Schools Ranked by Retention Rate Page 6

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
501

Dakota State University

18 to 1 38% 74% 81% 38% 39% 9% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
502

Johnson University

14 to 1 57% 74% 58% 42% 89% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
503

Southwestern Assemblies of God University

14 to 1 41% 74% 28% 20% 87% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
504

Norwich University

12 to 1 56% 74% 57% 18% 93% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
505

Gardner-Webb University

13 to 1 52% 73% 53% 12% 58% 10% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
506

Clarion University of Pennsylvania

18 to 1 49% 73% 96% 43% 62% 8% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
507

Wilson College

10 to 1 39% 73% 45% 10% 71% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
508

Anderson University

16 to 1 49% 73% 55% 20% 87% 9% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
509

Columbia International University

14 to 1 62% 73% 34% 17% 91% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
510

North Greenville University

14 to 1 55% 73% 58% 34% 91% 6% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
511

King University

16 to 1 45% 73% 44% 17% 71% 8% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
512

Texas A & M University-Commerce

20 to 1 42% 73% 47% 15% 73% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
513

Eastern Mennonite University

10 to 1 61% 73% 62% 15% 95% 3% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
514

Concordia University-Irvine

15 to 1 61% 72% 59% 11% 81% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
515

Warner University

17 to 1 40% 72% 51% 36% 99% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
516

The University of West Florida

22 to 1 47% 72% 42% 19% 63% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
517

University of West Georgia

20 to 1 39% 72% 57% 31% 73% 9% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
518

Georgetown College

10 to 1 57% 72% 68% 13% 90% 5% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
519

Siena Heights University

12 to 1 37% 72% 77% 17% 71% 6% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
520

Stephens College

10 to 1 55% 72% 68% 16% 100% 9% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
521

Dallas Baptist University

13 to 1 58% 72% 42% 17% 86% 8% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
522

Wheeling Jesuit University

11 to 1 54% 72% 61% 15% 79% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
523

Saint Leo University

15 to 1 45% 71% 73% 17% 65% 10% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
524

McKendree University

14 to 1 56% 71% 63% 19% 75% 9% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
525

Oakland City University

12 to 1 63% 71% 55% 10% 24% 10% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
526

Alexandria Technical & Community College

24 to 1 64% 71% N/A N/A 53% 12% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
527

Evangel University

14 to 1 54% 71% 61% 24% 95% 7% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
528

Clarkson College

13 to 1 71% 71% 52% 39% 60% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
529

College of Saint Elizabeth

10 to 1 49% 71% 63% 13% 66% 8% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
530

Valley City State University

11 to 1 41% 71% 86% 52% 56% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
531

The University of Texas at Arlington

25 to 1 46% 71% 66% 26% 54% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
532

Utah State University

22 to 1 49% 71% 97% 29% 56% 6% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
533

North Florida Community College

17 to 1 52% 70% N/A N/A 60% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
534

Fort Hays State University

16 to 1 43% 70% 86% 41% 44% 7% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
535

Concordia University-Saint Paul

16 to 1 46% 70% 55% 15% 66% 6% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
536

Utica College

11 to 1 42% 70% 83% 13% 76% 8% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
537

Malone University

12 to 1 57% 70% 69% 21% 86% 5% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
538

Multnomah University

13 to 1 55% 70% 59% 29% 90% 3% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
539

Cumberland University

16 to 1 45% 70% 49% 29% 87% 11% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
540

Laurus College

9 to 1 88% 70% N/A N/A 74% 20% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
541

Pfeiffer University

12 to 1 43% 69% 47% 10% 75% 8% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
542

Northwest Christian University

12 to 1 53% 69% 68% 23% 91% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
543

Southern Wesleyan University

18 to 1 50% 69% 62% 22% 80% 12% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
544

LeTourneau University

12 to 1 57% 69% 45% 14% 66% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
545

West Virginia Junior College-Morgantown

25 to 1 53% 69% N/A N/A 88% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
546

Bethesda University

10 to 1 77% 68% N/A N/A 58% 2% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
547

Jacksonville University

14 to 1 41% 68% 54% 12% 68% 10% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
548

Brigham Young University-Idaho

25 to 1 61% 68% 100% 47% 60% 3% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
549

Crown College

18 to 1 56% 68% 53% 15% 80% 6% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
550

Daniel Webster College

16 to 1 49% 68% 62% 18% 70% 8% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
551

Southeastern University

20 to 1 39% 67% 46% 26% 77% 9% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
552

Lincoln Christian University

13 to 1 61% 67% 60% 36% 84% 8% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
553

Belhaven University

11 to 1 47% 67% 51% 9% 93% 6% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
554

Faith Evangelical College & Seminary

15 to 1 80% 67% N/A N/A 76% 7% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
555

Toccoa Falls College

13 to 1 47% 66% 45% 20% 93% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
556

University of Charleston

14 to 1 47% 66% 52% 16% 89% 12% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
557

Cleary University

11 to 1 52% 65% 72% 46% 100% 7% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
558

Bryan College-Dayton

14 to 1 57% 65% 46% 24% 60% 7% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
559

Concordia University-Chicago

15 to 1 50% 62% 50% 7% 89% 4% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
560

Graceland University-Lamoni

16 to 1 52% 62% 48% 13% 82% 9% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
561

Southern New Hampshire University

30 to 1 58% 61% 92% 21% 52% 8% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
562

Bristol University

15 to 1 89% 60% 46% 26% 35% 12% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
563

Brenau University

11 to 1 48% 59% 66% 9% 78% 7% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
564

Park University

17 to 1 43% 59% 40% 11% 37% 10% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
565

Grace Bible College

13 to 1 60% 56% 81% 44% 83% 3% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
566

Southeastern Baptist College

6 to 1 80% 40% N/A N/A 21% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
567

Virginia Baptist College

5 to 1 100% 25% N/A N/A 38% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
568

Averett University-Non-Traditional Programs

7 to 1 100% N/A 55% 17% 34% 11% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
569

Baptist Health System School of Health Professions

14 to 1 90% N/A N/A N/A 83% 4% N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
570

Baptist Missionary Association Theological Seminary

3 to 1 50% N/A 70% 70% 90% N/A N/A N/A
,
N/AN/A
571

University of Western States

16 to 1 88% N/A N/A N/A 56% N/A 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