2026 College Rankings

Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in District of Columbia

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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	Georgetown University	96.99	12.91	1,400 – 1,550	37967	83222	#1 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in District of Columbia Georgetown University Washington, DC A private Jesuit research university, Georgetown University was founded as the Georgetown College in 1789 by Bishop John Carroll. It’s the oldest Catholic institution of higher education in the country and offers over 50 majors. Past graduates include Bill Clinton, Lyndon B....Read more First Year Retention Rate 97 % 0.1% Acceptance Rate 12.9% SAT Score 1,400 – 1,550 Avg. Net Price $37,967 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $83,222
2	George Washington University	92.23	47.09	1,360 – 1,490	45466	71607	#2 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in District of Columbia George Washington University Washington, DC George Washington University was chartered by the United States Congress in 1821. George Washington personally advocated for a national university in the capital until his death. Alumni include J. Edgar Hoover, Belva Ann Lockwood, J. William Fulbright, and several foreign leaders....Read more First Year Retention Rate 92 % 0.4% Acceptance Rate 47.1% SAT Score 1,360 – 1,490 Avg. Net Price $45,466 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $71,607
3	Howard University	90.6	41.34	1,100 – 1,320	30028	47379	#3 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in District of Columbia Howard University Washington, DC “Veritas et Utilitas,” or “Excellence in Truth and Service,” is the motto of Howard University. The university boasts an impressive 90% first year retention rate. Offering undergraduate, graduate, professional, and joint degree programs which span over 79 areas of study, the university’s most popular major is Biology/Biological......Read more First Year Retention Rate 91 % 0.0% Acceptance Rate 41.3% SAT Score 1,100 – 1,320 Avg. Net Price $30,028 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $47,379
4	American University	88.2	61.87	1,300 – 1,450	40189	61328	#4 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in District of Columbia American University Washington, DC Found in Washington, American University accepts 62% of applicants and requires $75 for undergraduate applications and $63 for graduate applications. About 62% of students at American University will receive grant aid from the school. The first year retention rate is 88%....Read more First Year Retention Rate 88 % 2.6% Acceptance Rate 61.9% SAT Score 1,300 – 1,450 Avg. Net Price $40,189 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $61,328
5	The Catholic University of America	87	82.78	1,100 – 1,310	35008	63217	#5 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in District of Columbia The Catholic University of America Washington, DC Located in Washington, The Catholic University of America’s acceptance rate is 83%. They charge unknown for undergraduate applications, but some schools offer fee waivers. About 99% of students attending The Catholic University of America currently receive grant aid from the school....Read more First Year Retention Rate 87 % 0.0% Acceptance Rate 82.8% SAT Score 1,100 – 1,310 Avg. Net Price $35,008 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $63,217
6	Gallaudet University	77	60.94	790 – 960	15025	36578	#6 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in District of Columbia Gallaudet University Washington, DC Gallaudet University is dedicated to the deaf and hard of hearing, with two official languages: English and American Sign Language. Many students major in Deaf Studies. It’s the only higher education school in the world that has designed all of its programs and services for deaf and hard of hearing individuals. First Year Retention Rate 77 % Acceptance Rate 60.9% SAT Score 790 – 960 Avg. Net Price $15,025 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $36,578
7	University of the Potomac-Washington DC Campus	67	60.37	--	18780	38444	#7 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in District of Columbia University of the Potomac-Washington DC Campus Washington, DC Located in Washington, the University of the Potomac-Washington DC Campus’s acceptance rate is 60% and requires unknown for undergraduate applications and $100 for graduate applications. About 4% of attending students will receive institutional grant aid. The school’s first year retention rate is 67% and 75% of students will......Read more First Year Retention Rate 67 % Acceptance Rate 60.4% SAT Score -- Avg. Net Price $18,780 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $38,444
8	University of the District of Columbia	52	83.84	--	14287	36358	#8 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in District of Columbia University of the District of Columbia Washington, DC Based in Washington, the University of the District of Columbia’s acceptance rate is 84%. They request $35 for undergraduate applications and $50 for graduate applications. About 23% of attending students currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. At the University of the District of......Read more First Year Retention Rate 52 % Acceptance Rate 83.8% SAT Score -- Avg. Net Price $14,287 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $36,358
9	Strayer University-District of Columbia	0	34.89	--	0	36582	#9 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in District of Columbia Strayer University-District of Columbia Washington, DC First Year Retention Rate -- Acceptance Rate 34.9% SAT Score -- Avg. Net Price $0 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $36,582
10	Strayer University-Global Region	0	0	--	18470	36582	#10 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in District of Columbia Strayer University-Global Region Washington, DC First Year Retention Rate -- Acceptance Rate -- SAT Score -- Avg. Net Price $18,470 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $36,582
11	Trinity Washington University	0	99.19	--	12704	38533	#11 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in District of Columbia Trinity Washington University Washington, DC First Year Retention Rate -- Acceptance Rate 99.2% SAT Score -- Avg. Net Price $12,704 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $38,533

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 in District of Columbia

About

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in District of Columbia

97 % 0.1%

12.9%

1,400 – 1,550

$37,967

$83,222

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in District of Columbia

92 % 0.4%

47.1%

1,360 – 1,490

$45,466

$71,607

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in District of Columbia

91 % 0.0%

41.3%

1,100 – 1,320

$30,028

$47,379

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in District of Columbia

88 % 2.6%

61.9%

1,300 – 1,450

$40,189

$61,328

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in District of Columbia

87 % 0.0%

82.8%

1,100 – 1,310

$35,008

$63,217

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in District of Columbia

77 %

60.9%

790 – 960

$15,025

$36,578

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in District of Columbia

67 %

60.4%

--

$18,780

$38,444

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in District of Columbia

52 %

83.8%

--

$14,287

$36,358

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in District of Columbia

--

34.9%

--

$0

$36,582

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in District of Columbia

--

--

--

$18,470

$36,582

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in District of Columbia

--

99.2%

--

$12,704

$38,533

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97 %
0.1%

92 %
0.4%

91 %
0.0%

88 %
2.6%

87 %
0.0%