2026 College Rankings

Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Churches of Christ

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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	Pepperdine University	88	62.86	1,310 – 1,450	52216	64934	#1 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Churches of Christ 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 Clinical Psychology. First Year Retention Rate 88 % 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
2	Harding University	84.4	39.42	1,080 – 1,310	21069	43555	#2 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Churches of Christ Harding University Searcy, AR In the last admissions cycle, Harding University 93% of accepted students decided to attend the following fall. In addition, 98% of students attending Harding receive institutional grant aid to help them afford tuition. Student athletes are known as the Bisons, and they wear black and gold....Read more First Year Retention Rate 84 % Acceptance Rate 39.4% SAT Score 1,080 – 1,310 Avg. Net Price $21,069 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $43,555
3	Lipscomb University	83	67.74	1,090 – 1,350	27386	50454	#3 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Churches of Christ Lipscomb University Nashville, TN Lipscomb University is a fairly selective school and during the last admissions cycle, 25% of accepted students enrolled. A NCAA Division I without football member, 265 Bisons compete in the Atlantic Sun Conference....Read more First Year Retention Rate 83 % Acceptance Rate 67.7% SAT Score 1,090 – 1,350 Avg. Net Price $27,386 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $50,454
4	Freed-Hardeman University	81	90.61	1,010 – 1,230	18267	40086	#4 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Churches of Christ Freed-Hardeman University Henderson, TN Found in Henderson, Freed-Hardeman University accepts 91% of applicants. They request unknown for undergraduate applications, but some students qualify for fee waivers. Approximately 99% of attending students will receive grant aid from the school. The college’s first year retention rate is 81% and 58% of students will earn......Read more First Year Retention Rate 81 % 4.5% Acceptance Rate 90.6% SAT Score 1,010 – 1,230 Avg. Net Price $18,267 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $40,086
5	Oklahoma Christian University	77	97.07	1,010 – 1,270	21810	43281	#5 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Churches of Christ Oklahoma Christian University Edmond, OK Known as the Bald Eagles, there are 392 athletes at Oklahoma Christian University. You’ll also find a Bald Eagle on their seal and sideline, where Eagle cheers them on. 98% receive grant aid, and OC also provides its full-time students with laptops, iPhones, and iPads. First Year Retention Rate 77 % 1.2% Acceptance Rate 97.1% SAT Score 1,010 – 1,270 Avg. Net Price $21,810 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $43,281
6	Lubbock Christian University	74	73.19	950 – 1,190	25351	46464	#6 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Churches of Christ Lubbock Christian University Lubbock, TX Based in Lubbock, Lubbock Christian University accepted 73% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. They charge $50 for undergraduate applications. About 99% of attending students currently receive institutional grant aid....Read more First Year Retention Rate 74 % Acceptance Rate 73.2% SAT Score 950 – 1,190 Avg. Net Price $25,351 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $46,464
7	Crowley's Ridge College	71	46.36	--	17266	33362	#7 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Churches of Christ Crowley's Ridge College Paragould, AR Based in Paragould, Crowley's Ridge College accepted 46% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. They request unknown for undergraduate applications. Approximately 100% of students at Crowley's Ridge College currently receive grant aid from the school. The school’s first year retention rate is 71% and......Read more First Year Retention Rate 71 % 0.0% Acceptance Rate 46.4% SAT Score -- Avg. Net Price $17,266 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $33,362
8	Faulkner University	70	66.13	930 – 1,140	19908	37313	#8 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Churches of Christ Faulkner University Montgomery, AL Found in Montgomery, Faulkner University accepts 66% of applicants. They request $25 for undergraduate applications and $75 for graduate applications. About 93% of students at Faulkner University will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more First Year Retention Rate 70 % 20.7% Acceptance Rate 66.1% SAT Score 930 – 1,140 Avg. Net Price $19,908 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $37,313
9	Rochester Christian University	67	65.3	850 – 1,110	19660	40813	#9 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Churches of Christ Rochester Christian University Rochester Hills, MI Located in Rochester Hills, Rochester Christian University accepts 65% of applicants. They request unknown for undergraduate applications. Approximately 100% of students attending Rochester Christian University currently receive grant aid from the school....Read more First Year Retention Rate 67 % 17.5% Acceptance Rate 65.3% SAT Score 850 – 1,110 Avg. Net Price $19,660 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $40,813
10	York University	67	47.63	880 – 1,110	20163	36447	#10 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Churches of Christ York University York, NE Found in York, York University accepted 48% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. They request $20 for undergraduate applications, but some schools offer fee waivers. About 97% of attending students will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more First Year Retention Rate 67 % 15.5% Acceptance Rate 47.6% SAT Score 880 – 1,110 Avg. Net Price $20,163 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $36,447
11	Abilene Christian University	0	66.04	1,010 – 1,250	28311	46727	#11 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Churches of Christ Abilene Christian University Abilene, TX First Year Retention Rate -- Acceptance Rate 66.0% SAT Score 1,010 – 1,250 Avg. Net Price $28,311 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $46,727
12	Amridge University	0	88.42	--	0	30377	#12 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Churches of Christ Amridge University Montgomery, AL First Year Retention Rate -- Acceptance Rate 88.4% SAT Score -- Avg. Net Price $0 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $30,377
13	Southwestern Christian College	0	55.52	--	15275	19686	#13 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Churches of Christ Southwestern Christian College Terrell, TX First Year Retention Rate -- Acceptance Rate 55.5% SAT Score -- Avg. Net Price $15,275 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $19,686

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 – Churches of Christ

About

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Churches of Christ

88 %

62.9%

1,310 – 1,450

$52,216

$64,934

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Churches of Christ

84 %

39.4%

1,080 – 1,310

$21,069

$43,555

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Churches of Christ

83 %

67.7%

1,090 – 1,350

$27,386

$50,454

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Churches of Christ

81 % 4.5%

90.6%

1,010 – 1,230

$18,267

$40,086

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Churches of Christ

77 % 1.2%

97.1%

1,010 – 1,270

$21,810

$43,281

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Churches of Christ

74 %

73.2%

950 – 1,190

$25,351

$46,464

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Churches of Christ

71 % 0.0%

46.4%

--

$17,266

$33,362

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Churches of Christ

70 % 20.7%

66.1%

930 – 1,140

$19,908

$37,313

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Churches of Christ

67 % 17.5%

65.3%

850 – 1,110

$19,660

$40,813

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Churches of Christ

67 % 15.5%

47.6%

880 – 1,110

$20,163

$36,447

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Churches of Christ

--

66.0%

1,010 – 1,250

$28,311

$46,727

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Churches of Christ

--

88.4%

--

$0

$30,377

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – Churches of Christ

--

55.5%

--

$15,275

81 %
4.5%

77 %
1.2%

71 %
0.0%

70 %
20.7%

67 %
17.5%

67 %
15.5%