2026 College Rankings

Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – West Coast 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	Santa Clara University	93.76	48	1,370 – 1,490	49651	91198	#1 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – West Coast Conference Santa Clara University Santa Clara, CA Opened in 1851, Santa Clara University is the oldest operating institution of higher education in California. A NCAA Division I without football school, athletes are known as the Broncos and compete in the West Coast Conference. Former Broncos have gone onto play in the NBA, NFL, and MLB....Read more First Year Retention Rate 94 % 0.2% Acceptance Rate 48.0% SAT Score 1,370 – 1,490 Avg. Net Price $49,651 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $91,198
2	Gonzaga University	93	81.69	1,220 – 1,390	40295	66525	#2 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – West Coast Conference Gonzaga University Spokane, WA Named after the Jesuit Saint Aloysius Gonzaga, Gonzaga University sits on a 152-acre campus alongside the Spokane River. The school has a first year retention rate of 93%. 85% will graduate within six years. Part of the West Coast Conference, top sports include Basketball, Baseball, and Soccer. First Year Retention Rate 93 % 1.1% Acceptance Rate 81.7% SAT Score 1,220 – 1,390 Avg. Net Price $40,295 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $66,525
3	Loyola Marymount University	88.85	45.08	1,280 – 1,430	54471	62763	#3 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – West Coast Conference Loyola Marymount University Los Angeles, CA Loyola Marymount University is home to the LMU Lions, who wear crimson and blue and compete in the NCAA Division I without football West Coast Conference. Their mascot is named Iggy. Law, Psychology, General, and Cinematography and Film/Video Production are the three most popular areas of study....Read more First Year Retention Rate 89 % 0.7% Acceptance Rate 45.1% SAT Score 1,280 – 1,430 Avg. Net Price $54,471 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $62,763
4	University of the Pacific	88.46	71.32	1,180 – 1,470	30975	62672	#4 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – West Coast Conference University of the Pacific Stockton, CA Located in Stockton, the University of the Pacific accepts 71% of applicants and charges $55 for undergraduate applications. Approximately 98% of students at the University of the Pacific will receive institutional grant aid....Read more First Year Retention Rate 88 % 0.1% Acceptance Rate 71.3% SAT Score 1,180 – 1,470 Avg. Net Price $30,975 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $62,672
5	Pepperdine University	88	62.86	1,310 – 1,450	52216	64934	#5 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – West Coast Conference Pepperdine University Malibu, CA Pepperdine University has campuses found all over the world, from Washington D.C., to Florence, Italy, to Buenos Aires, Argentina. 89% of students receive institutional grant aid, averaging $30,613 each. The most commonly sought degree is in Business Administration and Management, General. First Year Retention Rate 88 % 2.3% Acceptance Rate 62.9% SAT Score 1,310 – 1,450 Avg. Net Price $52,216 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $64,934
6	University of Portland	88	89.17	1,180 – 1,380	34951	67913	#6 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – West Coast Conference University of Portland Portland, OR A non selective school, the University of Portland accepted 7,400 of applicants, 10% of which enrolled. It’s a private Catholic University, sister to the University of Notre Dame, and affiliated with the Congregation of Holy Cross. 81% of undergraduates graduate within six years. First Year Retention Rate 88 % 6.0% Acceptance Rate 89.2% SAT Score 1,180 – 1,380 Avg. Net Price $34,951 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $67,913
7	Saint Mary's College of California	85.4	88.56	1,080 – 1,270	31615	60388	#7 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – West Coast Conference Saint Mary's College of California Moraga, CA Found in Moraga, Saint Mary's College of California accepts 89% of applicants. They require $60 for undergraduate applications. About 100% of students at Saint Mary's College of California will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more First Year Retention Rate 85 % 0.5% Acceptance Rate 88.6% SAT Score 1,080 – 1,270 Avg. Net Price $31,615 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $60,388
8	University of San Francisco	83.7	61.71	1,200 – 1,390	44104	69951	#8 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – West Coast Conference University of San Francisco San Francisco, CA The University of San Francisco charges $70 for undergraduate applications. The school offers 77 areas of study, the most popular of which is Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse. Student athletes compete in the NCAA Division I without football West Coast Conference. First Year Retention Rate 84 % 4.6% Acceptance Rate 61.7% SAT Score 1,200 – 1,390 Avg. Net Price $44,104 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $69,951

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 – West Coast Conference

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2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – West Coast Conference

94 % 0.2%

48.0%

1,370 – 1,490

$49,651

$91,198

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – West Coast Conference

93 % 1.1%

81.7%

1,220 – 1,390

$40,295

$66,525

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – West Coast Conference

89 % 0.7%

45.1%

1,280 – 1,430

$54,471

$62,763

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – West Coast Conference

88 % 0.1%

71.3%

1,180 – 1,470

$30,975

$62,672

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – West Coast Conference

88 % 2.3%

62.9%

1,310 – 1,450

$52,216

$64,934

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – West Coast Conference

88 % 6.0%

89.2%

1,180 – 1,380

$34,951

$67,913

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – West Coast Conference

85 % 0.5%

88.6%

1,080 – 1,270

$31,615

$60,388

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – West Coast Conference

84 % 4.6%

61.7%

1,200 – 1,390

$44,104

$69,951

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94 %
0.2%

93 %
1.1%

89 %
0.7%

88 %
0.1%

88 %
2.3%

88 %
6.0%

85 %
0.5%

84 %
4.6%