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Deciding whether to return to the same college after freshman year is tough for some students.
Among the 1,173 ranked colleges that submitted these data to U.S. News in an annual survey, the average freshman retention rate for students entering in the fall between 2012 and 2015 was 78 percent.
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At the 16 ranked schools, including ties, with the highest average freshman retention rates during that time period, at least 98 percent of students returned for their sophomore year. Topping the list, at 99 percent, are two Ivy League universities — Columbia University and Yale University — along with the University of Chicago.
The schools on the list are among some of the highest-ranked National Universities — which offer a range of undergraduate as well as master’s and doctoral programs — and National Liberal Arts Colleges, which focus on undergraduate education and award at least half of their degrees in liberal arts disciplines. Several of them are also among the universities with the lowest acceptance rates.
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In contrast, at some schools with low freshman retention rates, students are more likely to leave after their freshman year. At the bottom of the list is Post University in Connecticut, with an average freshman retention rate of 41 percent for students entering in fall 2012 through 2015, and Harris-Stowe State University in Missouri, with a 47 percent rate.
Below are the 16 ranked schools with the highest average freshman retention rates for students entering in the fall between 2012 and 2015. Unranked schools, which did not meet certain criteria required by U.S. News to be numerically ranked, were not considered for this report.
| School name (state) | Average freshman retention rate (2012-2015 fall entering classes) | U.S. News rank and category |
| Columbia University (NY) | 99% | 5 (tie), National Universities |
| University of Chicago | 99% | 3 (tie), National Universities |
| Yale University (CT) | 99% | 3 (tie), National Universities |
| Amherst College (MA) | 98% | 2, National Liberal Arts Colleges |
| Brown University (RI) | 98% | 14 (tie), National Universities |
| Dartmouth College (NH) | 98% | 11 (tie), National Universities |
| Harvey Mudd College (CA) | 98% | 12 (tie), National Liberal Arts Colleges |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | 98% | 5 (tie), National Universities |
| Northwestern University (IL) | 98% | 11 (tie), National Universities |
| Pomona College (CA) | 98% | 6 (tie), National Liberal Arts Colleges |
| Princeton University (NJ) | 98% | 1, National Universities |
| Stanford University (CA) | 98% | 5 (tie), National Universities |
| United States Naval Academy (MD) | 98% | 21 (tie), National Liberal Arts Colleges |
| University of Notre Dame (IN) | 98% | 18 (tie), National Universities |
| University of Pennsylvania | 98% | 8, National Universities |
| Williams College (MA) | 98% | 1, National Liberal Arts Colleges |
Don’t see your school on the list? Access the U.S. News College Compass to find retention data, complete rankings and much more. Sign up for the U.S. News Extra Help: College Admissions free email newsletter to receive expert advice twice a month.
U.S. News surveyed more than 1,800 colleges and universities for our 2017 survey of undergraduate programs. Schools self-reported myriad data regarding their academic programs and the makeup of their student body, among other areas, making U.S. News’ data the most accurate and detailed collection of college facts and figures of its kind. While U.S. News uses much of this survey data to rank schools for our annual Best Colleges rankings, the data can also be useful when examined on a smaller scale. U.S. News will now produce lists of data, separate from the overall rankings, meant to provide students and parents a means to find which schools excel, or have room to grow, in specific areas that are important to them. While the data come from the schools themselves, these lists are not related to, and have no influence over, U.S. News’ rankings of Best Colleges, Best Graduate Schools or Best Online Programs. The freshman retention rate data above are correct as of Nov. 14, 2017.
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Colleges Where Freshmen Are Most Likely to Return originally appeared on usnews.com
