2026 College Rankings

Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Mississippi

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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	Mississippi State University	83	77.64	1,090 – 1,350	16480	43487	#1 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Mississippi Mississippi State University Mississippi State, MS Found in Mississippi State, Mississippi State University accepts 78% of applicants. They request $40 for undergraduate applications and $60 for graduate applications. Approximately 93% of attending students currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more First Year Retention Rate 83 % Acceptance Rate 77.6% SAT Score 1,090 – 1,350 Avg. Net Price $16,480 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $43,487
2	Mississippi College	78	49.28	1,010 – 1,210	21135	42011	#2 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Mississippi Mississippi College Clinton, MS Located in Clinton, Mississippi College accepted 49% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle and requests $35 to apply, but fee waivers may be available. Approximately 97% of students at Mississippi College currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. 78% of......Read more First Year Retention Rate 78 % Acceptance Rate 49.3% SAT Score 1,010 – 1,210 Avg. Net Price $21,135 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $42,011
3	Alcorn State University	76	45.33	840 – 1,010	13155	27752	#3 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Mississippi Alcorn State University Alcorn State, MS Alcorn State University is highly selective, accepting 3,000 out of 6,530 applicants. 19% of accepted students enrolled. Established in 1871, this HBCU was built on the site of the old Oakland College, a school that never truly reopened after the Civil War. Women were admitted starting in 1895. First Year Retention Rate 76 % 0.0% Acceptance Rate 45.3% SAT Score 840 – 1,010 Avg. Net Price $13,155 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $27,752
4	William Carey University	74	57.97	1,080 – 1,310	17192	37639	#4 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Mississippi William Carey University Hattiesburg, MS Based in Hattiesburg, William Carey University accepts 58% of applicants and requests $40 to apply, but fee waivers may be available. About 95% of students at William Carey University currently receive grant aid from the school. 74% of students continued studying at William Carey University after completing their first year....Read more First Year Retention Rate 74 % Acceptance Rate 58.0% SAT Score 1,080 – 1,310 Avg. Net Price $17,192 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $37,639
5	University of Southern Mississippi	72.09	99.12	1,040 – 1,340	14050	37710	#5 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Mississippi University of Southern Mississippi Hattiesburg, MS Based in Hattiesburg, the University of Southern Mississippi accepted 99% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. They charge $45 for undergraduate applications, but some schools offer fee waivers. Approximately 70% of attending students will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college......Read more First Year Retention Rate 72 % 2.3% Acceptance Rate 99.1% SAT Score 1,040 – 1,340 Avg. Net Price $14,050 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $37,710
6	Belhaven University	69	53.25	980 – 1,150	22145	38987	#6 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Mississippi Belhaven University Jackson, MS Located in Jackson, Belhaven University accepted 53% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. They request $25 for undergraduate applications, but some schools offer fee waivers. About 38% of students at Belhaven University will receive institutional grant aid....Read more First Year Retention Rate 69 % Acceptance Rate 53.3% SAT Score 980 – 1,150 Avg. Net Price $22,145 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $38,987
7	Delta State University	66.67	100	930 – 1,150	13457	36265	#7 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Mississippi Delta State University Cleveland, MS Based in Cleveland, Delta State University’s acceptance rate is 100%. They charge $25 for undergraduate applications and $30 for graduate applications. Approximately 75% of attending students will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. At Delta State University, there is a 66% first year......Read more First Year Retention Rate 67 % 9.4% Acceptance Rate 100.0% SAT Score 930 – 1,150 Avg. Net Price $13,457 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $36,265
8	Blue Mountain Christian University	65	100	980 – 1,240	16525	35401	#8 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Mississippi Blue Mountain Christian University Blue Mountain, MS Blue Mountain Christian University was originally a women's school when it opened in 1873. It only became coeducational in 2005. During the last admissions cycle, 56% of accepted students enrolled....Read more First Year Retention Rate 65 % Acceptance Rate 100.0% SAT Score 980 – 1,240 Avg. Net Price $16,525 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $35,401
9	Mississippi University for Women	63	100	970 – 1,180	12617	47458	#9 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Mississippi Mississippi University for Women Columbus, MS Based in Columbus, Mississippi University for Women’s acceptance rate is 100%. They request unknown for undergraduate applications, but fee waivers may be requested. About 72% of students at Mississippi University for Women will receive grant aid from the school....Read more First Year Retention Rate 63 % Acceptance Rate 100.0% SAT Score 970 – 1,180 Avg. Net Price $12,617 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $47,458
10	Jackson State University	62	48.23	850 – 1,050	19892	30530	#10 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Mississippi Jackson State University Jackson, MS Found in Jackson, Jackson State University’s acceptance rate is 48% and requests $25 to apply, but fee waivers may be available. Approximately 71% of students at Jackson State University will receive institutional grant aid. The college’s first year retention rate is 62% and around 24% of students will graduate within four......Read more First Year Retention Rate 62 % 8.8% Acceptance Rate 48.2% SAT Score 850 – 1,050 Avg. Net Price $19,892 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $30,530
11	Mississippi Valley State University	62	51.16	760 – 970	12304	25817	#11 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Mississippi Mississippi Valley State University Itta Bena, MS Found in Itta Bena, Mississippi Valley State University accepts 51% of applicants and requests unknown to apply, but fee waivers may be available. About 48% of students at Mississippi Valley State University will receive grant aid from the school. At Mississippi Valley State University, there is a 62% first year retention......Read more First Year Retention Rate 62 % Acceptance Rate 51.2% SAT Score 760 – 970 Avg. Net Price $12,304 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $25,817
12	Rust College	59	34.69	710 – 1,000	8234	25641	#12 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Mississippi Rust College Holly Springs, MS Based in Holly Springs, Rust College accepted 35% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. They require unknown for undergraduate applications. About 67% of students at Rust College currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more First Year Retention Rate 59 % Acceptance Rate 34.7% SAT Score 710 – 1,000 Avg. Net Price $8,234 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $25,641
13	Millsaps College	58.02	43.12	1,080 – 1,300	26739	46137	#13 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Mississippi Millsaps College Jackson, MS Millsaps College was founded in 1890 and has produced well-known actors, poets, professors, politicians, and athletes. “The Bowl” is the home of Homecoming activities, concerts, and events on campus. The college’s motto is “In pursuit of excellence” (Ad Excellentiam) and it’s affiliated with the United Methodist Church. First Year Retention Rate 58 % 17.1% Acceptance Rate 43.1% SAT Score 1,080 – 1,300 Avg. Net Price $26,739 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $46,137
14	Strayer University-Mississippi	0	40	--	0	36582	#14 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Mississippi Strayer University-Mississippi Jackson, MS First Year Retention Rate -- Acceptance Rate 40.0% SAT Score -- Avg. Net Price $0 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $36,582
15	Tougaloo College	0	7.17	880 – 1,090	12158	25777	#15 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Mississippi Tougaloo College Tougaloo, MS First Year Retention Rate -- Acceptance Rate 7.2% SAT Score 880 – 1,090 Avg. Net Price $12,158 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $25,777
16	University of Mississippi	0	96.58	1,060 – 1,310	14946	45336	#16 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Mississippi University of Mississippi University, MS Found in University, the University of Mississippi accepts 97% of applicants and charges $75 for undergraduate applications. About 73% of students at the University of Mississippi currently receive institutional grant aid....Read more First Year Retention Rate -- Acceptance Rate 96.6% SAT Score 1,060 – 1,310 Avg. Net Price $14,946 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $45,336