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Less-Selective Colleges With the Highest and Lowest Retention Rates

By  Chronicle Staff
January 13, 2019

As might be predicted, highly selective colleges tend to see nearly all of their freshmen return the next year. But what about less-selective colleges, ones that accept 50 percent or more of applicants? As shown below, many of them retained more than 85 percent of the full-time, first-time students who entered college in the fall of 2015. Colleges that enrolled high percentages of Pell Grant recipients — who are awarded federal aid based on financial need — tended to do worse on retention than did colleges with low percentages of such students. A notable exception is Spelman College, a historically black women’s college in Atlanta.

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As might be predicted, highly selective colleges tend to see nearly all of their freshmen return the next year. But what about less-selective colleges, ones that accept 50 percent or more of applicants? As shown below, many of them retained more than 85 percent of the full-time, first-time students who entered college in the fall of 2015. Colleges that enrolled high percentages of Pell Grant recipients — who are awarded federal aid based on financial need — tended to do worse on retention than did colleges with low percentages of such students. A notable exception is Spelman College, a historically black women’s college in Atlanta.

4-year public institutions

RankInstitutionRetention rate, fall 2016 Number of students in fall 2015 entering cohort Percentage receiving Pell Grants Acceptance rate
1. U. of Wisconsin at Madison 95.4% 6,243 12.5% 56.9%
2. U. of Georgia 95.2% 5,240 20.0% 55.7%
3. Ohio State U. 94.2% 7,070 16.9% 53.0%
4. U. of Washington 94.0% 6,180 21.3% 55.2%
5. U. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 93.5% 6,926 21.3% 59.0%
6. Virginia Tech 93.4% 5,474 15.5% 72.6%
7. Pennsylvania State U. at University Park 93.2% 8,166 13.1% 50.3%
8. North Carolina State U. 93.2% 4,493 20.7% 51.6%
9. Rutgers U. at New Brunswick 92.6% 6,409 28.3% 60.5%
10. Florida State U. 92.6% 5,944 24.3% 55.4%
11. Clemson U. 92.3% 3,470 15.5% 51.5%
12. U. of Pittsburgh main campus 92.2% 3,845 14.9% 53.1%
13. U. of Connecticut 92.1% 3,577 19.0% 50.0%
14. Miami U. (Ohio) 91.8% 3,641 11.2% 65.8%
15. U. of Delaware 91.5% 4,522 14.8% 67.8%
16. Purdue U. at West Lafayette 91.5% 6,536 17.5% 59.3%
17. Michigan State U. 91.5% 7,890 21.4% 66.1%
18. U. of Massachusetts at Amherst 91.3% 4,691 20.9% 61.4%
19. James Madison U. 91.2% 4,358 14.9% 65.7%
20. U. of California at Riverside 91.1% 4,273 51.9% 58.3%
21. Auburn U. 91.0% 4,552 14.2% 83.5%
22. Indiana U. at Bloomington 91.0% 7,697 18.4% 76.1%
23. Texas A&M U. at College Station 90.6% 9,489 24.0% 71.0%
24. U. of Oklahoma at Norman 90.4% 3,882 20.6% 81.3%
25. U. of California at Santa Cruz 90.2% 4,019 40.5% 55.7%
26. U. of Utah 90.0% 2,862 27.0% 81.4%
27. Temple U. 90.0% 4,472 29.8% 61.7%
28. U. of South Florida 89.9% 4,124 36.0% 53.2%
29. Massachusetts College of Art and Design 89.7% 328 30.5% 72.9%
30. California State Polytechnic U. at Pomona 89.0% 3,555 43.2% 51.9%
31. Rutgers U. at Camden 88.6% 421 45.6% 60.4%
32. Iowa State U. 88.1% 6,016 19.8% 86.9%
33. State U. of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry 88.1% 329 24.3% 51.1%
34. Florida International U. 88.0% 3,784 50.7% 52.8%
35. U. of Cincinnati 87.9% 4,566 21.5% 75.8%
36. U. of South Carolina at Columbia 87.8% 4,943 17.6% 65.2%
37. Pennsylvania State U.-Harrisburg 87.8% 792 27.3% 82.1%
38. New Jersey Institute of Technology 87.6% 953 33.2% 63.4%
39. George Mason U. 87.5% 3,046 25.7% 66.6%
40. U. of Texas at Dallas 87.4% 2,480 28.1% 61.9%
41. San Jose State U. 87.4% 3,396 44.1% 59.8%
42. Truman State U. 87.3% 1,317 23.7% 74.5%
43. U. of Maryland-Baltimore County 87.2% 1,616 21.2% 59.6%
44. Massachusetts Maritime Academy 87.1% 321 17.8% 61.6%
45. U. of Iowa 87.1% 4,347 21.0% 80.9%
46. Appalachian State U. 87.0% 3,030 24.7% 62.7%
47. State U. of New York College at Geneseo 87.0% 1,231 21.0% 59.1%
48. U. of Oregon 86.9% 3,895 23.9% 74.9%
49. Arizona State U.-West 86.5% 339 42.5% 77.8%
50. St. Mary’s College of Maryland 86.5% 378 18.3% 78.9%
51. U. of Vermont 86.5% 2,286 18.8% 73.4%
52. Virginia Commonwealth U. 86.3% 3,522 29.6% 75.3%
53. Colorado State U. at Fort Collins 86.3% 4,253 21.1% 80.5%
54. U. of Tennessee at Knoxville 86.3% 4,689 29.3% 74.8%
55. U. of Alabama at Tuscaloosa 86.3% 6,794 18.5% 51.0%
56. U. of Wisconsin at La Crosse 86.3% 1,985 20.6% 76.3%
57. U. of New Hampshire 86.2% 3,227 22.7% 80.0%
58. Stockton U. 86.2% 1,185 31.1% 64.8%
59. Christopher Newport U. 86.1% 1,228 14.1% 55.9%
60. Ramapo College of New Jersey 86.1% 974 25.2% 53.3%
61. U. at Buffalo 86.1% 3,504 31.0% 57.8%
62. Arizona State U. 85.9% 7,594 27.7% 84.3%
63. U. of Northern Iowa 85.9% 1,762 25.7% 76.9%
64. U. of Colorado at Boulder 85.9% 5,814 16.4% 84.2%
65. West Chester U. of Pennsylvania 85.8% 2,344 23.5% 53.5%
66. California State U. at Chico 85.8% 2,907 45.0% 71.0%
67. U. of California at Merced 85.7% 1,548 62.0% 67.2%
68. U. of Missouri at Columbia 85.7% 6,408 20.7% 77.7%
69. Pennsylvania State U. at Erie, The Behrend College 85.4% 1,178 28.4% 86.7%
70. U. of Mississippi 85.3% 3,762 22.8% 81.2%
71. California State U. at San Bernardino 85.3% 2,654 65.3% 84.4%
72. Towson U. 85.2% 2,711 22.9% 59.2%
73. U. of Connecticut-Stamford 85.2% 331 41.7% 56.8%
74. Georgia College and State U. 85.1% 1,463 17.0% 76.2%
75. Kansas State U. 85.1% 3,691 22.1% 94.9%
76. State U. of New York Maritime College 85.1% 349 18.9% 52.6%
77. California State U-Stanislaus 85.0% 1,198 62.1% 72.7%
78. U. of North Carolina at Wilmington 85.0% 2,156 23.6% 58.6%
79. Arizona State U.-Polytechnic 84.9% 526 32.3% 76.7%
80. U. of Massachusetts at Lowell 84.8% 1,633 26.0% 62.0%
81. U. of Houston 84.6% 3,908 40.7% 63.0%
82. Rowan U. 84.6% 2,278 28.5% 78.6%
83. U. of Connecticut-Tri-Campus 84.5% 786 41.3% 65.8%
84. U. of Washington at Bothell 84.5% 620 42.1% 79.2%
85. Arizona State U.-Downtown Phoenix 84.4% 1,148 38.8% 78.9%
86. Salisbury U. 84.3% 1,144 18.8% 54.7%
87. U. of Wisconsin at Eau Claire 84.2% 2,096 23.4% 83.7%
88. Rutgers U. at Newark 84.1% 1,010 51.9% 62.7%
89. Grand Valley State U. 84.0% 4,178 30.2% 80.4%
90. U. at Albany 84.0% 2,546 37.4% 55.8%
91. Texas Tech U. 83.6% 5,519 23.4% 66.1%
92. U. of Nebraska at Kearney 83.6% 985 36.8% 84.1%
93. Oregon State U. 83.4% 3,453 29.3% 77.8%
94. U. of Rhode Island 83.2% 3,118 25.0% 76.8%
95. Florida Polytechnic U. 83.2% 389 0.0% 68.5%
96. Montclair State U. 83.1% 2,889 42.0% 66.8%
97. Missouri U. of Science and Technology 82.9% 1,273 22.9% 85.9%
98. Pennsylvania State U. at Altoona 82.9% 1,482 28.9% 88.3%
99. Georgia State U. 82.9% 3,640 58.2% 59.4%
100. Michigan Technological U. 82.8% 1,197 24.1% 75.5%
101. Louisiana State U. at Baton Rouge 82.8% 5,652 22.1% 76.6%
102. The Citadel 82.7% 618 26.9% 75.5%
103. Slippery Rock U. of Pennsylvania 82.6% 1,586 33.9% 66.0%
104. U. of Alabama at Huntsville 82.6% 714 26.9% 82.0%
105. U. of Mary Washington 82.5% 840 17.1% 76.7%
106. East Carolina U. 82.5% 4,180 34.9% 77.3%
107. U. of North Carolina at Charlotte 82.5% 3,299 35.5% 64.1%
108. U. of Arkansas at Fayetteville 82.4% 4,518 21.2% 62.0%
109. Kent State U. at Kent 82.2% 4,244 33.5% 84.4%
110. U. of Nebraska at Lincoln 82.2% 4,628 25.5% 69.9%
111. Western Washington U. 82.1% 2,763 26.0% 84.6%
112. U. of Kentucky 81.7% 5,144 25.5% 72.2%
113. U. of Alabama at Birmingham 81.6% 1,719 38.0% 85.7%
114. U. of Wisconsin at Whitewater 81.6% 2,141 28.7% 81.8%
115. Wayne State U. 81.6% 2,101 49.8% 77.3%
116. Ohio U. 81.5% 4,367 26.6% 74.3%
117. California State U. at Sacramento 81.5% 3,473 55.7% 72.6%
118. California State U.-Channel Islands 81.2% 929 53.5% 72.4%
119. Ball State U. 81.2% 3,589 35.6% 59.9%
120. Illinois State U. 81.1% 3,581 29.2% 73.9%
121. Dalton State College 81.0% 732 63.8% 100.0%
122. U. of Nevada at Reno 81.0% 3,332 28.2% 83.9%
123. U. of Kansas 80.9% 3,977 23.7% 91.4%
124. Georgia Southern U. 80.8% 3,466 34.5% 63.1%
125. Oklahoma State U. at Stillwater 80.8% 3,871 29.0% 74.9%
126. California State U. at San Marcos 80.7% 2,127 49.3% 61.8%
127. Louisiana Tech U. 80.6% 1,809 29.7% 65.0%
128. U. of Arizona 80.5% 6,974 27.8% 74.6%
129. City U. of New York College of Staten Island 80.4% 2,402 57.9% 94.3%
130. Pennsylvania State U.-Berks 80.3% 846 37.0% 88.7%
131. Mississippi State U. 80.2% 2,964 31.5% 71.0%
132. California State U.-Monterey Bay 80.1% 1,295 49.6% 69.4%
133. Kennesaw State U. 80.1% 4,519 36.1% 100.0%
134. U. of Texas-Rio Grande Valley 80.0% 3,155 69.9% 62.8%
135. San Francisco State U. 80.0% 3,630 47.2% 66.0%
136. U. of Illinois at Chicago 80.0% 3,011 55.4% 74.5%
137. Longwood U. 79.8% 1,077 21.4% 72.9%
138. Bridgewater State U. 79.7% 1,506 33.7% 79.3%
139. U. of North Dakota 79.7% 1,882 19.7% 86.0%
140. U. of Louisville 79.7% 2,832 30.3% 73.9%
141. North Dakota State U. 79.6% 2,452 21.1% 82.7%
142. U. of North Texas 79.6% 4,339 38.6% 65.4%
143. Sonoma State U. 79.6% 1,794 35.2% 80.0%
144. U. of North Florida 79.6% 1,792 30.7% 60.6%
145. U. of Massachusetts at Boston 79.5% 1,438 45.5% 70.8%
146. College of Charleston 79.4% 2,161 20.3% 78.0%
147. Pennsylvania State U.-Brandywine 79.4% 382 36.4% 84.8%
148. U. of Pittsburgh at Johnstown 79.4% 799 31.2% 80.2%
149. Texas Woman’s U. 79.3% 1,153 53.0% 85.3%
150. State U. of New York at Fredonia 79.3% 1,060 37.3% 53.2%
151. West Virginia U. 79.3% 4,850 26.6% 85.8%
152. U. of Pittsburgh at Greensburg 79.2% 423 37.4% 74.5%
153. Salem State U. 79.1% 1,127 40.1% 70.6%
154. Missouri State U. 79.1% 2,826 33.5% 85.0%
155. U. of North Georgia 79.1% 2,904 32.6% 69.5%
156. California State U. at Los Angeles 79.0% 3,141 72.7% 61.1%
157. Tennessee Technological U. 79.0% 1,875 37.1% 94.4%
158. Florida Gulf Coast U. 79.0% 2,734 30.7% 58.9%
159. Washington State U. 78.9% 4,357 33.0% 82.1%
160. Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts 78.8% 351 46.7% 72.3%
161. State U. of New York College at Old Westbury 78.8% 457 50.3% 62.3%
162. U. of Missouri at St. Louis 78.8% 497 44.9% 75.8%
163. State U. of New York Polytechnic Institute 78.7% 335 36.7% 56.1%
164. California State U. at Fresno 78.6% 3,387 60.7% 59.4%
165. South Dakota State U. 78.6% 2,159 25.8% 92.0%
166. Western Michigan U. 78.6% 2,970 36.9% 84.1%
167. Jacksonville State U. 78.5% 1,169 43.7% 83.3%
168. South Dakota School of Mines and Technology 78.4% 600 27.5% 88.0%
169. Pennsylvania State U. at Abington 78.4% 893 44.7% 79.3%
170. U. of Minnesota at Duluth 78.4% 2,187 24.6% 76.8%
171. U. of North Carolina at Asheville 78.2% 628 26.1% 73.1%
172. Boise State U. 78.2% 2,193 34.9% 77.0%
173. Worcester State U. 77.9% 785 35.2% 61.3%
174. Old Dominion U. 77.7% 2,764 39.2% 81.9%
175. Central Connecticut State U. 77.6% 1,353 35.8% 60.4%
176. New Jersey City U. 77.6% 624 74.0% 76.6%
177. U. of Minnesota at Morris 77.6% 411 33.1% 63.6%
178. Central Michigan U. 77.6% 3,762 34.2% 69.3%
179. U. of Idaho 77.5% 1,568 38.8% 67.5%
180. U. of Nebraska at Omaha 77.4% 1,743 37.8% 78.5%
181. Winona State U. 77.4% 1,631 26.5% 63.0%
182. California State U. at Northridge 77.4% 5,450 62.0% 52.9%
183. Sam Houston State U. 77.4% 2,368 50.9% 73.7%
184. Westfield State U. 77.4% 1,220 31.6% 74.6%
185. Texas State U. 77.3% 5,234 37.5% 72.9%
186. Millersville U. of Pennsylvania 77.3% 1,347 33.7% 68.7%
187. Florida Atlantic U. 77.2% 2,928 39.1% 66.0%
188. U. of Nevada at Las Vegas 77.1% 3,718 41.1% 86.9%
189. Winston-Salem State U. 77.0% 844 76.3% 60.2%
190. U. of Wisconsin at Platteville 76.9% 1,684 25.3% 94.4%
191. Southern Connecticut State U. 76.8% 1,275 39.8% 71.5%
192. California State U.-East Bay 76.7% 1,431 54.9% 70.3%
192. Frostburg State U. 76.7% 957 39.9% 58.5%
194. Norfolk State U. 76.7% 557 70.7% 65.7%
195. U. of Wyoming 76.7% 1,554 20.9% 97.7%
196. U. of Hawaii-Manoa 76.6% 1,808 27.6% 78.8%
197. U. of Washington at Tacoma 76.3% 415 53.3% 84.5%
198. Central Washington U. 76.2% 1,340 36.1% 86.5%
199. Minnesota State U. at Moorhead 76.1% 886 30.4% 84.2%
200. California State U. at Bakersfield 76.0% 1,402 65.8% 70.6%
201. U. of Wisconsin at Oshkosh 76.0% 1,688 28.6% 80.3%
202. Montana State U. at Bozeman 75.9% 2,428 23.5% 83.8%
203. Bowling Green State U., Main Campus 75.9% 3,020 35.8% 53.4%
204. Eastern Washington U. 75.9% 1,581 40.9% 74.4%
205. U. of South Dakota 75.8% 1,147 27.6% 88.8%
206. Eastern Connecticut State U. 75.8% 871 25.4% 63.1%
207. U. of Maine at Orono 75.7% 2,045 35.7% 82.6%
208. U. of North Carolina at Greensboro 75.6% 2,572 50.9% 60.7%
209. Northern Arizona U. 75.5% 4,382 36.6% 81.0%
210. Bloomsburg U. of Pennsylvania 75.5% 2,162 35.7% 87.8%
211. Middle Tennessee State U. 75.5% 3,036 47.6% 72.1%
212. U. of Alaska at Fairbanks 75.4% 739 26.7% 100.0%
213. Keene State College 75.4% 1,239 24.9% 78.6%
214. U. of Tennessee at Martin 75.3% 1,174 50.1% 73.3%
215. Oregon Institute of Technology 75.3% 328 39.3% 59.8%
216. Bowie State U. 75.1% 594 58.9% 55.1%
217. William Paterson U. of New Jersey 75.1% 1,167 46.8% 74.6%
218. North Carolina A&T State U. 75.1% 1,707 64.0% 57.0%
219. NMU 75.1% 1,569 43.5% 72.1%
220. U. of North Alabama 75.1% 931 42.1% 67.9%
221. Youngstown State U. 75.0% 1,704 47.9% 83.3%
222. Arkansas State U. at Jonesboro 75.0% 1,681 46.8% 72.4%
222. State U. of New York College at Potsdam 75.0% 820 47.8% 67.6%
224. Marshall U. 75.0% 1,833 49.4% 76.5%
225. Oakland U. 75.0% 2,410 35.0% 67.0%
226. U. of Missouri at Kansas City 74.9% 1,057 39.5% 64.3%
227. Fitchburg State U. 74.9% 720 42.5% 72.3%
228. Eastern Michigan U. 74.9% 2,517 47.2% 68.9%
229. U. of Louisiana at Lafayette 74.7% 2,906 37.2% 55.8%
230. Castleton U. 74.6% 372 37.6% 91.6%
231. Augusta U. 74.6% 740 41.9% 76.5%
232. Ferris State U. 74.6% 1,871 46.9% 78.4%
233. Indiana U. of Pennsylvania 74.6% 2,805 43.3% 94.7%
234. Shippensburg U. of Pennsylvania 74.5% 1,478 32.9% 83.1%
235. Pittsburg State U. 74.5% 1,043 38.9% 79.2%
236. U. of Wisconsin at Green Bay 74.5% 756 32.0% 87.4%
237. Rhode Island College 74.3% 1,072 49.3% 65.5%
238. Radford U. 74.3% 2,013 29.7% 78.9%
239. U. of Southern Mississippi 74.3% 1,597 53.3% 66.7%
240. Troy U. 74.3% 1,502 42.7% 73.3%
241. Northern State U. 74.3% 347 38.3% 82.9%
242. Portland State U. 74.3% 1,571 45.1% 69.3%
243. Indiana U.-Purdue U. at Indianapolis 74.2% 3,772 42.4% 70.5%
244. Murray State U. 74.2% 1,490 38.7% 80.0%
245. U. of Michigan at Dearborn 74.1% 908 43.5% 62.7%
246. Western Oregon U. 74.1% 834 45.7% 88.7%
247. U. of Toledo 74.1% 3,357 39.2% 94.7%
248. Armstrong State U. 74.0% 795 45.3% 68.0%
249. Southeast Missouri State U. 74.0% 1,718 37.7% 84.8%
250. Eastern Kentucky U. 74.0% 2,537 51.5% 73.9%
251. Framingham State U. 74.0% 804 33.2% 62.3%
252. Clarion U. of Pennsylvania 73.9% 937 45.1% 92.7%
253. Virginia State U. 73.9% 906 67.0% 80.1%
254. U. of Wisconsin at River Falls 73.7% 998 29.5% 89.5%
255. U. of Maine at Farmington 73.6% 410 50.7% 84.6%
256. U. of Louisiana at Monroe 73.5% 1,222 41.6% 77.2%
257. U. of Tennessee at Chattanooga 73.5% 2,144 34.8% 77.3%
258. U. of Illinois at Springfield 73.5% 302 46.0% 61.6%
259. U. of Massachusetts at Dartmouth 73.4% 1,493 44.9% 76.8%
260. Colorado Mesa U. 73.3% 1,755 40.1% 82.3%
261. U. of Montevallo 73.3% 530 38.3% 74.3%
262. U. of Texas at El Paso 73.2% 2,908 65.6% 99.9%
263. U. of South Alabama 73.2% 2,033 43.0% 83.5%
264. Lock Haven U. 73.1% 913 44.2% 93.4%
265. U. of Wisconsin-Stout 73.1% 1,453 27.7% 90.8%
266. Winthrop U. 73.1% 1,018 45.9% 71.2%
267. Northern Illinois U. 73.1% 2,499 51.1% 50.9%
268. U. of Akron 72.9% 3,652 40.0% 95.7%
269. Kutztown U. of Pennsylvania 72.9% 1,779 35.8% 79.7%
270. Utah State U. 72.9% 3,696 32.0% 97.8%
271. U. of Central Arkansas 72.8% 2,154 48.1% 94.3%
272. Western Kentucky U. 72.8% 3,079 40.8% 93.3%
273. Kean U. 72.8% 1,483 50.4% 70.4%
274. Minnesota State U. at Mankato 72.6% 2,273 32.0% 66.6%
275. U. of Wisconsin at Stevens Point 72.6% 1,614 33.8% 89.4%
276. Columbus State U. 72.6% 905 51.7% 55.2%
277. Rogers State U. 72.5% 608 51.6% 77.0%
278. U. of Wisconsin at Milwaukee 72.4% 3,374 39.6% 89.6%
279. Southern Illinois U. at Edwardsville 72.4% 2,093 36.4% 87.0%
280. Wichita State U. 72.4% 1,430 36.5% 95.5%
281. California U. of Pennsylvania 72.3% 1,015 44.2% 89.7%
282. Shawnee State U. 72.3% 889 55.1% 100.0%
283. East Stroudsburg U. of Pennsylvania 72.1% 1,263 36.3% 81.5%
284. Mansfield U. of Pennsylvania 72.1% 541 45.5% 90.7%
285. Alcorn State U. 72.1% 494 74.1% 78.4%
286. West Liberty U. 72.0% 464 49.4% 72.4%
287. Northern Kentucky U. 71.9% 2,143 37.8% 90.7%
288. Washburn U. 71.9% 753 44.5% 100.0%
289. New Mexico State U. at Las Cruces 71.6% 1,848 45.9% 69.6%
290. Bemidji State U. 71.6% 787 35.3% 93.5%
291. Lake Superior State U. 71.6% 454 43.6% 91.1%
292. Texas A&M U. at Kingsville 71.4% 1,088 57.5% 83.6%
293. Emporia State U. 71.4% 732 44.7% 76.5%
294. Stephen F. Austin State U. 71.4% 2,178 42.9% 58.5%
295. Fort Hays State U. 71.3% 975 40.7% 87.9%
296. East Tennessee State U. 71.3% 2,025 46.5% 91.7%
297. U. of Colorado at Denver 71.1% 1,248 40.1% 73.0%
298. Valdosta State U. 70.9% 1,585 46.9% 54.1%
299. Cleveland State U. 70.9% 1,562 46.4% 84.2%
300. U. of Hawaii at Hilo 70.9% 427 49.9% 71.3%
301. Morehead State U. 70.8% 1,541 53.9% 84.4%
302. U. of Central Missouri 70.7% 1,687 41.7% 77.9%
303. Tarleton State U. 70.7% 2,013 40.1% 52.5%
304. Jackson State U. 70.7% 1,170 76.4% 70.5%
305. U. of Northern Colorado 70.7% 1,922 35.7% 70.9%
306. U. of Texas at San Antonio 70.7% 4,948 47.2% 75.9%
307. Northwest Missouri State U. 70.7% 1,372 36.8% 76.6%
308. Humboldt State U. 70.6% 1,364 51.8% 76.6%
309. U. of Wisconsin-Parkside 70.5% 577 41.6% 86.0%
310. Morgan State U. 70.5% 1,058 59.4% 65.2%
311. Midwestern State U. 70.5% 828 43.7% 61.6%
312. Plymouth State U. 70.4% 750 29.3% 75.2%
313. Lander U. 70.3% 553 47.9% 57.8%
314. U. of Southern Indiana 70.3% 1,589 38.8% 71.3%
315. U. of Alaska at Anchorage 70.2% 1,388 34.1% 100.0%
316. Nicholls State U. 70.1% 1,183 43.3% 88.4%
317. Minot State U. 70.1% 316 18.7% 57.7%
318. Northwestern State U. 70.0% 1,137 52.9% 73.0%
319. Edinboro U. of Pennsylvania 69.9% 1,212 53.4% 99.3%
320. South Carolina State U. 69.8% 632 81.6% 84.5%
321. Georgia Southwestern State U. 69.5% 386 48.2% 69.6%
322. U. of Texas of the Permian Basin 69.3% 409 34.5% 87.0%
323. Southern Utah U. 69.3% 1,168 38.7% 61.0%
324. U. of Colorado at Colorado Springs 69.3% 1,661 29.9% 92.4%
325. Georgia Gwinnett College 69.3% 2,186 62.7% 100.0%
326. Southwest Minnesota State U. 69.2% 469 35.4% 66.9%
327. U. of Montana at Missoula 69.2% 1,881 37.7% 92.7%
328. Western Illinois U. 69.2% 1,578 51.7% 69.6%
329. St. Cloud State U. 69.1% 1,650 39.3% 82.2%
330. U. of Texas at Arlington 69.1% 2,683 45.0% 61.4%
331. State U. of New York College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill 69.0% 780 57.6% 73.3%
332. Fairmont State U. 68.9% 680 49.1% 66.5%
333. Arkansas Tech U. 68.8% 1,863 57.3% 86.3%
334. Western State Colorado U. 68.5% 454 28.9% 97.4%
335. Coastal Carolina U. 68.5% 2,374 39.4% 63.6%
336. Southwestern Oklahoma State U. 68.5% 881 38.5% 85.3%
337. Evergreen State College 68.5% 527 36.8% 98.9%
338. U. of Arkansas at Little Rock 68.4% 700 53.9% 59.3%
339. U. of Michigan at Flint 68.4% 595 54.8% 78.6%
340. Buffalo State College 68.3% 1,856 64.0% 61.5%
341. Idaho State U. 68.2% 1,550 38.9% 100.0%
342. Middle Georgia State U. 68.0% 1,218 58.4% 60.4%
343. Arizona State U.-Skysong 68.0% 1,150 45.7% 60.9%
344. U. of Wisconsin at Superior 68.0% 326 35.3% 88.6%
345. Francis Marion U. 67.8% 756 64.4% 59.1%
346. Miami U. at Hamilton (Ohio) 67.7% 649 53.2% 100.0%
347. Southern Oregon U. 67.5% 630 38.4% 77.4%
348. Fayetteville State U. 67.5% 468 79.7% 50.3%
349. Concord U. (W.Va.) 67.4% 419 52.3% 70.9%
350. Delta State U. 67.4% 405 46.4% 87.0%
351. U. of South Carolina at Aiken 67.3% 595 41.3% 65.5%
352. Angelo State U. 67.3% 1,286 42.7% 82.4%
353. U. of North Carolina at Pembroke 67.2% 1,050 59.9% 73.3%
354. Saginaw Valley State U. 67.2% 1,485 39.5% 80.0%
355. Indiana U. East 66.9% 392 52.0% 63.8%
356. Auburn U. at Montgomery 66.7% 638 53.8% 80.2%
357. Wayne State College 66.5% 680 40.3% 100.0%
358. McNeese State U. 66.2% 1,241 38.8% 75.3%
359. Colorado State U. at Pueblo 66.1% 877 45.5% 92.8%
360. U. of Houston-Downtown 66.1% 914 63.8% 84.2%
361. Austin Peay State U. 66.0% 1,184 49.7% 89.3%
362. Missouri Western State U. 65.9% 899 55.8% 100.0%
363. U. of West Alabama 65.7% 350 47.1% 72.0%
364. Wright State U. 65.7% 2,307 43.3% 100.0%
365. Southern Arkansas U. 65.5% 699 55.4% 71.4%
366. U. of Pittsburgh at Bradford 65.5% 391 42.7% 65.4%
367. Fort Lewis College 65.2% 771 35.8% 90.8%
368. Indiana U.-Northwest 65.1% 652 39.4% 76.8%
369. West Texas A&M U. 65.1% 1,323 42.5% 67.4%
370. Metropolitan State U. of Denver 64.7% 1,760 40.5% 65.1%
371. U of Arkansas at Fort Smith 64.6% 1,130 62.5% 56.3%
372. Northeastern State U. 64.5% 906 55.5% 75.0%
373. Indiana U. at South Bend 64.3% 866 51.4% 73.3%
374. Southern Illinois U. at Carbondale 64.3% 2,756 49.5% 81.5%
375. Indiana State U. 64.2% 2,735 53.6% 82.5%
376. Chadron State College 64.2% 460 41.3% 100.0%
377. Black Hills State U. 63.5% 461 41.4% 94.1%
378. Lamar U. 63.4% 1,415 44.7% 78.8%
379. Utah Valley U. 63.4% 2,637 35.7% 100.0%
380. Indiana U. at Kokomo 63.2% 493 44.2% 67.3%
381. Miami U. at Middletown (Ohio) 63.1% 332 69.0% 100.0%
382. Alabama State U. 62.6% 1,068 81.5% 53.3%
383. U. of Southern Maine 62.5% 701 43.8% 83.9%
384. Southeastern Louisiana U. 62.5% 2,347 45.5% 83.7%
385. Indiana U.-Southeast 62.4% 894 44.5% 80.3%
386. U. of Houston-Victoria 62.1% 333 70.0% 55.8%
387. Southern U. 61.9% 919 78.6% 53.6%
388. Cameron U. 61.9% 702 52.0% 100.0%
389. Weber State U. 61.6% 2,168 40.6% 100.0%
390. Missouri Southern State U. 61.5% 803 57.7% 96.0%
391. U. of Central Oklahoma 61.1% 2,006 38.9% 90.3%
392. Adams State U. 61.0% 471 49.5% 65.3%
393. Indiana U.-Purdue U. at Fort Wayne 60.6% 1,471 41.2% 90.9%
394. Louisiana State U. at Shreveport 60.5% 333 48.3% 76.7%
395. Mississippi Valley State U. 60.4% 387 85.8% 76.9%
396. Henderson State U. 60.1% 768 59.0% 62.8%
397. Sul Ross State U. 60.1% 328 64.9% 93.4%
398. Shepherd U. 59.9% 634 33.8% 98.3%
399. Savannah State U. 59.6% 1,196 79.9% 77.6%
400. Langston U. 59.4% 580 77.9% 100.0%
401. Eastern New Mexico U. 58.7% 628 56.7% 63.1%
402. Texas A&M U. at Corpus Christi 58.3% 1,932 44.4% 84.6%
403. U. of Texas at Tyler 58.1% 678 32.0% 83.6%
404. U. of Maryland-Eastern Shore 58.0% 756 62.3% 61.3%
405. Lewis-Clark State College 57.9% 491 50.5% 99.0%
406. Alabama A&M U. 57.7% 1,198 75.7% 52.6%
407. West Virginia State U. 57.6% 402 56.0% 86.4%
408. Northwestern Oklahoma State U. 57.3% 384 33.1% 66.2%
409. Tennessee State U. 55.7% 1,378 70.8% 100.0%
410. Louisiana State U. at Alexandria 55.7% 426 49.1% 54.5%
411. Northeastern Illinois U. 55.2% 726 62.3% 57.6%
412. Southeastern Oklahoma State U. 54.8% 486 51.0% 78.7%
413. Montana State U. at Billings 54.5% 704 44.5% 100.0%
414. U. of South Carolina at Beaufort 54.4% 377 45.9% 57.2%
415. East Central U. (Okla.) 52.0% 569 48.0% 97.2%
416. Texas Southern U. 50.4% 1,434 76.8% 51.9%
417. Western New Mexico U. 50.0% 342 67.8% 100.0%
418. Lincoln U. (Mo.) 46.7% 522 74.9% 100.0%
Median for 418 institutions 75.5% 1,483 39.2% 75.1%

4-year private nonprofit institutions

RankInstitutionRetention rate, fall 2016 Number of students in fall 2015 entering cohort Percentage receiving Pell Grants Acceptance rate
1. Wheaton College (Ill.) 95.4% 606 20.5% 69.2%
2. Kettering U. 95.2% 364 22.0% 71.6%
3. Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology 93.9% 582 14.3% 58.8%
4. Centre College 93.3% 385 15.3% 71.6%
5. Providence College 93.2% 1,030 13.5% 63.1%
6. Illinois Wesleyan U. 93.1% 455 18.9% 60.4%
7. Butler U. 92.7% 969 13.9% 68.5%
8. Rhodes College 92.5% 507 15.8% 60.0%
9. Gonzaga U. 92.4% 1,048 14.2% 67.5%
10. Stonehill College 92.4% 610 23.1% 77.0%
11. St. Olaf College 92.3% 765 19.0% 51.3%
12. DePauw U. 91.6% 514 20.6% 56.6%
13. Spelman College 91.5% 550 55.3% 54.0%
14. Saint Louis U. 91.4% 1,639 16.8% 61.1%
15. U. of Portland 91.3% 1,082 19.8% 62.9%
16. Elon U. 91.0% 1,496 7.7% 53.9%
17. Lawrence U. 90.9% 380 22.6% 73.0%
18. Hope College 90.8% 820 24.5% 77.4%
19. Saint Joseph’s U. (Pa.) 90.8% 1,350 10.3% 84.6%
20. Mount Holyoke College 90.6% 530 17.0% 54.7%
21. Syracuse U. 90.6% 3,461 22.4% 53.2%
22. Southern Methodist U. 90.6% 1,455 10.3% 52.4%
23. Muhlenberg College 90.2% 589 10.9% 52.8%
24. Illinois Institute of Technology 89.8% 440 29.1% 50.6%
25. Bryant U. 89.6% 826 12.0% 75.1%
26. U. of Dayton 89.4% 2,172 13.7% 59.0%
27. Sarah Lawrence College 89.2% 356 13.5% 53.1%
28. Fairfield U. 89.2% 1,055 13.2% 71.5%
29. Gustavus Adolphus College 89.2% 613 25.8% 61.1%
30. Drexel U. 89.1% 2,925 24.6% 76.0%
31. Baylor U. 89.1% 3,622 20.0% 55.4%
32. Saint Michael’s College 89.0% 574 19.7% 80.5%
33. Saint Francis U. (Pa.) 89.0% 392 33.9% 68.7%
34. Augustana College (Ill.) 88.9% 726 26.6% 53.6%
35. Creighton U. 88.9% 1,025 15.9% 72.7%
36. Quinnipiac U. 88.9% 1,651 18.0% 65.9%
37. Marquette U. 88.8% 1,989 15.9% 66.7%
38. Manhattan College 88.8% 747 26.8% 66.5%
39. Samford U. 88.7% 728 17.2% 81.9%
40. U. of Evansville 88.7% 532 27.3% 82.9%
41. Saint John’s U. (Minn.) 88.7% 450 22.2% 78.8%
42. Denison U. 88.6% 609 22.7% 55.5%
43. Kalamazoo College 88.5% 357 22.1% 69.7%
44. U. of Saint Thomas (Minn.) 88.5% 1,408 17.4% 86.6%
45. Drake U. 88.4% 869 16.8% 69.3%
46. Furman U. 88.3% 723 13.7% 68.7%
47. United Talmudical Seminary 88.2% 512 77.5% 100.0%
48. Dordt College 88.1% 354 30.5% 73.0%
49. Sewanee: The U. of the South 88.1% 466 18.7% 64.7%
50. Maryland Institute College of Art 88.0% 455 19.8% 54.2%
51. Loyola Marymount U. 88.0% 1,348 18.5% 52.7%
52. Bethel U. (Minn.) 87.8% 602 26.1% 95.4%
53. Clark U. 87.7% 547 22.3% 54.0%
54. Mercer U. 87.6% 804 27.5% 66.7%
55. Siena College 87.4% 709 27.6% 65.9%
56. Drew U. 87.4% 302 29.8% 70.2%
57. Bradley U. 87.3% 947 22.2% 64.3%
58. U. of Scranton 87.3% 1,062 20.3% 77.3%
59. Seattle U. 87.3% 921 21.1% 73.3%
60. Hendrix College 87.2% 314 20.7% 82.8%
61. Rochester Institute of Technology 87.2% 2,677 31.9% 57.5%
62. Xavier U. (Ohio) 87.1% 1,210 21.2% 73.1%
63. Elizabethtown College 86.9% 447 22.4% 70.8%
64. Yeshiva U. 86.9% 803 16.2% 81.8%
65. Knox College 86.8% 362 38.4% 68.2%
66. Clarkson U. 86.7% 767 23.7% 62.1%
67. U. of Denver 86.5% 1,415 15.6% 76.5%
68. Duquesne U. 86.5% 1,332 20.8% 73.1%
69. Washington College 86.4% 388 17.3% 55.7%
70. Saint Mary’s College (Ind.) 86.4% 378 23.3% 83.3%
71. Maryville U. of Saint Louis 86.4% 408 25.7% 72.1%
72. Wheaton College (Mass.) 86.3% 423 21.3% 69.6%
73. Ohio Northern U. 86.3% 628 25.6% 68.6%
74. College of Wooster (Ohio) 86.2% 547 19.4% 59.1%
75. Gordon College (Mass.) 86.2% 400 22.3% 88.4%
76. Saint Mary’s College of California 86.2% 581 22.9% 76.0%
77. Point Loma Nazarene U. 86.1% 587 25.7% 69.5%
78. Valparaiso U. 86.1% 714 30.7% 82.4%
79. Azusa Pacific U. 86.1% 1,039 33.5% 81.8%
80. Endicott College 86.0% 753 16.1% 73.2%
81. U. of San Francisco 85.9% 1,499 24.4% 60.1%
82. Loyola U. Maryland 85.8% 1,134 13.4% 59.6%
83. Wofford College 85.7% 487 20.3% 77.4%
84. Le Moyne College 85.7% 678 28.2% 66.0%
85. U. of Puget Sound 85.7% 663 16.6% 79.3%
86. Willamette U. 85.6% 552 23.0% 81.3%
87. St. Norbert College 85.5% 536 23.9% 81.7%
88. Randolph-Macon College 85.4% 426 24.6% 60.3%
89. Messiah College 85.4% 696 19.5% 80.0%
90. Taylor U. 85.4% 433 20.1% 88.0%
91. Cedarville U. 85.3% 786 26.0% 74.5%
92. Drury U. 85.3% 400 39.8% 74.4%
93. Seton Hall U. 85.3% 1,263 28.3% 75.5%
94. Pratt Institute 85.3% 711 23.3% 53.0%
95. MCPHS U. 85.3% 875 38.6% 84.0%
96. Whitworth U. 85.2% 619 28.3% 74.8%
97. Saint Anselm College 85.2% 523 14.0% 76.1%
98. Molloy College 85.2% 490 27.8% 75.4%
99. John Brown U. 85.2% 318 33.3% 69.8%
100. DePaul U. 85.1% 2,540 32.8% 69.9%
101. Wagner College 85.1% 441 24.7% 72.2%
102. Lipscomb U. 85.0% 626 19.5% 55.6%
103. Union U. 84.9% 328 31.7% 68.6%
104. California Lutheran U. 84.9% 556 27.3% 61.0%
105. Juniata College 84.8% 423 28.1% 74.2%
106. U. of the Sciences in Philadelphia 84.8% 371 33.2% 57.9%
107. Saint Joseph’s College (N.Y.) 84.8% 496 40.9% 70.7%
108. Calvin College 84.8% 949 24.9% 73.1%
109. Berry College 84.7% 568 25.0% 60.8%
110. Savannah College of Art and Design 84.7% 1,728 22.9% 66.6%
111. Ithaca College 84.7% 1,560 18.7% 59.1%
112. St. John Fisher College 84.6% 597 29.8% 67.9%
113. Nazareth College of Rochester (N.Y.) 84.6% 476 32.8% 70.5%
114. Lewis & Clark College 84.6% 563 22.4% 66.6%
115. John Carroll U. 84.5% 798 18.9% 82.9%
116. Concordia College at Moorhead 84.4% 540 25.4% 64.3%
117. Ursinus College 84.4% 497 26.6% 83.2%
118. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical U. at Prescott (Ariz.) 84.3% 503 21.7% 80.2%
119. St. John’s U. (N.Y.) 84.2% 2,790 41.1% 62.5%
120. Augustana U. (S.D.) 84.2% 396 21.0% 61.3%
121. Luther College 84.1% 559 21.6% 71.2%
122. Elmhurst College 84.1% 510 28.2% 67.7%
123. Biola U. 83.9% 943 31.0% 75.4%
124. Wentworth Institute of Technology 83.9% 1,063 28.0% 82.6%
125. Springfield College (Mass.) 83.9% 562 24.7% 70.9%
126. Canisius College 83.7% 613 39.8% 80.2%
127. Roanoke College 83.6% 562 26.2% 69.3%
128. Franciscan U. of Steubenville 83.5% 463 21.6% 77.9%
129. Catholic U. of America 83.5% 830 13.5% 73.9%
130. Marywood U. 83.5% 368 33.4% 74.2%
131. College of Saint Benedict 83.4% 542 23.8% 82.2%
132. Roger Williams U. 83.4% 1,149 13.7% 77.9%
133. Austin College 83.4% 357 26.3% 54.4%
133. Grace College and Seminary (Ind.) 83.4% 395 41.3% 80.1%
135. Otterbein U. 83.4% 560 19.1% 75.3%
136. Susquehanna U. 83.3% 575 27.1% 78.2%
137. Simmons College 83.2% 303 25.4% 52.2%
138. U. of Dallas 83.2% 342 22.8% 85.1%
139. Milwaukee School of Engineering 83.2% 558 26.5% 68.6%
140. Adelphi U. 83.1% 954 30.4% 72.4%
141. Allegheny College 83.0% 473 29.8% 71.8%
142. Rockhurst U. 83.0% 398 19.3% 76.9%
143. Rollins College 83.0% 540 20.2% 57.3%
144. U. of the Arts 82.9% 373 30.8% 69.5%
145. Florida Institute of Technology 82.9% 768 21.7% 61.6%
146. Walsh U. 82.9% 447 36.7% 80.7%
147. U. of Detroit Mercy 82.9% 458 31.9% 69.1%
148. Lake Forest College 82.9% 410 37.8% 55.2%
149. Belmont U. 82.8% 1,392 17.8% 82.7%
150. U. of Northwestern at St. Paul (Minn.) 82.7% 430 35.1% 69.5%
151. Saint Vincent College 82.7% 449 33.6% 71.9%
152. Philadelphia U. 82.6% 602 28.6% 63.9%
153. Westmont College 82.3% 374 20.3% 79.4%
154. Loyola U. Chicago 82.3% 2,288 24.8% 63.3%
155. St. Bonaventure U. 82.3% 435 27.8% 70.4%
156. Shenandoah U. 82.3% 417 27.8% 82.6%
157. Misericordia U. 82.3% 438 22.6% 71.5%
158. Pacific U. 82.3% 459 32.5% 80.5%
159. U. of the Pacific 82.2% 923 30.7% 54.9%
160. Harding U. 82.2% 1,063 24.2% 99.1%
161. Indiana Wesleyan U. 82.1% 1,457 51.5% 95.0%
162. Assumption College 82.1% 571 22.2% 81.3%
163. Oral Roberts U. 82.1% 400 39.3% 79.8%
164. Birmingham-Southern College 82.1% 352 20.7% 53.4%
165. Salve Regina U. 82.0% 623 23.3% 71.0%
166. Champlain College 81.9% 630 22.7% 64.2%
167. Northwestern College (Iowa) 81.9% 315 31.1% 77.8%
168. Widener U. 81.9% 733 29.2% 65.0%
169. High Point U. 81.9% 1,386 11.1% 80.2%
170. Merrimack College 81.9% 858 23.0% 77.8%
171. Linfield College 81.9% 461 27.5% 93.8%
172. Hofstra U. 81.8% 1,713 24.1% 61.6%
173. Seattle Pacific U. 81.8% 683 30.3% 83.4%
174. U. of Redlands 81.7% 740 27.3% 73.1%
175. Trevecca Nazarene U. 81.6% 318 40.6% 73.1%
176. Eckerd College 81.6% 511 16.4% 72.7%
177. New School 81.6% 1,168 27.8% 65.9%
178. Asbury U. 81.6% 303 33.3% 68.7%
179. Alvernia U. 81.5% 376 41.8% 74.8%
180. Albion College 81.5% 357 30.8% 60.8%
180. Lebanon Valley College 81.5% 413 31.0% 70.5%
182. Sacred Heart U. 81.5% 1,385 17.8% 57.2%
183. George Fox U. 81.3% 627 31.7% 77.8%
184. Niagara U. 81.3% 616 31.5% 65.9%
185. U. of New England 81.2% 574 23.7% 85.7%
186. Geneva College 81.2% 312 39.7% 71.1%
187. Walla Walla U. 81.1% 364 30.2% 57.8%
188. Mississippi College 81.0% 577 23.9% 63.0%
189. Carthage College 81.0% 704 29.1% 71.6%
190. St. Catherine U. 80.9% 456 47.4% 67.2%
191. Lynchburg College 80.8% 512 37.7% 66.7%
192. DeSales U. 80.7% 406 28.6% 79.6%
192. Ohio Wesleyan U. 80.7% 458 25.3% 74.3%
194. College of Saint Scholastica 80.6% 460 32.4% 66.2%
195. Saint Peter’s U. 80.6% 582 71.6% 56.9%
195. School of the Art Institute of Chicago 80.6% 603 15.3% 69.1%
197. Ouachita Baptist U. 80.6% 420 29.3% 70.6%
198. St. Edward’s U. 80.5% 810 41.2% 78.4%
199. Baldwin Wallace U. 80.4% 717 37.5% 64.0%
200. U. of New Haven 80.4% 1,216 29.3% 80.9%
201. Viterbo U. 80.4% 315 31.4% 69.1%
202. Emmanuel College (Mass.) 80.2% 524 26.9% 69.3%
203. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical U. at Daytona Beach (Fla.) 80.0% 1,208 29.2% 73.1%
204. Wartburg College 79.9% 464 27.6% 78.8%
205. Southern Adventist U. 79.9% 553 36.5% 100.0%
206. U. of Findlay (Ohio) 79.9% 618 28.2% 72.0%
207. Regis U. 79.8% 481 25.6% 96.0%
208. Alma College 79.8% 356 34.6% 72.0%
209. U. of Mary 79.8% 419 20.8% 78.6%
210. Seton Hill U. 79.7% 330 33.9% 69.1%
211. Robert Morris U (Pa.) 79.7% 858 29.3% 76.2%
212. Bellarmine U. 79.6% 665 33.1% 83.4%
213. Carroll U. 79.6% 758 23.2% 80.8%
214. Ashland U. 79.6% 602 31.6% 72.6%
215. Lasell College 79.6% 501 33.5% 76.3%
216. Benedictine College 79.5% 487 23.2% 97.8%
217. Central College 79.5% 429 29.1% 68.9%
218. Loras College 79.4% 374 28.1% 95.1%
219. Point Park U. 79.4% 629 40.5% 70.7%
220. Westminster College (Utah) 79.4% 482 26.3% 95.8%
221. Lawrence Technological U. 79.4% 329 30.7% 57.4%
222. Marymount U. 79.4% 350 27.4% 84.0%
223. Lewis U. 79.3% 743 33.9% 61.9%
224. Moody Bible Institute 79.3% 430 36.0% 72.1%
225. Stetson U. 79.2% 773 36.6% 61.2%
226. Hamline U. 79.2% 521 40.9% 69.6%
227. Hampshire College 79.2% 324 25.6% 66.6%
228. Pacific Lutheran U. 79.2% 574 32.6% 75.0%
229. Daemen College 79.2% 419 43.7% 54.9%
230. Monmouth U. 79.1% 1,056 26.6% 74.2%
231. Loyola U. New Orleans 79.1% 609 35.3% 90.2%
232. U. of Mount Union 79.0% 635 34.3% 73.5%
233. Mount Saint Mary’s U. (Calif.) 79.0% 463 71.5% 78.3%
234. Lycoming College 79.0% 394 39.1% 72.2%
235. Goucher College 78.7% 403 22.6% 75.7%
236. McDaniel College 78.6% 412 30.6% 76.1%
237. Carroll College 78.6% 354 23.7% 57.5%
238. Moravian College 78.5% 384 30.5% 86.2%
239. Concordia U. (Calif.) 78.4% 352 31.5% 86.1%
240. Freed-Hardeman U. 78.4% 340 32.4% 93.4%
241. Mercyhurst U. 78.4% 613 25.0% 80.3%
242. Nebraska Wesleyan U. 78.4% 368 29.9% 78.1%
243. Fairleigh-Dickinson U. College at Florham (N.J.) 78.3% 706 32.4% 80.7%
244. Heidelberg U. 78.2% 363 44.9% 75.1%
245. Colorado Christian U. 78.1% 382 24.1% 94.3%
246. St. Francis College (N.Y.) 78.0% 510 46.1% 77.0%
247. Western New England U. 78.0% 751 32.4% 80.1%
248. Gannon U. 78.0% 594 29.8% 77.7%
249. Norwich U. 77.9% 653 31.1% 65.7%
250. North Park U. 77.9% 400 45.0% 54.6%
251. Spring Arbor U. 77.9% 337 42.7% 66.6%
252. Mount Vernon Nazarene U. 77.9% 311 40.2% 76.0%
253. Meredith College 77.9% 471 33.1% 61.3%
254. Wittenberg U. 77.8% 516 35.1% 91.4%
255. Rider U. 77.8% 1,006 31.5% 70.9%
256. North Central College 77.8% 574 26.5% 59.8%
257. Malone U. 77.8% 311 36.7% 71.7%
258. Eastern U. 77.7% 409 39.9% 62.2%
259. Johnson & Wales U. (R.I.) 77.6% 1,878 44.0% 81.1%
260. College of Mount Saint Vincent 77.6% 517 50.3% 95.2%
261. Iona College 77.4% 800 31.9% 86.7%
262. Aquinas College (Mich.) 77.4% 353 38.5% 72.0%
263. Simpson College (Iowa) 77.3% 344 28.2% 85.5%
264. U. of the Incarnate Word 77.3% 913 46.4% 93.2%
265. Mount Saint Mary College 77.3% 411 36.3% 88.6%
266. College of Saint Rose 77.2% 534 41.4% 76.3%
267. Oklahoma Christian U. 77.1% 503 28.8% 64.0%
268. Arcadia U. 77.1% 673 37.1% 58.8%
269. St. Ambrose U. 77.1% 522 25.7% 96.1%
270. Northwood U. (Mich.) 77.0% 338 29.3% 69.5%
271. Anderson U. (Ind.) 77.0% 432 35.9% 54.9%
272. U. of Indianapolis 76.9% 963 33.1% 66.5%
273. New York Institute of Technology 76.8% 679 43.6% 64.0%
274. King’s College (Pa.) 76.8% 484 35.5% 67.3%
275. Caldwell College 76.7% 386 46.9% 63.9%
276. Wingate U. 76.7% 612 38.1% 75.1%
277. Marian U. (Ind.) 76.6% 330 40.6% 56.4%
278. Lee U. 76.6% 746 32.7% 89.1%
279. Pace U. 76.6% 1,938 34.4% 85.0%
280. Augsburg College 76.6% 391 44.8% 68.0%
281. Manhattanville College 76.4% 458 37.1% 73.9%
282. Spring Hill College 76.4% 362 34.0% 51.8%
283. Morehouse College 76.4% 540 51.9% 84.0%
284. Husson U. 76.4% 552 42.9% 100.0%
285. St. Mary’s U. 76.4% 469 51.8% 59.5%
286. McKendree U. 76.3% 421 40.9% 61.2%
287. Wilkes U. 76.2% 557 43.4% 78.6%
288. Abilene Christian U. 76.1% 974 30.9% 50.5%
289. Maryville College 76.0% 334 46.7% 70.8%
290. California Baptist U. 76.0% 1,061 48.4% 79.6%
291. Evangel U. 76.0% 329 41.6% 64.5%
292. Trine U. 76.0% 523 36.5% 76.0%
293. Alfred U. 75.9% 489 36.2% 69.4%
294. Elmira College 75.7% 329 33.7% 82.2%
295. Whittier College 75.6% 378 29.4% 61.9%
296. Waynesburg U. 75.5% 329 35.9% 83.6%
297. Anderson U. (S.C.) 75.5% 646 26.6% 71.5%
298. Vanguard U. of Southern California 75.5% 313 44.7% 58.0%
299. Suffolk U. 75.5% 1,077 29.9% 83.9%
300. Stevenson U. 75.4% 689 35.3% 62.3%
301. Colby-Sawyer College 75.3% 331 30.5% 90.6%
302. Hartwick College 75.3% 419 45.1% 89.6%
303. U. of Hartford 75.1% 1,206 32.8% 72.1%
304. Coe College 75.1% 376 33.8% 55.3%
305. Utica College 75.0% 471 50.3% 81.5%
306. La Salle U. 75.0% 918 43.7% 78.2%
307. Palm Beach Atlantic U. 75.0% 523 33.5% 95.3%
308. Capital U. 74.8% 710 33.1% 72.7%
309. Webster U. 74.8% 457 38.7% 72.1%
310. Fairleigh Dickinson U. 74.8% 605 60.3% 80.1%
311. Olivet Nazarene U. 74.6% 779 33.9% 74.5%
312. Mount St. Mary’s U. (Md.) 74.5% 510 19.2% 66.9%
313. U. of Tampa 74.3% 1,752 22.7% 51.9%
314. Long Island U.-C.W. Post 74.2% 545 45.7% 83.0%
315. Ave Maria U. 74.1% 304 24.0% 51.7%
316. Franklin College of Indiana 73.8% 327 34.6% 69.2%
317. Concordia U. (Neb.) 73.8% 326 35.0% 76.6%
318. Guilford College 73.6% 351 37.6% 62.2%
319. Marymount Manhattan College 73.3% 495 28.7% 73.5%
320. Monmouth College 73.0% 394 49.0% 69.1%
321. Campbell U. 72.3% 871 42.1% 68.1%
322. Xavier U. of Louisiana 72.2% 579 60.1% 66.0%
323. Dominican U. 72.0% 473 58.8% 60.7%
324. Millikin U. 71.9% 476 43.9% 62.7%
325. Mercy College 71.8% 741 61.7% 71.9%
326. Saint Leo U. 71.8% 616 46.3% 72.2%
327. Concordia U. Wisconsin 71.6% 639 27.5% 75.4%
328. Lenoir-Rhyne U. 71.6% 346 50.9% 65.8%
329. U. of Mary Hardin-Baylor 71.4% 706 38.1% 79.9%
330. Albright College 71.4% 540 47.8% 50.1%
331. Hardin-Simmons U. 71.3% 339 33.9% 56.8%
332. U. of Saint Francis (Ind.) 71.2% 344 42.2% 96.9%
333. Brigham Young U.-Idaho 70.9% 1,964 25.8% 99.6%
334. Nichols College 70.8% 390 34.1% 76.3%
335. Jacksonville U. 70.7% 393 32.1% 56.1%
336. Curry College 70.5% 648 30.1% 86.9%
337. Columbia College Chicago 70.4% 1,787 38.5% 88.5%
338. West Virginia Wesleyan College 70.4% 415 40.2% 77.6%
339. Lindenwood U. 70.3% 1,170 31.0% 52.9%
340. Carson-Newman U. 70.2% 488 43.9% 62.4%
341. North Greenville U. 70.1% 583 39.5% 59.5%
342. Mount Aloysius College 70.1% 370 50.5% 74.0%
343. Saint Mary’s U. of Minnesota 70.0% 334 30.2% 74.2%
344. Johnson & Wales U. (Fla.) 69.7% 452 63.3% 70.0%
345. Charleston Southern U. 69.7% 652 49.5% 58.7%
346. Benedictine U. 69.6% 667 43.2% 77.2%
346. Cabrini U. 69.6% 392 45.9% 75.3%
348. Adrian College 69.4% 482 41.5% 61.9%
349. Southwest Baptist U. 69.3% 469 42.9% 61.8%
350. American International College 69.1% 308 54.2% 67.6%
351. Davenport U. 69.0% 488 48.4% 93.4%
352. Aurora U. 69.0% 599 45.6% 81.1%
353. Neumann U. 68.8% 415 52.8% 94.0%
354. Oklahoma Baptist U. 68.5% 483 38.9% 60.5%
355. Wilmington College (Ohio) 68.2% 383 48.8% 95.4%
356. Lynn U. (Fla.) 68.1% 534 20.6% 74.9%
357. Becker College at Worcester (Mass.) 68.1% 403 45.4% 62.5%
358. East Texas Baptist U. 67.6% 363 51.0% 56.0%
359. Texas Lutheran U. 67.6% 309 34.0% 55.9%
360. Clark Atlanta U. 66.8% 706 74.4% 84.7%
361. Gardner-Webb U. 66.5% 493 40.0% 67.1%
362. Central Methodist U., College of Liberal Arts and Sciences 66.4% 331 47.1% 60.5%
363. Keystone College 66.4% 307 45.0% 92.0%
364. Mount Ida College 66.3% 358 41.3% 68.5%
364. Muskingum U. 66.3% 384 50.0% 76.4%
366. U. of Charleston 65.8% 332 59.9% 60.8%
367. Concordia U. Chicago 65.6% 300 47.7% 53.9%
368. U. of the Cumberlands 65.6% 403 53.8% 66.3%
369. U. of Dubuque 65.5% 443 52.6% 77.9%
370. Delaware Valley U. 65.2% 489 33.1% 75.7%
371. Hastings College 65.1% 345 28.4% 69.6%
372. Hawaii Pacific U. 64.7% 509 36.5% 61.8%
373. Morningside College 64.7% 353 32.6% 56.8%
374. Bloomfield College 64.5% 428 83.6% 63.4%
375. Medaille College 64.2% 438 70.5% 61.9%
376. Tiffin U. 64.0% 500 45.6% 54.4%
377. Midland U. 63.9% 327 38.2% 60.2%
378. U. of Bridgeport 63.8% 531 59.9% 60.7%
379. Bethune-Cookman U. 63.4% 992 81.8% 63.7%
380. Marietta College 63.3% 357 35.0% 69.5%
381. Lindsey Wilson College 63.2% 512 64.1% 100.0%
382. Upper Iowa U. 62.6% 356 35.7% 69.9%
383. Notre Dame College (Ohio) 62.4% 326 47.9% 89.5%
384. Ohio Christian U. 62.2% 351 71.2% 65.4%
385. Franklin Pierce U. 62.1% 489 30.3% 84.3%
386. Campbellsville U. 61.3% 511 57.3% 72.7%
387. Long Island U. at Brooklyn 61.2% 829 70.6% 86.3%
388. Young Harris College 60.7% 448 42.6% 50.3%
389. Virginia Wesleyan U. 60.6% 406 41.9% 89.0%
390. New England College 59.9% 352 54.3% 95.7%
391. Everglades U. at Boca Raton (Fla.) 59.0% 510 69.6% 85.9%
392. Manchester U. 58.8% 441 42.0% 74.3%
393. Bethel U. (Tenn.) 58.6% 490 62.7% 57.4%
394. Ferrum College 58.5% 499 61.5% 73.3%
395. Wilmington U. (Del.) 57.6% 302 37.7% 100.0%
396. Columbia College (Mo.) 57.2% 627 66.8% 100.0%
397. Roosevelt U. 57.1% 600 50.5% 77.6%
398. Mars Hill U. 56.5% 404 56.2% 62.1%
399. U. of Pikeville 56.2% 351 69.5% 100.0%
400. Benedict College 56.1% 542 85.4% 100.0%
401. Reinhardt U. 55.9% 311 44.7% 90.0%
402. North Carolina Wesleyan College 55.7% 319 60.5% 53.3%
403. Indiana Tech 55.6% 699 67.8% 70.6%
404. Miles College 55.6% 486 89.5% 100.0%
405. Faulkner U. 54.5% 381 54.1% 100.0%
406. Methodist U. 53.7% 526 47.0% 55.9%
407. Southern New Hampshire U. 53.4% 1,975 55.0% 84.2%
408. Martin Methodist College 52.4% 447 51.2% 100.0%
409. William Penn U. 51.5% 336 57.7% 59.6%
410. Howard Payne U. 50.7% 300 45.3% 82.1%
411. Limestone College 50.7% 448 60.5% 52.0%
412. Livingstone College 49.9% 432 81.0% 64.3%
413. Chowan U. 48.3% 531 80.4% 59.8%
414. Wesley College (Del.) 48.2% 454 54.8% 56.7%
415. Shaw U. 47.9% 460 90.4% 59.3%
416. Stillman College 39.7% 321 74.8% 59.0%
Median for 416 institutions 79.8% 511 31.1% 71.6%

Notes: The retention rate shows the percentage of full-time, first-time bachelor’s-degree-seeking students who enrolled in a college in the fall of 2015 and were still enrolled at the same institution in the fall of 2016. The number in the entering cohort was adjusted to exclude students who died or were permanently disabled, or who served in the armed forces, or with a federal foreign-aid service or an official church mission. The percentage of Pell Grant recipients is for full-time, first-time students entering in the fall of 2015. The acceptance rate shows the percentage of applications that resulted in acceptances in the 2014-15 admissions cycle. Only degree-granting four-year public and nonprofit private colleges that were eligible to receive Title IV federal financial aid, that offered primarily bachelor’s degrees and above, that accepted at least 50 percent of applicants, and that had at least 300 first-time, full-time students in the fall of 2015 were considered for this list. Colleges with open-admissions policies are shown as having acceptance rates of 100 percent. Percentages are rounded, but institutions were ranked before rounding. Tied institutions are listed alphabetically. Questions or comments on the Chronicle List should be sent to Ruth Hammond.

Source: Chronicle analysis of U.S. Department of Education data

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A version of this article appeared in the January 18, 2019, issue.
We welcome your thoughts and questions about this article. Please email the editors or submit a letter for publication.
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