Highest first-year retention – U.S. universities

These 50 U.S. universities rank highest by full-time first-year retention, drawn from 2065 institutions with reported data in the most recent U.S. Department of Education release (2024-25). Agape College of Business and Science (Fresno, CA) leads at 100%.

#	Institution	First-year retention
1	Agape College of Business and ScienceCA · Private	100%
2	Alaska Bible CollegeAK · Private	100%
3	American Baptist CollegeTN · Private	100%
4	American College of Healthcare SciencesOR · Private for-profit	100%
5	American Islamic CollegeIL · Private	100%
6	American Medical Sciences CenterCA · Private for-profit	100%
7	American University of Health SciencesCA · Private for-profit	100%
8	Arizona College of Nursing-ClevelandOH · Private for-profit	100%
9	Arizona College of Nursing-OntarioCA · Private for-profit	100%
10	Arizona State University Digital ImmersionAZ · Public	100%
11	Bais Medrash of Dexter ParkNY · Private	100%
12	Bethlehem College & SeminaryMN · Private	100%
13	Beulah Heights UniversityGA · Private	100%
14	Bryant & Stratton College-AlbanyNY · Private	100%
15	Bryant & Stratton College-Virginia BeachVA · Private	100%
16	Cabarrus College of Health SciencesNC · Private	100%
17	Cambridge CollegeMA · Private	100%
18	Career Networks InstituteCA · Private for-profit	100%
19	Carolina College of Biblical StudiesNC · Private	100%
20	Central Ohio Technical CollegeOH · Public	100%
21	Chamberlain University-CaliforniaCA · Private for-profit	100%
22	Chamberlain University-IndianaIN · Private for-profit	100%
23	Chamberlain University-VirginiaVA · Private for-profit	100%
24	Charter Oak State CollegeCT · Public	100%
25	Clark State CollegeOH · Public	100%
26	College of AthensGA · Private	100%
27	College of Biblical Studies-HoustonTX · Private	100%
28	College of Southern IdahoID · Public	100%
29	Congregation Talmidei Mesivta Tiferes Shmiel AleksanderNY · Private	100%
30	Criswell CollegeTX · Private	100%
31	Curtis Institute of MusicPA · Private	100%
32	Davis CollegeNY · Private	100%
33	DeVry University-FloridaFL · Private for-profit	100%
34	DeVry University-New JerseyNJ · Private for-profit	100%
35	Doral CollegeFL · Private	100%
36	EDP University of Puerto Rico-HumacaoPR · Private	100%
37	EDP University of Puerto Rico-ManatiPR · Private	100%
38	Eagle Gate College-MurrayUT · Private for-profit	100%
39	Felbry CollegeOH · Private for-profit	100%
40	Front Range Community CollegeCO · Public	100%
41	Grace School of TheologyTX · Private	100%
42	Great Northern UniversityWA · Private	100%
43	Heritage Bible CollegeNC · Private	100%
44	Herzing University-TampaFL · Private	100%
45	Humphreys University-Stockton and Modesto CampusesCA · Private	100%
46	Ilisagvik CollegeAK · Public	100%
47	Kehilath Yakov Rabbinical SeminaryNY · Private	100%
48	Keser Torah-Mayan HatalmudNJ · Private	100%
49	Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe UniversityWI · Public	100%
50	Manna UniversityNC · Private	100%

A data ranking, not an Ibex endorsement or quality rating. Ranked solely on the metric named above using the most recent College Scorecard & IPEDS release, which lags the current academic year by 2–3 years. Institutions that do not report this metric are excluded. Figures and peer context appear on each institution’s profile.

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Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard & IPEDS (most recent release, 2024-25), with NSF NCSES (HERD), the Clery Act & EADA collections, Census ACS, BLS Employment Projections, WICHE & the FSA Direct Loan Dashboard. Compiled by Ibex Insights. For informational benchmarking only, not financial, investment, or accreditation advice. See the methodology.