Best Colleges: Average Freshmen Retention Rates: Master's Universities (Midwest)

As many as one in three first-year students doesn't make it back for sophomore year. The reasons run the gamut, of course, from family problems to loneliness to academic struggles to a lack of money. If schools you're considering have a low freshman retention rate, you'll want to ask the admissions office why. Some colleges do a great job of taking care of their freshmen; some don't. The retention rates shown below, from lowest to highest, are the average proportion of freshmen entering starting in 2005 thru 2008 who returned to school the following fall.

	Average freshman retention rate:
Xavier University Cincinnati, OH	88.0%
Bradley University Peoria, IL	87.8%
University of Wisconsin--La Crosse La Crosse, WI	87.5%
Butler University Indianapolis, IN	87.2%
Creighton University Omaha, NE	87.0%
Rockhurst University Kansas City, MO	86.3%
Drake University Des Moines, IA	86.2%
Truman State University Kirksville, MO	86.0%
John Carroll University University Heights, OH	85.0%
Bethel University St. Paul, MN	85.0%
Franciscan University of Steubenville Steubenville, OH	84.2%
Valparaiso University Valparaiso, IN	83.8%
Grand Valley State University Allendale, MI	83.8%
Elmhurst College Elmhurst, IL	83.2%
University of Northern Iowa Cedar Falls, IA	82.2%
Baldwin-Wallace College Berea, OH	82.2%
University of Wisconsin--Eau Claire Eau Claire, WI	82.0%
Indiana Wesleyan University Marion, IN	81.8%
Hamline University St. Paul, MN	81.5%
University of Evansville Evansville, IN	81.0%
Augsburg College Minneapolis, MN	81.0%
Drury University Springfield, MO	81.0%
Eastern Illinois University Charleston, IL	80.8%
University of Nebraska--Kearney Kearney, NE	80.5%
Dominican University River Forest, IL	80.2%
University of Michigan--Dearborn Dearborn, MI	80.2%
College of St. Scholastica Duluth, MN	80.0%
Maryville University of St. Louis St Louis, MO	80.0%
Cardinal Stritch University Milwaukee, WI	79.8%
University of Minnesota--Duluth Duluth, MN	79.5%
St. Catherine University St. Paul, MN	78.8%
Webster University St. Louis, MO	78.8%
North Central College Naperville, IL	78.5%
Minnesota State University--Mankato Mankato, MN	78.0%
Lewis University Romeoville, IL	77.8%
St. Ambrose University Davenport, IA	77.8%
Concordia University Wisconsin Mequon, WI	77.8%
William Woods University Fulton, MO	77.5%
University of St. Francis Joliet, IL	77.2%
Walsh University North Canton, OH	77.2%
Madonna University Livonia, MI	77.0%
University of Findlay Findlay, OH	76.5%
Benedictine University Lisle, IL	76.2%
University of Detroit Mercy Detroit, MI	76.2%
University of Wisconsin--Stevens Point Stevens Point, WI	76.0%
University of Wisconsin--Whitewater Whitewater, WI	76.0%
College of Mount St. Joseph Cincinnati, OH	75.8%
University of Wisconsin--Platteville Platteville, WI	75.8%
North Park University Chicago, IL	75.5%
Malone University Canton, OH	75.5%
Mount Marty College Yankton, SD	75.5%
Carroll University Waukesha, WI	75.5%
Otterbein College Westerville, OH	75.2%
University of Illinois--Springfield Springfield, IL	75.2%
University of Wisconsin--Oshkosh Oshkosh, WI	75.2%
Anderson University Anderson, IN	75.0%
Capital University Columbus, OH	75.0%
Spring Arbor University Spring Arbor, MI	74.8%
Benedictine College Atchison, KS	74.5%
Olivet Nazarene University Bourbonnais, IL	74.5%
Pittsburg State University Pittsburg, KS	74.5%
Aquinas College Grand Rapids, MI	74.5%
Western Illinois University Macomb, IL	74.2%
Eastern Michigan University Ypsilanti, MI	74.2%
Concordia University Chicago River Forest, IL	74.0%
Southern Illinois University--Edwardsville Edwardsville, IL	74.0%
St. Xavier University Chicago, IL	73.8%
Missouri State University Springfield, MO	73.5%
Marian University Fond du Lac, WI	73.5%
University of Michigan--Flint Flint, MI	73.2%
Alverno College Milwaukee, WI	73.2%
University of Wisconsin--River Falls River Falls, WI	73.2%
University of Indianapolis Indianapolis, IN	73.0%
University of St. Francis Fort Wayne, IN	73.0%
Northern Michigan University Marquette, MI	73.0%
Concordia University--St. Paul St. Paul, MN	72.5%
Winona State University Winona, MN	72.2%
University of Nebraska--Omaha Omaha, NE	72.2%
St. Cloud State University St. Cloud, MN	72.0%
Youngstown State University Youngstown, OH	72.0%
Viterbo University La Crosse, WI	72.0%
University of Wisconsin--Stout Menomonie, WI	71.8%
Lakeland College Plymouth, WI	71.5%
University of Mary Bismarck, ND	71.2%
Ashland University Ashland, OH	71.2%
Ursuline College Pepper Pike, OH	71.2%
Edgewood College Madison, WI	71.2%
Ferris State University Big Rapids, MI	71.0%
Marygrove College Detroit, MI	71.0%
University of Central Missouri Warrensburg, MO	71.0%
Southwest Baptist University Bolivar, MO	71.0%
Emporia State University Emporia, KS	70.8%
Southeast Missouri State University Cape Girardeau, MO	70.5%
Muskingum University New Concord, OH	70.2%
Cornerstone University Grand Rapids, MI	70.0%
Bemidji State University Bemidji, MN	70.0%
Saginaw Valley State University University Center, MI	69.2%
Minnesota State University--Moorhead Moorhead, MN	69.2%
Wayne State College Wayne, NE	69.2%
Oakland City University Oakland City, IN	69.0%
Calumet College of St. Joseph Whiting, IN	69.0%
MidAmerica Nazarene University Olathe, KS	68.8%
Southwest Minnesota State University Marshall, MN	68.5%
Southwestern College Winfield, KS	68.2%
Lawrence Technological University Southfield, MI	68.2%
Aurora University Aurora, IL	68.0%
Graceland University Lamoni, IA	68.0%
Mount Mary College Milwaukee, WI	68.0%
Silver Lake College Manitowoc, WI	67.8%
Roosevelt University Chicago, IL	67.5%
University of Wisconsin--Superior Superior, WI	67.5%
Heidelberg University Tiffin, OH	67.2%
Fort Hays State University Hays, KS	67.0%
Avila University Kansas City, MO	67.0%
Northeastern Illinois University Chicago, IL	66.5%
Lindenwood University St. Charles, MO	66.0%
Minot State University Minot, ND	65.5%
Washburn University Topeka, KS	64.8%
Tiffin University Tiffin, OH	63.5%
University of St. Mary Leavenworth, KS	63.2%
University of Southern Indiana Evansville, IN	63.0%
Indiana University--South Bend South Bend, IN	62.5%
Indiana University Northwest Gary, IN	62.2%
Purdue University--Calumet Hammond, IN	62.2%
Siena Heights University Adrian, MI	62.0%
Fontbonne University St. Louis, MO	62.0%
Indiana University-Purdue University--Fort Wayne Fort Wayne, IN	61.8%
Indiana University Southeast New Albany, IN	61.8%
Rockford College Rockford, IL	61.5%
Ohio Dominican University Columbus, OH	61.2%
Newman University Wichita, KS	60.8%
National-Louis University Chicago, IL	60.0%
Park University Parkville, MO	59.0%
Missouri Baptist University St. Louis, MO	58.5%
Friends University Wichita, KS	58.3%
Columbia College Columbia, MO	57.5%
Davenport University Grand Rapids, MI	55.0%
Chicago State University Chicago, IL	54.3%

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Best Colleges: Average Freshmen Retention Rates: Master's Universities (Midwest)

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