34297	46305	#10 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association Ithaca College Ithaca, NY Based in Ithaca, Ithaca College’s acceptance rate is 69%. They request $60 for undergraduate applications, but some students qualify for fee waivers. Approximately 100% of students at Ithaca College will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more First Year Retention Rate 85 % 1.7% Acceptance Rate 69.0% SAT Score 1,240 – 1,390 Avg. Net Price $34,297 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $46,305
11	SUNY Buffalo State University	57.72	74.4	990 – 1,250	13735	40877	#11 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association SUNY Buffalo State University Buffalo, NY Located in Buffalo, SUNY Buffalo State University’s acceptance rate is 74% and charges $50 for undergraduate applications. About 87% of attending students will receive grant aid from the school....Read more First Year Retention Rate 58 % 5.5% Acceptance Rate 74.4% SAT Score 990 – 1,250 Avg. Net Price $13,735 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $40,877

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 – Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association

About

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association

95 % 1.1%

18.6%

1,460 – 1,550

$29,733

$49,177

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association

91 % 2.2%

63.4%

1,380 – 1,510

$35,940

$83,054

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association

91 % 5.5%

54.3%

1,290 – 1,430

$36,175

$55,037

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association

90 % 1.3%

43.9%

1,320 – 1,480

$42,884

$63,219

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association

90 % 0.9%

21.1%

1,360 – 1,490

$32,368

$46,923

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association

89 % 0.7%

66.9%

1,280 – 1,460

$39,753

$65,457

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association

86 % 2.9%

64.0%

1,230 – 1,400

$33,172

$62,416

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association

85 % 1.0%

77.4%

1,210 – 1,400

$33,192

$76,970

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association

85 %

52.1%

1,320 – 1,440

$25,218

$31,072

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association

85 % 1.7%

69.0%

1,240 – 1,390

$34,297

$46,305

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association

58 % 5.5%

74.4%

990 – 1,250

$13,735

$40,877

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

95 %
1.1%

91 %
2.2%

91 %
5.5%

90 %
1.3%

90 %
0.9%

89 %
0.7%

86 %
2.9%

85 %
1.0%

85 %
1.7%

58 %
5.5%