Colleges with the Highest Freshman Retention
Freshman-to-sophomore retention rate tells you something important: of the students who showed up, how many came back? High retention (90%+) suggests students are finding what they expected, getting the support they need, and not transferring out. Low retention (under 70%) is a flag worth investigating before you commit.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard
- 1
West Coast University-Orange County
California · Private for-profit
100%freshman retention - 2
American Baptist College
Tennessee · Private nonprofit
100%freshman retention - 3
DeVry University-New Jersey
New Jersey · Private for-profit
100%freshman retention - 4
Davis College
New York · Private nonprofit
100%freshman retention - 5S
Strayer University-Texas
Texas · Private for-profit
100%freshman retention - 6
Bethlehem College & Seminary
Minnesota · Private nonprofit
100%freshman retention - 7S
Strayer University-District of Columbia
Washington, D.C. · Private for-profit
100%freshman retention - 8P
Pacific Islands University
Guam · Private nonprofit
100%freshman retention - 9
Cambridge College
Massachusetts · Private nonprofit
100%freshman retention - 10H
Humphreys University-Stockton and Modesto Campuses
California · Private nonprofit
100%freshman retention - 11U
Universidad Teologica del Caribe
Puerto Rico · Private nonprofit
100%freshman retention - 12
Eagle Gate College-Murray
Utah · Private for-profit
100%freshman retention - 13
Mount Angel Seminary
Oregon · Private nonprofit
100%freshman retention - 14
Wade College
Texas · Private for-profit
100%freshman retention - 15K
Kehilath Yakov Rabbinical Seminary
New York · Private nonprofit
100%freshman retention - 16
St. John Vianney College Seminary
Florida · Private nonprofit
100%freshman retention - 17
Ottawa University-Online
Kansas · Private nonprofit
100%freshman retention - 18
West Coast University-Los Angeles
California · Private for-profit
100%freshman retention - 19
University of Management and Technology
Virginia · Private for-profit
100%freshman retention - 20S
Strayer University-Maryland
Maryland · Private for-profit
100%freshman retention - 21
Universidad Pentecostal Mizpa
Puerto Rico · Private nonprofit
100%freshman retention - 22A
American University of Health Sciences
California · Private for-profit
100%freshman retention - 23
American Islamic College
Illinois · Private nonprofit
100%freshman retention - 24
Chamberlain University-Indiana
Indiana · Private for-profit
100%freshman retention - 25
DeVry University-Florida
Florida · Private for-profit
100%freshman retention
Want this ranking, but for YOU?
One metric only tells part of the story. Take our 5-minute quiz and we’ll rank every school by how well it fits your specific profile — academics, cost, social life, outcomes, and environment.
Take the quiz