Schools Ranked by Retention Rate Page 5

A college's retention rate reflects the student body's overall interest in the college. This figure can explain many factors that compose the attractiveness of a college, including the quality of its teaching staff, the relevance of its curriculum, and the perceived value of what is being taught. The retention rate figures are provided by the NCES database. The NCES defines retention rate as the percentage of first-time bachelor's (or equivalent) degree-seeking undergraduates from fall 2011 who enrolled again in fall 2012.

The NCES database did not have retention rate figures for all of the colleges on our list. We did not, however, want to penalize those colleges without data. To that end, we simply excluded those schools from the rankings in this category. Read more about our ranking methodology here.

What is a College Retention Rate?

Per the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) website, retention rate is the percentage of a school's first-time, first-year undergraduate students who continue at that school the next year. Put more simply, though, retention rates are a good indication of how many undergraduate students start at a college and continue their education at that college.

When evaluating a school based on retention rate, it is important to note the effect transfer students have on the rate. A student who starts at a College A, then transfers to College B for sophomore year will cause a negative retention rate for the College A. Further, that student will not even be a factor into the retention rate of College B. Additionally, the numbers can be even further skewed when considering community college versus destination schools. Where many community colleges have positioned themselves as a jumping-off point for college students, so-called destination schools (think Ivy League schools) have a high retention rate because of how hard students work to get in. Both are acceptable forms of education, but where a destination school will have close to a 99% retention rate, a community college will have a much, much lower number, due mainly to their positioning as a place from which you may transfer credits to the school that you want to ultimately graduate from.

Because of all these mitigating factors, a college retention rate is just one of the many factors to weigh when choosing a university to attend.

Why do Students Drop Out of College?

Though we seldom like to think about it, there are times when students drop out of college. It's a lot more common than you might think. According to the 2015 U.S. Census, more than 25% of people in their 30s have attended college at some point, but do not have a degree. Per a 2012 article from Reuters, the Harvard Graduate School of Education's "Pathways to Prosperity" study shows that just 56% of college students complete a four-year degree within six years. Only 29% of associate degree seekers complete their two-year program within three years. The most frequent reasons for dropping out include not being prepared for the rigors of academic work, inability to reach an education-life balance, family issues, and financial circumstances.

The most controllable, most frequent source of stress for students is money. Lower income students and those working full time as they attend classes have a higher dropout rate. You can prepare for this by filling out a FAFSA and applying for student aid. If you plan to work while attending classes, make sure that your employer knows what your class schedule is like and that you will be unable to pick up extra hours during those times. Communication is key for mitigating both financial and family crises, so it's a good idea to make sure all of the people in your life know what your priorities are.

Why Should You Care about College Retention Rates?

Frankly, though a college's retention rate is just one key data point to consider, the rate itself offers a treasure trove of information for the discerning incoming freshman. Retention rates offer insight into:

  • How many incoming freshmen become sophomores: According to "The Murky Middle". If a student will struggle, it is likely to be in their first year of college, before their life has fully integrated the demands of a college education.
  • How many students maintain interest in an educational institution after enrolling: No one leaves Harvard without a fight, but the same student may not give a second thought to leaving a local community college. As mentioned in an article on Higher Ed Live, a high retention rate can be a sign that a university's administrative team gives careful consideration to meeting or exceeding student needs, including class size, class availability, and cost-benefit. This is also an indication of how strong a university's brand is. The stronger the brand, the more pull it will give your resume.
  • How many scholars end up losing time and money due to transferring credits: While on the surface, transferring credits to the school of your choice may seem like a sure-fire bet, sometimes credits do not transfer. U.S. News & World Report offers some great advice on how to transfer credits, but remember: Great advice is not the same thing as a guarantee.

How are Colleges Improving Their Retention Rates?

Colleges are under increasing pressure to improve their student retention rates, and raising this rate is a huge undertaking. To be frank, it is in a college's best interest to have a high retention rate. After all, those who stay are more likely to graduate.

In "Retention And Student Success: Implementing Strategies That Make A Difference," some more common efforts by colleges include implementing writing centers, academic resource centers, and outreach and engagement programs. Offerings such as these help students to feel like they are a part of the university community and that they can ask for and receive help easily. Further, the article recommends that universities that are concerned about retention focus on how to roll out the behaviors of successful students to the entire student body. Whether it's something as simple as making degree plans and requirements more clear or something more complex, like interacting more often and more meaningfully with students, colleges know that it is up to them to provide the information and engagement necessary to garner and keep student interest.

The same article offers many examples of schools making efforts toward increasing their retention rates:

  • Mercy College in New York City created the Personalized Achievement Contract program (PACT) to help students learn to navigate the college environment and its complexities. Established in 2009, PACT is credited with raising Mercy's retention rate by 15%.
  • The University of South Carolina put more emphasis on its Student Success Center and it's Academic Coaching and Engagement program (ACE). The university encouraged advisors from all disciplines–resident, academic, Greek life, and more–to refer students who may be at risk of dropping out early. Such efforts lowered the university's attrition rate by 3% within one academic year.

Colleges everywhere recognize that GPA is an important indicator of whether a student is likely to continue with their education. "The Murky Middle" discusses in depth how the 2.2-3.0 GPA accounts for 45% of those who drop out in their first year. These students are doing well enough–no academic probation, but no dean's list either. Because they are not garnering any attention, though, when they begin to struggle, they are unlikely to be aware of resources that can help them stay in school. While there are still studies being completed on this topic, it reinforces the notion that communicating early and often with advisors and faculty is key to retaining students.

Featured Online Programs

Rank School Student to
Faculty Ratio
Graduation
Rate
Retention
Rate
Acceptance
Rate
Enrollment
Rate
Institutional
Aid Rate
Default
Rate
401

Lancaster Bible College

14 to 1 73% 79% 68% 42% 90% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
402

Abilene Christian University

15 to 1 61% 79% 50% 10% 94% 9% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
403

Champlain College

14 to 1 58% 79% 66% 10% 73% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
404

Central Washington University

20 to 1 52% 79% 82% 34% 56% 7% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
405

West Virginia University

20 to 1 57% 79% 86% 31% 64% 9% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
406

International Baptist College and Seminary

4 to 1 60% 79% N/A N/A 91% 2% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
407

Vanguard University of Southern California

15 to 1 56% 78% 68% 25% 81% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
408

Bethel College-Indiana

12 to 1 64% 78% 66% 14% 84% 9% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
409

Goshen College

10 to 1 66% 78% 66% 22% 90% 4% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
410

Buena Vista University

9 to 1 51% 78% 68% 16% 85% 7% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
411

Central College

12 to 1 67% 78% 64% 10% 94% 4% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
412

Mount Mercy University

14 to 1 65% 78% 61% 21% 86% 4% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
413

North Central Kansas Technical College

10 to 1 79% 78% N/A N/A 57% 14% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
414

Midway University

15 to 1 56% 78% 46% 18% 86% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
415

Northwood University-Michigan

14 to 1 57% 78% 69% 16% 83% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
416

Webster University

13 to 1 62% 78% 56% 21% 79% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
417

Monroe College

18 to 1 53% 78% 45% 28% 92% 10% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
418

Roberts Wesleyan College

13 to 1 62% 78% 66% 18% 79% 6% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
419

The Sage Colleges

12 to 1 60% 78% 54% 11% 90% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
420

SUNY College at Cortland

16 to 1 73% 78% 51% 11% 61% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
421

North Dakota State University-Main Campus

18 to 1 54% 78% 94% 48% 56% 3% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
422

The University of Findlay

16 to 1 56% 78% 76% 23% 92% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
423

Walsh University

13 to 1 60% 78% 80% 30% 85% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
424

Oregon Institute of Technology

19 to 1 46% 78% 57% 23% 47% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
425

DeSales University

13 to 1 70% 78% 78% 16% 79% 4% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
426

La Salle University

12 to 1 63% 78% 75% 13% 85% 4% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
427

Widener University-Main Campus

12 to 1 57% 78% 68% 16% 81% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
428

Washington State University

15 to 1 64% 78% 80% 24% 61% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
429

Viterbo University

11 to 1 51% 78% 66% 20% 85% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
430

Milligan College

9 to 1 63% 78% 65% 31% 87% 5% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
431

Stetson University

13 to 1 64% 77% 63% 9% 98% 5% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
432

Northwest Nazarene University

15 to 1 49% 77% 56% 17% 80% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
433

Olivet Nazarene University

14 to 1 61% 77% 77% 18% 89% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
434

University of Illinois at Springfield

14 to 1 48% 77% 63% 18% 65% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
435

Baker University

12 to 1 60% 77% 82% 21% 73% 6% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
436

Loyola University New Orleans

12 to 1 66% 77% 90% 19% 92% 5% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
437

University of Minnesota-Morris

12 to 1 65% 77% 60% 11% 74% 6% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
438

Rivier University

18 to 1 43% 77% 57% 11% 60% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
439

University of North Carolina at Greensboro

17 to 1 56% 77% 59% 26% 55% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
440

Pacific University

11 to 1 71% 77% 79% 16% 93% 3% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
441

California University of Pennsylvania

21 to 1 50% 77% 85% 26% 62% 8% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
442

Carlow University

11 to 1 50% 77% 81% 24% 87% 5% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
443

Wilkes University

15 to 1 59% 77% 82% 18% 84% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
444

University of South Dakota

17 to 1 52% 77% 74% 31% 54% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
445

University of Memphis

14 to 1 45% 77% 40% 13% 76% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
446

Trevecca Nazarene University

17 to 1 51% 77% 73% 31% 77% 6% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
447

Shenandoah University

10 to 1 55% 77% 82% 22% 59% 7% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
448

Maranatha Baptist University

13 to 1 44% 77% 69% 55% 65% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
449

University of Wyoming

14 to 1 55% 77% 96% 36% 71% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
450

California Baptist University

18 to 1 60% 76% 65% 26% 85% 8% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
451

The Baptist College of Florida

11 to 1 51% 76% 52% 29% 97% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
452

University of St Francis

11 to 1 65% 76% 51% 13% 86% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
453

Clarke University

9 to 1 57% 76% 72% 14% 91% 6% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
454

Frostburg State University

16 to 1 51% 76% 63% 24% 56% 10% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
455

Concordia University-Nebraska

14 to 1 59% 76% 78% 25% 73% 4% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
456

Plymouth State University

17 to 1 58% 76% 74% 20% 61% 5% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
457

Pamlico Community College

9 to 1 72% 76% N/A N/A 39% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
458

Alvernia University

12 to 1 51% 76% 74% 24% 87% 8% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
459

Chatham University

10 to 1 56% 76% 55% 14% 64% 3% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
460

Columbia College

13 to 1 50% 76% 89% 36% 81% 9% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
461

South Dakota State University

17 to 1 54% 76% 92% 44% 58% 5% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
462

Texas Woman's University

18 to 1 41% 76% 86% 24% 67% 8% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
463

Concordia University-Wisconsin

12 to 1 58% 76% 67% 21% 75% 6% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
464

University of Wisconsin-Stout

20 to 1 57% 76% 93% 49% 44% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
465

Hobe Sound Bible College

12 to 1 56% 75% N/A N/A 55% 11% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
466

Eastern Illinois University

15 to 1 58% 75% 50% 13% 73% 6% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
467

North Park University

11 to 1 52% 75% 49% 9% 89% 8% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
468

Anderson University

11 to 1 54% 75% 60% 16% 89% 5% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
469

Northwest Iowa Community College

12 to 1 56% 75% N/A N/A 30% 11% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
470

University of Saint Mary

8 to 1 41% 75% 49% 14% 63% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
471

University of New England

13 to 1 65% 75% 85% 14% 80% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
472

Mount St Mary's University

12 to 1 69% 75% 67% 8% 95% 4% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
473

McDaniel College

11 to 1 70% 75% 80% 15% 98% 4% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
474

William Woods University

11 to 1 52% 75% 73% 21% 90% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
475

New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology

12 to 1 49% 75% 24% 21% 73% 6% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
476

SUNY College of Technology at Delhi

16 to 1 43% 75% 54% 16% 65% 13% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
477

University of Mary

13 to 1 60% 75% 96% 46% 86% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
478

Minot State University

12 to 1 43% 75% 57% 41% 59% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
479

Ashland University

14 to 1 58% 75% 77% 19% 59% 5% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
480

Liberty University

18 to 1 47% 75% 22% 10% 84% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
481

University of Wisconsin-Green Bay

23 to 1 46% 75% 85% 37% 47% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
482

Wisconsin Lutheran College

12 to 1 62% 75% 92% 38% 89% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
483

University of Wisconsin-Platteville

22 to 1 54% 75% 94% 46% 47% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
484

Northern Arizona University

18 to 1 52% 74% 77% 17% 64% 9% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
485

Simpson University

9 to 1 49% 74% 52% 14% 94% 6% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
486

Chaminade University of Honolulu

11 to 1 47% 74% 82% 28% 81% 9% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
487

Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College

6 to 1 50% 74% 59% 26% 83% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
488

Morningside College

13 to 1 55% 74% 56% 8% 96% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
489

Friends University

11 to 1 41% 74% 58% 22% 87% 10% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
490

MidAmerica Nazarene University

7 to 1 55% 74% 61% 21% 85% 7% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
491

Framingham State University

15 to 1 56% 74% 71% 18% 57% 7% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
492

Minnesota State University-Mankato

23 to 1 49% 74% 67% 24% 48% 6% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
493

Avila University

10 to 1 55% 74% 51% 10% 78% 9% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
494

SUNY Polytechnic Institute

17 to 1 49% 74% 60% 15% 69% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
495

Piedmont International University

7 to 1 41% 74% 24% 19% 68% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
496

Queens University of Charlotte

9 to 1 53% 74% 67% 13% 86% 7% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
497

Muskingum University

14 to 1 52% 74% 74% 18% 83% 6% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
498

Concordia University-Portland

17 to 1 48% 74% 51% 8% 100% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
499

Summit University of Pennsylvania

11 to 1 59% 74% 61% 32% 74% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
500

Eastern University

10 to 1 61% 74% 52% 13% 88% 8% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A

Methodology

For each college, we gathered data for nine different metrics: the number of full-time faculty per part-time faculty member; institutional financial aid, acceptance, retention, graduation, job placement, and default rates; years accredited; and undergraduate tuition. Learn more