2026 College Rankings

Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in West Virginia

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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	American Public University System	97	0	--	12260	32917	#1 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in West Virginia American Public University System Charles Town, WV First Year Retention Rate 97 % 3.2% Acceptance Rate -- SAT Score -- Avg. Net Price $12,260 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $32,917
2	West Virginia University	83	89	1,020 – 1,230	15169	45181	#2 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in West Virginia West Virginia University Morgantown, WV Based in Morgantown, West Virginia University’s acceptance rate is 89%. They request $50 for undergraduate applications, but fee waivers may be offered. Approximately 91% of students attending West Virginia University will receive grant aid from the school....Read more First Year Retention Rate 83 % 2.5% Acceptance Rate 89.0% SAT Score 1,020 – 1,230 Avg. Net Price $15,169 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $45,181
3	University of Charleston	75	61.52	1,000 – 1,150	20844	42698	#3 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in West Virginia University of Charleston Charleston, WV Found in Charleston, the University of Charleston’s acceptance rate is 62%. Undergraduates have to send in $25 to apply. About 94% of attending students currently receive grant aid from the school. The first year retention rate is 75%....Read more First Year Retention Rate 75 % 8.7% Acceptance Rate 61.5% SAT Score 1,000 – 1,150 Avg. Net Price $20,844 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $42,698
4	Marshall University	72	95.73	960 – 1,170	8076	39561	#4 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in West Virginia Marshall University Huntington, WV Based in Huntington, Marshall University accepted 96% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle and requires unknown for undergraduate applications and . About 86% of students at Marshall University currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more First Year Retention Rate 72 % 8.9% Acceptance Rate 95.7% SAT Score 960 – 1,170 Avg. Net Price $8,076 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $39,561
5	Shepherd University	71	96.78	900 – 1,150	11744	43726	#5 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in West Virginia Shepherd University Shepherdstown, WV Located in Shepherdstown, Shepherd University accepts 97% of applicants and requires $45 for undergraduate applications and $40 for graduate applications. About 87% of attending students will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. The college’s first year retention rate is 71% and its four......Read more First Year Retention Rate 71 % 1.4% Acceptance Rate 96.8% SAT Score 900 – 1,150 Avg. Net Price $11,744 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $43,726
6	West Liberty University	69	97.27	920 – 1,150	13655	36822	#6 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in West Virginia West Liberty University West Liberty, WV Found in West Liberty, West Liberty University accepts 97% of applicants and requires unknown for undergraduate applications and $25 for graduate applications. Approximately 38% of students attending West Liberty University currently receive institutional grant aid....Read more First Year Retention Rate 69 % Acceptance Rate 97.3% SAT Score 920 – 1,150 Avg. Net Price $13,655 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $36,822
7	Fairmont State University	67	98.62	850 – 1,090	11328	41197	#7 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in West Virginia Fairmont State University Fairmont, WV Located in Fairmont, Fairmont State University accepts 99% of applicants. They request unknown for undergraduate applications, but fee waivers may be offered. About 78% of students at Fairmont State University will receive institutional grant aid. At Fairmont State University, there is a 67% first year retention rate and......Read more First Year Retention Rate 67 % 4.7% Acceptance Rate 98.6% SAT Score 850 – 1,090 Avg. Net Price $11,328 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $41,197
8	West Virginia Wesleyan College	67	93.34	900 – 1,160	19218	42672	#8 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in West Virginia West Virginia Wesleyan College Buckhannon, WV Affiliated with the United Methodist Church, West Virginia Wesleyan College offers up to Doctor's degrees and has 39 available programs and majors. Business/Commerce, General is the most popular, followed by Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, Criminal Justice/Safety Studies, Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, and......Read more First Year Retention Rate 67 % 1.5% Acceptance Rate 93.3% SAT Score 900 – 1,160 Avg. Net Price $19,218 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $42,672
9	Appalachian Bible College	66	77.78	980 – 1,130	13435	29147	#9 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in West Virginia Appalachian Bible College Mount Hope, WV Found in Mount Hope, Appalachian Bible College accepted 78% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. They request $35 for undergraduate applications and $35 for graduate applications. About 100% of students attending Appalachian Bible College will receive grant aid from the school....Read more First Year Retention Rate 66 % Acceptance Rate 77.8% SAT Score 980 – 1,130 Avg. Net Price $13,435 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $29,147
10	Concord University	65	92.56	860 – 1,120	11379	33094	#10 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in West Virginia Concord University Athens, WV Based in Athens, Concord University accepts 93% of applicants. They request unknown for undergraduate applications, but some students qualify for fee waivers. About 83% of students at Concord University will receive grant aid from the school....Read more First Year Retention Rate 65 % 32.7% Acceptance Rate 92.6% SAT Score 860 – 1,120 Avg. Net Price $11,379 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $33,094
11	Davis & Elkins College	65	94.33	760 – 1,040	19784	38495	#11 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in West Virginia Davis & Elkins College Elkins, WV Found in Elkins, Davis & Elkins College’s acceptance rate is 94% and requests unknown to apply, but fee waivers may be available. About 100% of students attending Davis & Elkins College currently receive institutional grant aid. The first year retention rate is 65%....Read more First Year Retention Rate 65 % 12.1% Acceptance Rate 94.3% SAT Score 760 – 1,040 Avg. Net Price $19,784 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $38,495
12	West Virginia University Institute of Technology	62	36.68	920 – 1,130	11281	45181	#12 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in West Virginia West Virginia University Institute of Technology Beckley, WV Based in Beckley, West Virginia University Institute of Technology accepted 37% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. They require unknown for undergraduate applications. Approximately 83% of attending students currently receive grant aid from the school. The first year retention rate is 62%....Read more First Year Retention Rate 62 % 1.6% Acceptance Rate 36.7% SAT Score 920 – 1,130 Avg. Net Price $11,281 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $45,181
13	Potomac State College of West Virginia University	58	0	--	9541	45181	#13 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in West Virginia Potomac State College of West Virginia University Keyser, WV First Year Retention Rate 58 % 3.3% Acceptance Rate -- SAT Score -- Avg. Net Price $9,541 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $45,181
14	West Virginia State University	57	95.96	810 – 1,040	11055	32849	#14 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in West Virginia West Virginia State University Institute, WV Located in Institute, West Virginia State University’s acceptance rate is 96%. They require $20 for undergraduate applications. About 58% of students at West Virginia State University currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. At West Virginia State University, there is a 57% first......Read more First Year Retention Rate 57 % 9.5% Acceptance Rate 96.0% SAT Score 810 – 1,040 Avg. Net Price $11,055 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $32,849
15	Bluefield State University	55	97.23	890 – 1,090	15814	35030	#15 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in West Virginia Bluefield State University Bluefield, WV Based in Bluefield, Bluefield State University’s acceptance rate is 97% and requires unknown for undergraduate applications and . About 84% of students attending Bluefield State University will receive grant aid from the school....Read more First Year Retention Rate 55 % Acceptance Rate 97.2% SAT Score 890 – 1,090 Avg. Net Price $15,814 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $35,030
16	Glenville State University	55	69.45	870 – 1,090	13798	34917	#16 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in West Virginia Glenville State University Glenville, WV Found in Glenville, Glenville State University’s acceptance rate is 69%. They charge unknown for undergraduate applications and . Approximately 83% of students attending Glenville State University currently receive institutional grant aid. The first year retention rate is 55%....Read more First Year Retention Rate 55 % 12.7% Acceptance Rate 69.5% SAT Score 870 – 1,090 Avg. Net Price $13,798 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $34,917
17	Salem University	55	47.33	900 – 1,130	10231	31612	#17 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in West Virginia Salem University Salem, WV Found in Salem, Salem University’s acceptance rate is 47%. They request unknown for undergraduate applications and . About 47% of students at Salem University will receive institutional grant aid. The first year retention rate is 55%....Read more First Year Retention Rate 55 % 5.8% Acceptance Rate 47.3% SAT Score 900 – 1,130 Avg. Net Price $10,231 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $31,612
18	Bethany College	54	58.79	930 – 1,190	19035	37124	#18 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in West Virginia Bethany College Bethany, WV Located in Bethany, Bethany College accepts 59% of applicants and charges unknown for undergraduate applications. Approximately 99% of students at Bethany College currently receive institutional grant aid. They receive $24,990 on average. 54% of students continued studying at Bethany College after completing their first year....Read more First Year Retention Rate 54 % 14.3% Acceptance Rate 58.8% SAT Score 930 – 1,190 Avg. Net Price $19,035 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $37,124
19	Wheeling University	54	63.16	940 – 1,160	21073	48482	#19 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in West Virginia Wheeling University Wheeling, WV “Luceat Lux Vestra” – Let Your Light Shine is the motto of this small Catholic school. 94% of Wheeling University’s students receive institutional grants to help offset the cost. Many choose to study Business Administration and Management, General. Students wear red, black, and gold, and the school mascot is Iggy the Cardinal. First Year Retention Rate 54 % 18.2% Acceptance Rate 63.2% SAT Score 940 – 1,160 Avg. Net Price $21,073 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $48,482