Many first year college students do not return for their second year. As many as 1 in 3 will not return for various reasons. It is in the best interest of the university to help make sure these students return to complete their bachelor’s degree program. US News has ranked national colleges according to their freshman retention rate.

1. Yale University New Haven, CT 98.8%
2. Columbia University New York, NY 98.5%
3. Stanford University Stanford, CA 98.0%
4. Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MA 98.0%
5. Dartmouth College Hanover, NH 98.0%
6. Princeton University Princeton, NJ 98.0%
7. University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA 98.0%
8. California Institute of Technology Pasadena, CA 97.8%
9. University of Chicago Chicago, IL 97.8%
10. University of Notre Dame Notre Dame, IN 97.5%

Students fail to return to school because of family, financial difficulties, difficulty with the academic load, etcetera. Schools also need to be proactive and make sure students have access to counselors and campus resources that can help them to stay in school. Earning your bachelor’s degree online or at campus programs can give you the education you need for your future.