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	91	67.78	1,310 – 1,440	16694	58450	#1 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Utah Brigham Young University Provo, UT Management Science 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. 567 Cougars compete in the NCAA Division I-FBS, with most teams taking part in the Big Twelve Conference. First Year Retention Rate 91 % 2.2% Acceptance Rate 67.8% SAT Score 1,310 – 1,440 Avg. Net Price $16,694 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $58,450
2	Joyce University of Nursing and Health Sciences	86	61.88	--	28110	45177	#2 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 fairly 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 86 % 6.2% Acceptance Rate 61.9% SAT Score -- Avg. Net Price $28,110 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $45,177
3	University of Utah	86	85.98	1,130 – 1,350	16583	55239	#3 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 $16,583 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $55,239
4	Southern Utah University	76	81.79	1,040 – 1,240	11840	41147	#4 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 89% 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 $11,840 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $41,147
5	Westminster University	76	66.57	1,130 – 1,340	26844	52994	#5 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 $26,844 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $52,994
6	Neumont College of Computer Science	74	86.78	1,020 – 1,190	34557	77865	#6 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 74 % 3.9% Acceptance Rate 86.8% SAT Score 1,020 – 1,190 Avg. Net Price $34,557 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $77,865
7	Utah Valley University	73	0	--	8721	46825	#7 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Utah Utah Valley University Orem, UT First Year Retention Rate 73 % 4.3% Acceptance Rate -- SAT Score -- Avg. Net Price $8,721 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $46,825
8	Utah State University	71	92.47	1,050 – 1,310	15788	44822	#8 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 73% of students at Utah State University will receive institutional grant aid....Read more First Year Retention Rate 71 % 4.1% Acceptance Rate 92.5% SAT Score 1,050 – 1,310 Avg. Net Price $15,788 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $44,822
9	Utah Tech University	68	0	--	17598	37959	#9 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Utah Utah Tech University Saint George, UT First Year Retention Rate 68 % 7.9% Acceptance Rate -- SAT Score -- Avg. Net Price $17,598 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $37,959
10	Weber State University	67	0	--	11333	47061	#10 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Utah Weber State University Ogden, UT First Year Retention Rate 67 % Acceptance Rate -- SAT Score -- Avg. Net Price $11,333 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $47,061
11	Western Governors University	65	45.44	--	11328	69572	#11 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 65 % 4.8% Acceptance Rate 45.4% SAT Score -- Avg. Net Price $11,328 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $69,572
12	Ensign College	54	0	--	12505	43320	#12 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Utah Ensign College Salt Lake City, UT First Year Retention Rate 54 % 11.5% Acceptance Rate -- SAT Score -- Avg. Net Price $12,505 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $43,320
13	Nightingale College	50	0	--	29077	63412	#13 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Utah Nightingale College Salt Lake City, UT First Year Retention Rate 50 % 12.3% Acceptance Rate -- SAT Score -- Avg. Net Price $29,077 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $63,412

School data is from 2023–2024 (top 500 results shown) for schools with at least 100 undergraduate students.

2026 College Rankings

Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Utah

About

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Utah

91 % 2.2%

67.8%

1,310 – 1,440

$16,694

$58,450

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Utah

86 % 6.2%

61.9%

--

$28,110

$45,177

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Utah

86 % 1.2%

86.0%

1,130 – 1,350

$16,583

$55,239

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Utah

76 % 2.7%

81.8%

1,040 – 1,240

$11,840

$41,147

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Utah

76 %

66.6%

1,130 – 1,340

$26,844

$52,994

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Utah

74 % 3.9%

86.8%

1,020 – 1,190

$34,557

$77,865

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Utah

73 % 4.3%

--

--

$8,721

$46,825

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Utah

71 % 4.1%

92.5%

1,050 – 1,310

$15,788

$44,822

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Utah

68 % 7.9%

--

--

$17,598

$37,959

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Utah

67 %

--

--

$11,333

$47,061

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Utah

65 % 4.8%

45.4%

--

$11,328

$69,572

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Utah

54 % 11.5%

--

--

$12,505

$43,320

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Utah

50 % 12.3%

--

--

$29,077

91 %
2.2%

86 %
6.2%

86 %
1.2%

76 %
2.7%

74 %
3.9%

73 %
4.3%

71 %
4.1%

68 %
7.9%

65 %
4.8%

54 %
11.5%

50 %
12.3%