Less-Selective Colleges With the Highest and Lowest Retention Rates

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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4-year public institutions

Rank	Institution	Retention 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

Rank	Institution	Retention 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

Less-Selective Colleges With the Highest and Lowest Retention Rates

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