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.
| Rank | Institution | First Year Retention Rate | Acceptance Rate | SAT Score | Your Est. Net Price Avg. Net Price | Median Starting Salary | Save |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Claremont McKenna College | 98 | 9.59 | 1,470 – 1,560 | 33895 | 87603 |
Claremont McKenna College
|
| 2 | Minerva University | 98 | 3.04 | -- | 13324 | 63721 |
Minerva University
|
| 3 | Pomona College | 98 | 7.09 | 1,490 – 1,560 | 19938 | 60850 |
Pomona College
|
| 4 | Stanford University | 98 | 3.61 | 1,510 – 1,570 | 25078 | 102887 |
#4
Stanford University
|
| 5 | California Institute of Technology | 97 | 2.57 | 1,540 – 1,590 | 14513 | 132140 |
California Institute of Technology
|
| 6 | University of California-Berkeley | 97 | 10.98 | 1,330 – 1,540 | 16538 | 74919 |
University of California-Berkeley
|
| 7 | University of California-Los Angeles | 97 | 8.97 | 1,320 – 1,540 | 14512 | 59063 |
University of California-Los Angeles
|
| 8 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | 96 | 31.32 | 1,230 – 1,420 | 17453 | 72358 |
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
|
| 9 | Harvey Mudd College | 96 | 12.66 | 1,500 – 1,580 | 43966 | 115107 |
Harvey Mudd College
|
| 10 | University of Southern California | 96 | 9.81 | 1,450 – 1,550 | 43412 | 74461 |
University of Southern California
|
| 11 | University of Washington-Seattle Campus | 95 | 39.15 | 1,230 – 1,460 | 11784 | 62979 |
University of Washington-Seattle Campus
|
| 12 | Yeshiva Ohr Elchonon Chabad West Coast Talmudical Seminary | 95 | 58.21 | -- | 15330 | 17439 |
Yeshiva Ohr Elchonon Chabad West Coast Talmudical Seminary
|
| 13 | Pitzer College | 94 | 25.16 | 1,190 – 1,370 | 34979 | 51784 |
Pitzer College
|
| 14 | Santa Clara University | 94 | 48 | 1,370 – 1,490 | 53883 | 91198 |
Santa Clara University
|
| 15 | Scripps College | 94 | 38.29 | 1,430 – 1,530 | 44396 | 68027 |
Scripps College
|
| 16 | University of California-Irvine | 94 | 28.57 | 1,240 – 1,440 | 15889 | 56210 |
University of California-Irvine
|
| 17 | University of California-San Diego | 94 | 26.71 | 1,290 – 1,490 | 14047 | 65669 |
University of California-San Diego
|
| 18 | Gonzaga University | 93 | 81.69 | 1,260 – 1,400 | 40117 | 66525 |
Gonzaga University
|
| 19 | San Francisco Conservatory of Music | 93 | 54.91 | 910 – 1,230 | 43746 | 23988 |
San Francisco Conservatory of Music
|
| 20 | University of California-Davis | 93 | 41.83 | 1,180 – 1,420 | 17270 | 58461 |
University of California-Davis
|
| 21 | University of California-Santa Barbara | 93 | 32.97 | 1,260 – 1,480 | 17658 | 56852 |
University of California-Santa Barbara
|
| 22 | Chapman University | 92 | 65.43 | 1,280 – 1,430 | 47902 | 58080 |
Chapman University
|
| 23 | Thomas Aquinas College | 92 | 83.09 | 1,250 – 1,420 | 24820 | 40605 |
Thomas Aquinas College
|
| 24 | San Diego State University | 91 | 36.19 | 1,100 – 1,320 | 14704 | 52620 |
#24
San Diego State University
|
| 25 | Southern California Institute of Architecture | 91 | 76.6 | 1,020 – 1,230 | 28985 | 53274 |
Southern California Institute of Architecture
|
| 26 | University of San Diego | 91 | 52.38 | 1,210 – 1,390 | 37918 | 64995 |
#26
University of San Diego
|
| 27 | Occidental College | 90 | 44.17 | 1,390 – 1,520 | 48400 | 52209 |
Occidental College
|
| 28 | Soka University of America | 90 | 43.38 | 1,340 – 1,510 | 15691 | 42696 |
Soka University of America
|
| 29 | Lewis & Clark College | 89 | 78.49 | 1,240 – 1,400 | 37999 | 43608 |
Lewis & Clark College
|
| 30 | Loyola Marymount University | 89 | 45.08 | 1,280 – 1,430 | 59926 | 62763 |
Loyola Marymount University
|
| 31 | Pacific Union College | 89 | 47.3 | 950 – 1,190 | 22767 | 52713 |
Pacific Union College
|
| 32 | Oregon State University | 88 | 77.3 | 1,160 – 1,400 | 22467 | 50843 |
Oregon State University
|
| 33 | Pepperdine University | 88 | 62.86 | 1,310 – 1,450 | 66585 | 64934 |
Pepperdine University
|
| 34 | Reed College | 88 | 24.61 | 1,320 – 1,520 | 30953 | 38607 |
Reed College
|
| 35 | University of California-Riverside | 88 | 76.39 | 1,090 – 1,310 | 14562 | 48593 |
University of California-Riverside
|
| 36 | University of California-Santa Cruz | 88 | 65.79 | 1,180 – 1,390 | 18059 | 49716 |
University of California-Santa Cruz
|
| 37 | University of Portland | 88 | 89.17 | 1,180 – 1,380 | 30985 | 67913 |
University of Portland
|
| 38 | University of the Pacific | 88 | 71.32 | 1,180 – 1,470 | 31670 | 62672 |
University of the Pacific
|
| 39 | California College of the Arts | 87 | 91.1 | 940 – 1,220 | 46823 | 38308 |
California College of the Arts
|
| 40 | California State Polytechnic University-Pomona | 87 | 75.17 | 1,010 – 1,260 | 11940 | 54466 |
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona
|
| 41 | California State University-Long Beach | 87 | 46.27 | 1,030 – 1,240 | 10607 | 50062 |
California State University-Long Beach
|
| 42 | San Jose State University | 87 | 84.61 | 1,010 – 1,240 | 13892 | 62448 |
San Jose State University
|
| 43 | Whitman College | 87 | 38.15 | 1,330 – 1,480 | 37633 | 45594 |
Whitman College
|
| 44 | Willamette University | 87 | 77.09 | 1,270 – 1,450 | 29421 | 38932 |
Willamette University
|
| 45 | Art Center College of Design | 86 | 74.54 | -- | 53271 | 53562 |
Art Center College of Design
|
| 46 | Point Loma Nazarene University | 86 | 83.68 | 1,190 – 1,400 | 39696 | 54811 |
Point Loma Nazarene University
|
| 47 | University of Oregon | 86 | 88.3 | 1,140 – 1,370 | 24605 | 46084 |
University of Oregon
|
| 48 | University of Washington-Bothell Campus | 86 | 90.6 | 1,230 – 1,480 | 10777 | 62979 |
University of Washington-Bothell Campus
|
| 49 | Dominican University of California | 85 | 83.5 | 1,210 – 1,300 | 37456 | 71477 |
Dominican University of California
|
| 50 | John Paul the Great Catholic University | 85 | 79.63 | 1,020 – 1,290 | 35175 | 34360 |
John Paul the Great Catholic University
|
| 51 | Saint Mary's College of California | 85 | 86.53 | 1,080 – 1,270 | 35332 | 60388 |
Saint Mary's College of California
|
| 52 | The Master's University and Seminary | 85 | 84.02 | 1,020 – 1,260 | 37919 | 41665 |
The Master's University and Seminary
|
| 53 | Walla Walla University | 85 | 50.77 | 980 – 1,250 | 25505 | 52840 |
Walla Walla University
|
| 54 | Westmont College | 85 | 77.05 | 1,240 – 1,450 | 32172 | 53737 |
Westmont College
|
| 55 | Azusa Pacific University | 84 | 88.43 | 1,080 – 1,300 | 26143 | 56794 |
Azusa Pacific University
|
| 56 | Biola University | 84 | 74.35 | 1,170 – 1,370 | 34082 | 45752 |
Biola University
|
| 57 | Laguna College of Art and Design | 84 | 94.32 | -- | 47702 | 31987 |
Laguna College of Art and Design
|
| 58 | Northwest University | 84 | 83.2 | 1,040 – 1,350 | 24251 | 50495 |
Northwest University
|
| 59 | Seattle University | 84 | 76.92 | 1,200 – 1,430 | 36948 | 64656 |
Seattle University
|
| 60 | Stanbridge University | 84 | 10 | -- | 42130 | 53729 |
Stanbridge University
|
| 61 | University of Puget Sound | 84 | 72.25 | 1,200 – 1,390 | 43188 | 46802 |
University of Puget Sound
|
| 62 | University of Redlands | 84 | 82.71 | 1,110 – 1,350 | 28482 | 61686 |
University of Redlands
|
| 63 | University of San Francisco | 84 | 61.71 | 1,200 – 1,390 | 45443 | 69951 |
University of San Francisco
|
| 64 | George Fox University | 83 | 93.51 | 1,060 – 1,340 | 32171 | 53568 |
George Fox University
|
| 65 | San Francisco State University | 83 | 96.44 | 930 – 1,140 | 13168 | 52650 |
San Francisco State University
|
| 66 | California Institute of the Arts | 82 | 32.34 | -- | 56239 | 28018 |
California Institute of the Arts
|
| 67 | California State University-Chico | 82 | 92.72 | 970 – 1,180 | 14630 | 50493 |
California State University-Chico
|
| 68 | California State University-Fresno | 82 | 95.26 | 890 – 1,100 | 7834 | 44012 |
California State University-Fresno
|
| 69 | California State University-Fullerton | 82 | 90.52 | 1,000 – 1,180 | 7064 | 48558 |
California State University-Fullerton
|
| 70 | California State University-Sacramento | 82 | 93.99 | 930 – 1,140 | 10110 | 51074 |
California State University-Sacramento
|
| 71 | California State University-Stanislaus | 82 | 98.14 | 840 – 1,060 | 7433 | 47793 |
California State University-Stanislaus
|
| 72 | Pacific Lutheran University | 82 | 78.02 | 1,050 – 1,270 | 22299 | 52212 |
Pacific Lutheran University
|
| 73 | University of California-Merced | 82 | 90.53 | 980 – 1,160 | 13690 | 48475 |
University of California-Merced
|
| 74 | University of Hawaii at Manoa | 81 | 86.6 | 970 – 1,240 | 17202 | 45701 |
University of Hawaii at Manoa
|
| 75 | California State University-Monterey Bay | 80 | 97.4 | 960 – 1,160 | 14493 | 48648 |
California State University-Monterey Bay
|
| 76 | California State University-San Bernardino | 80 | 93.74 | 900 – 1,080 | 5231 | 43149 |
California State University-San Bernardino
|
| 77 | Linfield University | 80 | 85.17 | 1,050 – 1,240 | 29936 | 70643 |
Linfield University
|
| 78 | Musicians Institute | 80 | 77.95 | 980 – 1,300 | 49657 | 24962 |
Musicians Institute
|
| 79 | Reach University | 80 | 100 | -- | 21014 | 63721 |
Reach University
|
| 80 | University of Nevada-Reno | 80 | 73.71 | 1,020 – 1,250 | 17226 | 49182 |
University of Nevada-Reno
|
| 81 | University of Washington-Tacoma Campus | 80 | 82.52 | 960 – 1,180 | 13898 | 62979 |
University of Washington-Tacoma Campus
|
| 82 | California Lutheran University | 79 | 75.67 | 1,160 – 1,350 | 32774 | 54981 |
California Lutheran University
|
| 83 | California State University-Bakersfield | 79 | 93.85 | 810 – 1,040 | 6489 | 44282 |
California State University-Bakersfield
|
| 84 | California State University-San Marcos | 79 | 95.1 | 950 – 1,130 | 10241 | 48673 |
California State University-San Marcos
|
| 85 | Laurus College | 79 | 0 | -- | 22326 | 33247 | |
| 86 | Nevada State University | 79 | 86.82 | 830 – 1,070 | 15699 | 47092 |
Nevada State University
|
| 87 | Pacific University | 79 | 89.56 | 940 – 1,290 | 35235 | 46936 |
Pacific University
|
| 88 | Providence Christian College | 79 | 100 | 1,010 – 1,210 | 27422 | 32827 |
Providence Christian College
|
| 89 | Sonoma State University | 79 | 93.43 | 950 – 1,150 | 14614 | 52179 |
Sonoma State University
|
| 90 | University of Nevada-Las Vegas | 79 | 96.17 | 980 – 1,220 | 11553 | 42865 |
University of Nevada-Las Vegas
|
| 91 | Western Washington University | 79 | 93.25 | 1,160 – 1,400 | 24338 | 45272 |
Western Washington University
|
| 92 | Corban University | 78 | 93.9 | 1,020 – 1,190 | 27119 | 41735 |
Corban University
|
| 93 | University of Hawaii-West Oahu | 78 | 95.34 | 860 – 1,090 | 10942 | 44352 |
University of Hawaii-West Oahu
|
| 94 | Washington State University | 78 | 86.64 | 1,030 – 1,220 | 18171 | 53510 |
Washington State University
|
| 95 | Whitworth University | 78 | 89.78 | 1,090 – 1,340 | 27605 | 49510 |
Whitworth University
|
| 96 | Arizona College of Nursing-Las Vegas | 77 | 100 | -- | 30706 | 32840 |
#96
Arizona College of Nursing-Las Vegas
|
| 97 | California State University Maritime Academy | 77 | 95.01 | 1,010 – 1,210 | 19040 | 84676 |
California State University Maritime Academy
|
| 98 | La Sierra University | 77 | 91.5 | 890 – 1,160 | 23848 | 42617 |
La Sierra University
|
| 99 | Northwest College of Art & Design | 77 | 65.98 | -- | 14818 | 27505 |
Northwest College of Art & Design
|
| 100 | William Jessup University | 77 | 93.33 | 1,050 – 1,230 | 29679 | 43163 |
William Jessup University
|
| 101 | Bushnell University | 76 | 67.28 | 970 – 1,040 | 22907 | 43484 |
Bushnell University
|
| 102 | California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt | 76 | 98.2 | 970 – 1,200 | 14090 | 37382 |
California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt
|
| 103 | California State University-East Bay | 76 | 97.39 | 830 – 1,050 | 9850 | 55546 |
California State University-East Bay
|
| 104 | DigiPen Institute of Technology | 76 | 64.42 | 1,180 – 1,390 | 41779 | 58771 |
DigiPen Institute of Technology
|
| 105 | Portland State University | 76 | 90.87 | 970 – 1,220 | 10195 | 46937 |
Portland State University
|
| 106 | University of Alaska Southeast | 76 | 63.29 | 900 – 1,140 | 13827 | 38811 |
University of Alaska Southeast
|
| 107 | Academy of Art University | 75 | 0 | -- | 36761 | 30452 | |
| 108 | Concordia University-Irvine | 75 | 65.99 | 1,050 – 1,300 | 29845 | 53777 |
Concordia University-Irvine
|
| 109 | Oregon State University-Cascades Campus | 75 | 63.11 | 1,150 – 1,320 | 19772 | 50843 | |
| 110 | Brigham Young University-Hawaii | 74 | 46.96 | 1,040 – 1,210 | 12410 | 39316 |
Brigham Young University-Hawaii
|
| 111 | California Baptist University | 74 | 84.88 | 970 – 1,170 | 27862 | 52336 |
California Baptist University
|
| 112 | California State University-Dominguez Hills | 74 | 93.3 | 780 – 960 | 9175 | 46827 |
California State University-Dominguez Hills
|
| 113 | Otis College of Art and Design | 74 | 81.76 | 1,270 – 1,400 | 54295 | 43654 |
Otis College of Art and Design
|
| 114 | University of Alaska Fairbanks | 74 | 64.69 | 1,010 – 1,320 | 11278 | 40746 |
University of Alaska Fairbanks
|
| 115 | Woodbury University | 74 | 81.65 | 940 – 1,240 | 37258 | 47665 |
Woodbury University
|
| 116 | California State University-Northridge | 73 | 93.45 | 900 – 1,110 | 7536 | 44372 |
California State University-Northridge
|
| 117 | Life Pacific University | 73 | 95.8 | 930 – 1,110 | 21602 | 35814 |
Life Pacific University
|
| 118 | University of Hawaii at Hilo | 73 | 60.63 | 880 – 1,130 | 12673 | 37204 |
University of Hawaii at Hilo
|
| 119 | Western Oregon University | 73 | 98.1 | 930 – 1,150 | 14006 | 42537 |
Western Oregon University
|
| 120 | California State University-Channel Islands | 72 | 94.81 | 870 – 1,080 | 10632 | 46785 |
California State University-Channel Islands
|
| 121 | California State University-Los Angeles | 72 | 91.25 | 870 – 1,060 | 4460 | 45702 |
California State University-Los Angeles
|
| 122 | Fresno Pacific University | 72 | 64.07 | 970 – 1,230 | 15261 | 51422 |
Fresno Pacific University
|
| 123 | Seattle Pacific University | 72 | 83.4 | 1,050 – 1,320 | 25232 | 51496 |
Seattle Pacific University
|
| 124 | Westcliff University | 72 | 73.15 | -- | 35553 | 63721 |
Westcliff University
|
| 125 | Eastern Oregon University | 71 | 98.31 | 930 – 1,150 | 18125 | 43034 |
Eastern Oregon University
|
| 126 | Modesto Junior College | 71 | 0 | -- | 5605 | 34568 | |
| 127 | Mount Saint Mary's University | 71 | 73.13 | 910 – 1,120 | 27368 | 61335 |
Mount Saint Mary's University
|
| 128 | University of Alaska Anchorage | 71 | 66.52 | 890 – 1,090 | 16039 | 42313 |
University of Alaska Anchorage
|
| 129 | Central Washington University | 70 | 90.62 | 930 – 1,160 | 19898 | 49398 |
Central Washington University
|
| 130 | Chaminade University of Honolulu | 70 | 91.43 | 970 – 1,250 | 28261 | 48660 |
Chaminade University of Honolulu
|
| 131 | Menlo College | 70 | 68.47 | 940 – 1,150 | 32563 | 60608 |
Menlo College
|
| 132 | The Evergreen State College | 70 | 96.37 | 1,080 – 1,290 | 18350 | 34774 |
The Evergreen State College
|
| 133 | Vanguard University of Southern California | 70 | 62.44 | 990 – 1,210 | 23286 | 43464 |
Vanguard University of Southern California
|
| 134 | California Aeronautical University | 69 | 55.89 | -- | 34836 | 37182 |
California Aeronautical University
|
| 135 | Cornish College of the Arts | 69 | 62.21 | -- | 41758 | 27580 |
Cornish College of the Arts
|
| 136 | Oregon Institute of Technology | 69 | 95.02 | 990 – 1,280 | 16831 | 68301 |
Oregon Institute of Technology
|
| 137 | Pacific Northwest College of Art | 69 | 74.85 | -- | 39710 | 24101 |
Pacific Northwest College of Art
|
| 138 | University of Silicon Valley | 69 | 51.18 | 980 – 1,210 | 31594 | 39802 |
University of Silicon Valley
|
| 139 | Southern Oregon University | 68 | 88.62 | 980 – 1,230 | 17959 | 39326 |
#139
Southern Oregon University
|
| 140 | Eastern Washington University | 67 | 90.75 | 890 – 1,100 | 14767 | 46469 |
Eastern Washington University
|
| 141 | New York Film Academy | 66 | 52.4 | -- | 51622 | 25150 |
New York Film Academy
|
| 142 | Whittier College | 66 | 80.79 | 1,160 – 1,360 | 28101 | 46025 |
Whittier College
|
| 143 | Saint Martin's University | 65 | 89.8 | 1,000 – 1,190 | 29116 | 57998 |
Saint Martin's University
|
| 144 | SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary | 64 | 40.68 | -- | 22276 | 30871 |
SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary
|
| 145 | University of La Verne | 64 | 71.17 | 990 – 1,230 | 21530 | 53806 |
University of La Verne
|
| 146 | University of Massachusetts Global | 62 | 92.86 | -- | 30523 | 55438 |
University of Massachusetts Global
|
| 147 | Los Angeles College of Music | 61 | 87.71 | -- | 44586 | 20538 |
Los Angeles College of Music
|
| 148 | Simpson University | 60 | 86.03 | 990 – 1,220 | 28653 | 51256 |
Simpson University
|
| 149 | Heritage University | 57 | 0 | -- | 15563 | 47001 | |
| 150 | Hawaii Pacific University | 56 | 85.87 | 1,010 – 1,230 | 30950 | 48773 |
Hawaii Pacific University
|
| 151 | Hope International University | 52 | 32.98 | 840 – 1,220 | 29896 | 36030 |
Hope International University
|
| 152 | Los Angeles Film School | 51 | 95.1 | -- | 30501 | 24375 |
Los Angeles Film School
|
| 153 | Bethesda University | 45 | 83.21 | -- | 20099 | 37397 |
#153
Bethesda University
|
School data is from 2023–2024 (top 500 results shown) for schools with at least 100 undergraduate students.
Join thousands of students and parents learning about finding the right college, admissions secrets, scholarships, financial aid, and more.