2026 College Rankings

Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Utah

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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	Brigham Young University	89.04	69.19	1,310 – 1,440	14643	58450	#1 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Utah Brigham Young University Provo, UT Computer/Information Technology Services Administration and Management, Other is the most commonly chosen undergraduate major at Brigham Young University. BYU has four satellite campuses in Jerusalem, Salt Lake City, Washington D.C., and London....Read more First Year Retention Rate 89 % Acceptance Rate 69.2% SAT Score 1,310 – 1,440 Avg. Net Price $14,643 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $58,450
2	University of Utah	86	85.98	1,130 – 1,350	13341	55239	#2 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Utah University of Utah Salt Lake City, UT The University of Utah’s campus is nestled between mountains and the Great Salt Lake. 28,000 are undergraduate students. The oldest higher education institution in the state, U of U was founded in 1850 and originally called University of Deseret. Class sizes are larger, with a student-to-faculty ratio of 19 to 1. First Year Retention Rate 86 % 1.2% Acceptance Rate 86.0% SAT Score 1,130 – 1,350 Avg. Net Price $13,341 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $55,239
3	Southern Utah University	76	81.79	1,040 – 1,240	12375	41147	#3 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Utah Southern Utah University Cedar City, UT Found in Cedar City, Southern Utah University accepts 82% of applicants and charges unknown for undergraduate applications. About 85% of attending students currently receive grant aid from the school....Read more First Year Retention Rate 76 % 2.7% Acceptance Rate 81.8% SAT Score 1,040 – 1,240 Avg. Net Price $12,375 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $41,147
4	Westminster University	76	66.57	1,130 – 1,340	28156	52994	#4 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Utah Westminster University Salt Lake City, UT Westminster College became Westminster University in 2023. Over 50 Olympians have studied at the school. During the 2014 Olympics, 23 Westminster students were part of Team USA – 18 in 2018. Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse is the most sought after program at the school. First Year Retention Rate 76 % Acceptance Rate 66.6% SAT Score 1,130 – 1,340 Avg. Net Price $28,156 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $52,994
5	Western Governors University	73	45.44	--	9555	69572	#5 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Utah Western Governors University Salt Lake City, UT Opening in 1997, Western Governors University is entirely online. It’s made up of four colleges – School of Business, School of Technology, School of Education, and the Leavitt School of Health. Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse is the most popular area of study. First Year Retention Rate 73 % Acceptance Rate 45.4% SAT Score -- Avg. Net Price $9,555 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $69,572
6	Utah Valley University	69.66	100	970 – 1,210	8650	46825	#6 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Utah Utah Valley University Orem, UT Found in Orem, Utah Valley University’s acceptance rate is 100% and requests $35 to apply, but fee waivers may be available. About 41% of attending students will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. At Utah Valley University, there is a 69% first year retention rate and a 15% four year......Read more First Year Retention Rate 70 % Acceptance Rate 100.0% SAT Score 970 – 1,210 Avg. Net Price $8,650 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $46,825
7	Utah Tech University	68	100	940 – 1,150	15488	37959	#7 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Utah Utah Tech University Saint George, UT Based in Saint George, Utah Tech University accepts 100% of applicants and requests $35 to apply, but fee waivers may be available. About 81% of students at Utah Tech University will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more First Year Retention Rate 68 % 7.9% Acceptance Rate 100.0% SAT Score 940 – 1,150 Avg. Net Price $15,488 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $37,959
8	Snow College	46	0	--	7258	34587	#8 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Utah Snow College Ephraim, UT First Year Retention Rate 46 % Acceptance Rate -- SAT Score -- Avg. Net Price $7,258 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $34,587
9	Nightingale College	43	75	--	28115	59213	#9 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Utah Nightingale College Salt Lake City, UT Based in Salt Lake City, Nightingale College accepts 75% of applicants. Undergraduates have to send in $100 to apply. Approximately 2% of attending students will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. The institution’s first year retention rate is 43% and around 0% of students will graduate......Read more First Year Retention Rate 43 % Acceptance Rate 75.0% SAT Score -- Avg. Net Price $28,115 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $59,213
10	Arizona College of Nursing-Salt Lake City	0	100	--	30774	59213	#10 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Utah Arizona College of Nursing-Salt Lake City Murray, UT First Year Retention Rate -- Acceptance Rate 100.0% SAT Score -- Avg. Net Price $30,774 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $59,213
11	Careers Unlimited	0	64.21	--	0	59213	#11 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Utah Careers Unlimited Orem, UT First Year Retention Rate -- Acceptance Rate 64.2% SAT Score -- Avg. Net Price $0 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $59,213
12	Eagle Gate College-Layton	0	89.44	--	28332	59213	#12 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Utah Eagle Gate College-Layton Layton, UT First Year Retention Rate -- Acceptance Rate 89.4% SAT Score -- Avg. Net Price $28,332 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $59,213
13	Eagle Gate College-Murray	0	37.87	--	19185	59213	#13 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Utah Eagle Gate College-Murray Murray, UT First Year Retention Rate -- Acceptance Rate 37.9% SAT Score -- Avg. Net Price $19,185 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $59,213
14	Ensign College	0	37.87	--	11329	43320	#14 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Utah Ensign College Salt Lake City, UT First Year Retention Rate -- Acceptance Rate 37.9% SAT Score -- Avg. Net Price $11,329 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $43,320
15	Joyce University of Nursing and Health Sciences	0	89.44	--	29243	59213	#15 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Utah Joyce University of Nursing and Health Sciences Draper, UT Previously known as the Ameritech College of Healthcare, Joyce University of Nursing and Health Sciences non selective. 80% of accepted students go on to attend. The only undergraduate major Joyce offers is Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse. It also has a 100% four year graduation rate. First Year Retention Rate -- Acceptance Rate 89.4% SAT Score -- Avg. Net Price $29,243 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $59,213
16	Midwives College of Utah	0	60	--	26463	59213	#16 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Utah Midwives College of Utah Salt Lake City, UT First Year Retention Rate -- Acceptance Rate 60.0% SAT Score -- Avg. Net Price $26,463 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $59,213
17	Neumont College of Computer Science	0	89.47	1,000 – 1,250	28592	77865	#17 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Utah Neumont College of Computer Science Salt Lake City, UT One of the younger colleges in America, the Neumont College of Computer Science was founded in 2003. The school offers 5 total undergraduate majors: Computer Programming, Network and System Administration, Information Technology Project Management, Web Page, Digital/Multimedia and Information Resources Design, and Modeling,......Read more First Year Retention Rate -- Acceptance Rate 89.5% SAT Score 1,000 – 1,250 Avg. Net Price $28,592 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $77,865
18	Provo College	0	0	--	27159	59213	#18 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Utah Provo College Provo, UT First Year Retention Rate -- Acceptance Rate -- SAT Score -- Avg. Net Price $27,159 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $59,213
19	Utah State University	0	92.47	1,050 – 1,310	15825	44822	#19 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Utah Utah State University Logan, UT Based in Logan, Utah State University accepted 92% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. They charge $50 for undergraduate applications, but fee waivers may be available. Approximately 78% of students at Utah State University will receive institutional grant aid....Read more First Year Retention Rate -- Acceptance Rate 92.5% SAT Score 1,050 – 1,310 Avg. Net Price $15,825 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $44,822
20	Weber State University	0	100	970 – 1,180	11572	47061	#20 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Utah Weber State University Ogden, UT First Year Retention Rate -- Acceptance Rate 100.0% SAT Score 970 – 1,180 Avg. Net Price $11,572 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $47,061