Freshman Retention Rate National Liberal Arts Colleges
As many as one in three first year students doesn't make it back for sophomore year. The reasons run the gamut, from family problems and loneliness to academic struggles and 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 freshman; some don't. The retention rates shown below, from highest to lowest, are the average proportion of freshmen entering starting in fall 2007 through fall 2010 who returned to school the following fall.
| Save | School | Average freshman retention rate |
|---|---|---|
|
Amherst College
Amherst, MA |
98% | |
|
Harvey Mudd College
Claremont, CA |
98% | |
|
Pomona College
Claremont, CA |
98% | |
|
Carleton College
Northfield, MN |
97% | |
|
Swarthmore College
Swarthmore, PA |
97% | |
|
United States Naval Academy
Annapolis, MD |
97% | |
|
Vassar College
Poughkeepsie, NY |
97% | |
|
Williams College
Williamstown, MA |
97% | |
|
Bowdoin College
Brunswick, ME |
96% | |
|
Claremont McKenna College
Claremont, CA |
96% | |
|
Davidson College
Davidson, NC |
96% | |
|
Haverford College
Haverford, PA |
96% | |
|
Middlebury College
Middlebury, VT |
96% | |
|
Wesleyan University
Middletown, CT |
96% | |
|
Colby College
Waterville, ME |
95% | |
|
College of the Holy Cross
Worcester, MA |
95% | |
|
Colorado College
Colorado Springs, CO |
95% | |
|
Hamilton College
Clinton, NY |
95% | |
|
Lafayette College
Easton, PA |
95% | |
|
Wellesley College
Wellesley, MA |
95% | |
|
Wheaton College
Wheaton, IL |
95% | |
|
Barnard College
New York, NY |
94% | |
|
Bates College
Lewiston, ME |
94% | |
|
Bucknell University
Lewisburg, PA |
94% | |
|
Colgate University
Hamilton, NY |
94% |
