First-year retention rates measure the percentage of first-year students who come back to campus for a second year. This is an indicator of how happy students are generally with their decision to attend that institution as less students decide to drop out or transfer to another school.
| Rank | Institution | First Year Retention Rate | Acceptance Rate | SAT Score | Your Est. Net Price Avg. Net Price | Median Starting Salary | Save |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ohio State University-Main Campus | 94 | 60.57 | 1,310 – 1,450 | 19783 | 51438 |
#1
Ohio State University-Main Campus
|
| 2 | Case Western Reserve University | 92 | 36.54 | 1,430 – 1,530 | 44000 | 75613 |
Case Western Reserve University
|
| 3 | The Modern College of Design | 92 | 91.7 | -- | 39422 | 51847 | |
| 4 | Kenyon College | 91.6 | 31.03 | 1,380 – 1,490 | 46859 | 46627 |
Kenyon College
|
| 5 | Cleveland Institute of Music | 91 | 47.31 | -- | 29683 | 20170 |
#5
Cleveland Institute of Music
|
| 6 | Miami University-Oxford | 90.1 | 75.4 | 1,220 – 1,380 | 28229 | 49773 |
#6
Miami University-Oxford
|
| 7 | University of Dayton | 89.1 | 65.45 | 1,210 – 1,400 | 32794 | 62477 |
#7
University of Dayton
|
| 8 | Denison University | 89 | 17.39 | 1,350 – 1,480 | 43721 | 51352 |
Denison University
|
| 9 | Oberlin College | 89 | 34.18 | 1,380 – 1,520 | 51624 | 38871 |
Oberlin College
|
| 10 | Franciscan University of Steubenville | 88 | 58.36 | 1,110 – 1,350 | 23086 | 42037 |
#10
Franciscan University of Steubenville
|
| 11 | Cleveland Institute of Art | 86 | 61.35 | 1,050 – 1,310 | 30837 | 33148 |
#11
Cleveland Institute of Art
|
| 12 | University of Cincinnati-Main Campus | 85.34 | 85.29 | 1,180 – 1,350 | 24696 | 48310 |
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus
|
| 13 | Ohio Wesleyan University | 84.7 | 55.6 | 1,180 – 1,390 | 23006 | 42495 |
Ohio Wesleyan University
|
| 14 | Ohio University-Main Campus | 84.1 | 84.99 | 1,110 – 1,310 | 21907 | 48991 |
Ohio University-Main Campus
|
| 15 | Baldwin Wallace University | 83.84 | 75.7 | 1,090 – 1,320 | 27991 | 44972 |
Baldwin Wallace University
|
| 16 | Galen College of Nursing-Cincinnati | 83 | 50 | -- | 27714 | 59213 |
#16
Galen College of Nursing-Cincinnati
|
| 17 | John Carroll University | 83 | 80.9 | 1,200 – 1,390 | 30030 | 53187 |
John Carroll University
|
| 18 | The College of Wooster | 82 | 59.53 | 1,250 – 1,460 | 28004 | 43895 |
The College of Wooster
|
| 19 | Kent State University at Kent | 81.95 | 86.34 | 990 – 1,220 | 21278 | 40179 |
Kent State University at Kent
|
| 20 | Art Academy of Cincinnati | 81 | 34.49 | 740 – 1,170 | 33491 | 27483 |
#20
Art Academy of Cincinnati
|
| 21 | Ohio Northern University | 80 | 74.4 | 1,180 – 1,360 | 25941 | 62686 |
Ohio Northern University
|
| 22 | Otterbein University | 79.8 | 84.53 | 1,110 – 1,310 | 20457 | 44539 |
Otterbein University
|
| 23 | Columbus College of Art & Design | 79 | 67.66 | 970 – 1,190 | 31801 | 30590 |
Columbus College of Art & Design
|
| 24 | Kettering College | 78 | 76.54 | 1,010 – 1,180 | 22036 | 60692 |
Kettering College
|
| 25 | Xavier University | 77.47 | 86.41 | 1,110 – 1,330 | 33623 | 54758 |
Xavier University
|
| 26 | University of Toledo | 77.3 | 92.02 | 1,130 – 1,330 | 17844 | 44162 |
University of Toledo
|
| 27 | Walsh University | 76 | 70.74 | 1,040 – 1,280 | 23933 | 50090 |
#27
Walsh University
|
| 28 | Capital University | 75.6 | 70.22 | 960 – 1,210 | 22395 | 45767 |
Capital University
|
| 29 | Malone University | 75.6 | 75.86 | 970 – 1,180 | 22390 | 43056 |
Malone University
|
| 30 | Youngstown State University | 75.4 | 84.45 | 1,010 – 1,220 | 12757 | 37590 |
#30
Youngstown State University
|
| 31 | Ursuline College | 75 | 74.93 | 1,030 – 1,200 | 16350 | 45646 |
#31
Ursuline College
|
| 32 | Muskingum University | 74 | 81.84 | 930 – 1,110 | 19695 | 40536 |
Muskingum University
|
| 33 | Wilberforce University | 74 | 40.5 | 850 – 1,080 | 5533 | 35146 |
#33
Wilberforce University
|
| 34 | Wittenberg University | 73.6 | 72.35 | 1,060 – 1,300 | 23537 | 42437 |
#34
Wittenberg University
|
| 35 | University of Akron Main Campus | 73 | 59.67 | 930 – 1,210 | 14693 | 42269 |
University of Akron Main Campus
|
| 36 | Antioch College | 72 | 89.13 | 1,010 – 1,240 | 15964 | 32114 |
#36
Antioch College
|
| 37 | Mount Vernon Nazarene University | 72 | 84.15 | 990 – 1,230 | 22961 | 43046 |
Mount Vernon Nazarene University
|
| 38 | Shawnee State University | 72 | 68.91 | 980 – 1,190 | 13996 | 35080 |
Shawnee State University
|
| 39 | The University of Findlay | 72 | 83.37 | 1,010 – 1,240 | 27297 | 49757 |
The University of Findlay
|
| 40 | University of Mount Union | 72 | 78.2 | 960 – 1,220 | 23616 | 45919 |
University of Mount Union
|
| 41 | Hiram College | 71.86 | 93.53 | 890 – 1,170 | 21868 | 40270 |
Hiram College
|
| 42 | Mercy College of Ohio | 71 | 93.22 | 840 – 1,040 | 15311 | 61877 |
#42
Mercy College of Ohio
|
| 43 | Cleveland State University | 70.25 | 91.3 | 930 – 1,210 | 16230 | 44625 |
Cleveland State University
|
| 44 | Gods Bible School and College | 69 | 75.32 | 960 – 1,170 | 13252 | 29555 |
Gods Bible School and College
|
| 45 | Marietta College | 69 | 79.31 | 960 – 1,190 | 22007 | 51252 |
Marietta College
|
| 46 | Miami University-Middletown | 69 | 0 | -- | 10574 | 49773 | |
| 47 | University of Northwestern Ohio | 69 | 0 | -- | 21853 | 45639 | |
| 48 | Mount St. Joseph University | 68.7 | 59.12 | 1,020 – 1,270 | 17094 | 43595 |
Mount St. Joseph University
|
| 49 | Mount Carmel College of Nursing | 68 | 84.29 | 930 – 1,080 | 10065 | 60785 |
Mount Carmel College of Nursing
|
| 50 | Wright State University-Main Campus | 68 | 96.33 | 930 – 1,220 | 15254 | 42229 |
Wright State University-Main Campus
|
| 51 | Aultman College of Nursing and Health Sciences | 67 | 45.88 | 850 – 1,210 | 19523 | 59213 |
Aultman College of Nursing and Health Sciences
|
| 52 | Ohio University-Chillicothe Campus | 67 | 0 | -- | 6032 | 48991 | |
| 53 | Wilmington College | 65.4 | 92.4 | 890 – 1,150 | 26548 | 41889 |
Wilmington College
|
| 54 | James A. Rhodes State College | 65 | 0 | -- | 8628 | 38657 | |
| 55 | Kent State University at East Liverpool | 65 | 0 | -- | 14377 | 66389 | |
| 56 | Zane State College | 65 | 0 | -- | 8506 | 59423 | |
| 57 | Miami University-Hamilton | 64 | 0 | -- | 9786 | 49773 | |
| 58 | Ohio Dominican University | 64 | 94.23 | 1,040 – 1,310 | 21032 | 43933 |
Ohio Dominican University
|
| 59 | Ohio University-Eastern Campus | 63 | 0 | -- | 4730 | 48991 | |
| 60 | University of Cincinnati-Blue Ash College | 63 | 0 | -- | 15882 | 48310 | |
| 61 | Lake Erie College | 62.9 | 70.36 | 970 – 1,180 | 22892 | 43959 |
Lake Erie College
|
| 62 | Defiance College | 60.3 | 47.55 | 970 – 1,080 | 26298 | 39303 |
Defiance College
|
| 63 | Kent State University at Tuscarawas | 60.3 | 0 | -- | 12576 | 40179 | |
| 64 | Tiffin University | 60.28 | 80.05 | 870 – 1,090 | 26068 | 42475 |
Tiffin University
|
| 65 | DeVry University-Ohio | 60 | 100 | -- | 25001 | 42178 |
DeVry University-Ohio
|
| 66 | Ohio University-Zanesville Campus | 60 | 0 | -- | 5957 | 48991 | |
| 67 | Kent State University at Stark | 59.66 | 0 | -- | 10861 | 40179 | |
| 68 | Wright State University-Lake Campus | 58 | 99.85 | 930 – 1,180 | 11008 | 42229 |
Wright State University-Lake Campus
|
| 69 | Marion Technical College | 57 | 0 | -- | 7776 | 59213 | |
| 70 | Central State University | 56 | 98.61 | 800 – 970 | 11398 | 27173 |
Central State University
|
| 71 | University of Cincinnati-Clermont College | 55 | 90.13 | -- | 13264 | 55193 | |
| 72 | Ohio University-Southern Campus | 54 | 0 | -- | 6014 | 48991 | |
| 73 | Kent State University at Trumbull | 53.8 | 0 | -- | 11562 | 40179 | |
| 74 | Kent State University at Ashtabula | 53.41 | 0 | -- | 12653 | 40179 | |
| 75 | Kent State University at Salem | 53.28 | 0 | -- | 13301 | 40179 | |
| 76 | Bowling Green State University-Firelands | 53 | 0 | 930 – 1,110 | 15782 | 41281 | |
| 77 | University of Rio Grande | 52.08 | 0 | -- | 24061 | 34323 | |
| 78 | Ohio Christian University | 51 | 37.97 | 850 – 930 | 20290 | 34457 |
Ohio Christian University
|
| 79 | Cincinnati State Technical and Community College | 50 | 0 | -- | 4572 | 35314 | |
| 80 | Ohio University-Lancaster Campus | 50 | 0 | -- | 5854 | 48991 | |
| 81 | Kent State University at Geauga | 49.38 | 0 | -- | 11886 | 40179 | |
| 82 | Ohio State University-Lima Campus | 42 | 0 | -- | 12862 | 51438 | |
| 83 | Ohio State University-Marion Campus | 40 | 0 | -- | 13191 | 51438 | |
| 84 | Clark State College | 39 | 0 | -- | 11860 | 32341 | |
| 85 | Ohio State University-Mansfield Campus | 34 | 0 | -- | 15634 | 51438 | |
| 86 | Ohio State University-Newark Campus | 25 | 0 | -- | 14144 | 51438 | |
| 87 | American Institute of Alternative Medicine | 0 | 78.29 | -- | 37967 | 47719 | |
| 88 | Ashland University | 0 | 76.4 | 1,040 – 1,210 | 22610 | 47722 |
#88
Ashland University
|
| 89 | Bluffton University | 0 | 67.23 | 890 – 1,120 | 20429 | 41940 |
#89
Bluffton University
|
| 90 | Bowling Green State University-Main Campus | 0 | 80.96 | 1,010 – 1,240 | 24283 | 41281 |
Bowling Green State University-Main Campus
|
| 91 | Bryant & Stratton College-Parma | 0 | 64.13 | -- | 13168 | 27873 | |
| 92 | Cedarville University | 0 | 65.29 | 1,120 – 1,350 | 27150 | 47937 |
#92
Cedarville University
|
| 93 | Central Ohio Technical College | 0 | 0 | -- | 9115 | 59213 | |
| 94 | Chamberlain University-Ohio | 0 | 87.5 | -- | 31544 | 59213 |
#94
Chamberlain University-Ohio
|
| 95 | Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science | 0 | 60 | -- | 0 | 51562 | |
| 96 | Felbry College | 0 | 85.42 | -- | 57632 | 59213 |
#96
Felbry College
|
| 97 | Franklin University | 0 | 0 | -- | 25576 | 49189 | |
| 98 | Good Samaritan College of Nursing and Health Science | 0 | 45.74 | 1,010 – 1,110 | 17570 | 61177 | |
| 99 | Heidelberg University | 0 | 85.79 | 1,020 – 1,180 | 19447 | 41440 |
#99
Heidelberg University
|
| 100 | Herzing University-Akron | 0 | 94.57 | -- | 18434 | 35295 |
#100
Herzing University-Akron
|
| 101 | Lakewood University | 0 | 0 | -- | 9271 | 63721 | |
| 102 | Lorain County Community College | 0 | 0 | -- | 4126 | 33660 | |
| 103 | North Central State College | 0 | 0 | -- | 4065 | 59423 | |
| 104 | Professional Skills Institute | 0 | 83.12 | -- | 20389 | 44172 |
#104
Professional Skills Institute
|
| 105 | Sinclair Community College | 0 | 0 | -- | 5821 | 54939 | |
| 106 | The Christ College of Nursing and Health Sciences | 0 | 58.94 | 850 – 1,210 | 18892 | 64942 |
#106
The Christ College of Nursing and Health Sciences
|
| 107 | Valor Christian College | 0 | 0 | -- | 33371 | 50472 | |
| 108 | Washington State College of Ohio | 0 | 0 | -- | 8601 | 34205 |
School data is from 2023–2024 (top 500 results shown) for schools with at least 100 undergraduate students.
Join thousands of students and parents learning about finding the right college, admissions secrets, scholarships, financial aid, and more.