2026 College Rankings

Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – United Church 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	Talladega College	81	99.25	850 – 1,090	12450	22613	#1 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – United Church of Christ Talladega College Talladega, AL Based in Talladega, Talladega College accepted 99% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. They require $25 for undergraduate applications. About 63% of students attending Talladega College will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. The college’s first year......Read more First Year Retention Rate 81 % 37.3% Acceptance Rate 99.3% SAT Score 850 – 1,090 Avg. Net Price $12,450 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $22,613
2	Elmhurst University	80	73.57	1,020 – 1,280	22760	52803	#2 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – United Church of Christ Elmhurst University Elmhurst, IL Found in Elmhurst, Elmhurst University accepts 74% of applicants and requests unknown to apply, but fee waivers may be available. Approximately 99% of attending students will receive institutional grant aid....Read more First Year Retention Rate 80 % Acceptance Rate 73.6% SAT Score 1,020 – 1,280 Avg. Net Price $22,760 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $52,803
3	Heidelberg University	74	85.79	1,020 – 1,180	19620	41440	#3 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – United Church of Christ Heidelberg University Tiffin, OH Found in Tiffin, Heidelberg University accepted 86% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. They charge unknown for undergraduate applications and . Approximately 99% of attending students will receive institutional grant aid....Read more First Year Retention Rate 74 % 0.0% Acceptance Rate 85.8% SAT Score 1,020 – 1,180 Avg. Net Price $19,620 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $41,440
4	Piedmont University	70	93.28	1,020 – 1,240	21599	43761	#4 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – United Church of Christ Piedmont University Demorest, GA Found in Demorest, Piedmont University accepted 93% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle and charges unknown for undergraduate applications. About 100% of students at Piedmont University will receive grant aid from the school. The first year retention rate is 70%....Read more First Year Retention Rate 70 % Acceptance Rate 93.3% SAT Score 1,020 – 1,240 Avg. Net Price $21,599 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $43,761
5	Rocky Mountain College	69	69.61	970 – 1,180	19173	41783	#5 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – United Church of Christ Rocky Mountain College Billings, MT Rocky Mountain College is a fairly selective school. During the last admissions cycle, it received 1,410 applications and accepted 1,000. Athletes are known as the Battlin’ Bears and, wearing forest green and Vegas gold, they compete in Football, Basketball, and Soccer, among other sports. First Year Retention Rate 69 % Acceptance Rate 69.6% SAT Score 970 – 1,180 Avg. Net Price $19,173 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $41,783
6	Lakeland University	67	91.4	890 – 1,110	22593	49546	#6 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – United Church of Christ Lakeland University Plymouth, WI Based in Plymouth, Lakeland University accepted 91% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. Undergraduates have to send in $35 to apply. About 100% of students attending Lakeland University will receive grant aid from the school. 67% of students continued their studies at Lakeland University after......Read more First Year Retention Rate 67 % Acceptance Rate 91.4% SAT Score 890 – 1,110 Avg. Net Price $22,593 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $49,546
7	Defiance College	61	42.43	970 – 1,110	24098	39303	#7 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – United Church of Christ Defiance College Defiance, OH Located in Defiance, Defiance College accepts 42% of applicants and requests unknown to apply, but fee waivers may be available. About 99% of students at Defiance College will receive grant aid from the school. On average, these students receive $21,245 each. The first year retention rate is 61%....Read more First Year Retention Rate 61 % 1.2% Acceptance Rate 42.4% SAT Score 970 – 1,110 Avg. Net Price $24,098 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $39,303
8	The University of Olivet	57	97.11	970 – 1,140	23533	42637	#8 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – United Church of Christ The University of Olivet Olivet, MI Found in Olivet, The University of Olivet accepts 97% of applicants and charges unknown for undergraduate applications. Approximately 99% of students attending The University of Olivet will receive grant aid from the school. The school’s first year retention rate is 57% and its four year graduation rate is 37%. Business......Read more First Year Retention Rate 57 % 14.9% Acceptance Rate 97.1% SAT Score 970 – 1,140 Avg. Net Price $23,533 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $42,637
9	Tougaloo College	0	8.45	880 – 1,090	12158	25777	#9 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate – United Church of Christ Tougaloo College Tougaloo, MS First Year Retention Rate -- Acceptance Rate 8.5% SAT Score 880 – 1,090 Avg. Net Price $12,158 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $25,777

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 – United Church of Christ

About

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

81 % 37.3%

99.3%

850 – 1,090

$12,450

$22,613

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

80 %

73.6%

1,020 – 1,280

$22,760

$52,803

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

74 % 0.0%

85.8%

1,020 – 1,180

$19,620

$41,440

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

70 %

93.3%

1,020 – 1,240

$21,599

$43,761

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

69 %

69.6%

970 – 1,180

$19,173

$41,783

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

67 %

91.4%

890 – 1,110

$22,593

$49,546

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

61 % 1.2%

42.4%

970 – 1,110

$24,098

$39,303

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

57 % 14.9%

97.1%

970 – 1,140

$23,533

$42,637

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

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8.5%

880 – 1,090

$12,158

$25,777

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81 %
37.3%

74 %
0.0%

61 %
1.2%

57 %
14.9%