Enrollment: 2499
Average SAT: 634
Average ACT: 28
Most Popular Majors: Elementary Education and Teaching,English Language and Literature, General,Mechanical Engineering,
Regular Application Deadline: 02/01
Student Faculty Ratio: 15:1

Average Freshman Total Need-Based Gift Aid: $6,371.00

2009 Best Value Colleges – Private
Alternative Lifestyles Not an Alternative
Don't Inhale
Everyone Plays Intramural Sports

Students Say - Academics
Students see the world from a "Christian viewpoint in a safe atmosphere" at Grove City, a college in Pennsylvania that offers "conservative libertarian Christianity applied to a serious Western liberal arts curriculum." As one student puts it, "we are a school that celebrates the trinity of Jesus, C.S. Lewis, and Ronald Reagan." Students here "serve God while working their butts off" in academically rigorous classes designed to give "a good education based on biblical values" through the integration of faith in both the curriculum and college life. Administration makes it a point to be available to the students; the president of the college has weekly time set apart when students can personally talk with him. Still, campus living can sometimes get complicated, as "rules at Grove City are not always enforced as they say, and some rules exist that are not written anywhere." Class registration is "one of the most stressful things EVER!" The campus itself is beautiful, and the school "does a great job with keeping it up," but parking is both expensive and far away. Since the average class size at GCC is relatively small, the classroom is "definitely a student-friendly setting." Though many have a couple of teachers they've been unhappy with, all are very satisfied with both what the professors give them and ask of them. Professors have extremely high expectations for their students and "have challenging tests and a lot of work," but they "truly care about you and are open to students asking questions and talking to them about work or anything else outside of class." "They are committed to learning and mastering all areas of human endeavor for the glory of God," says a student. The school's excellent job placement rate and "reasonable price" are just a few more of the many reasons students choose to come here.

Students Say - Campus Life
Activities abound at Grove City, with "excellent" intramurals topping the popularity list, and "a million and one" clubs. "I am involved in Clowns for Christ, Life Advocates (a pro-life group), and the Grove City Democrats," says a busy student. A favorite activity on campus is Warriors, which is an hour of worship once a week. This dry campus is "not exactly a party school or one where weekend life is traditionally 'hopping.'" On weekends, students typically hang out in their friends' rooms and watch movies or go to dances. The rules here are quite strict-there are "inter-visitation rules proscribing which hours males and females may be on male and female halls"-so students do "fun but non-illegal things" in their spare time. Many agree that the school could stand to "[rein] in campus safety." No one is a big fan of the town itself, but Pittsburgh is only an hour or so away. There are also, thankfully, "good restaurants within 15 or 20 minutes," since the school "could improve drastically in quality of food provided." All students live on campus and must have meal plans. "I'd have to say that the most fun is making up your own fun," says a student. One "could stop and have a deep conversation with a perfect stranger, and it would be normal," and indeed, "you hear many conversations about religious issues."

Students Say - Student Body
No doubt about it-the typical student here is "white, middle- to upper-class, and very religious." Many of these "Grovers" were home-schooled. As for atypical students and minorities, well, "there aren't a lot," but they do manage to find each other. Diversity here could definitely use some TLC-a large number of students wish that the school would "[bring] in people who are not all the same." Students of different sexual orientation are not allowed to attend Grove City College, and those who are not religious to some (relatively strong) degree can be uncomfortable here. Still, most people are "friendly and helpful," and "there is rarely an interpersonal conflict." Studies tend to be a center of focus here, and the "library is constantly crowded with students working hard to keep up." They all "work together in order to achieve a diploma instead of believing they have to compete with each other." "Everyone on campus is over-committed. Coming to Grove City, you basically admit to and crave being stressed beyond belief," says an elementary education major.

Geneva College
Hillsdale College

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