Grove City College

grove city college majors

Christian STEM and Liberal Arts Education at GCC

Grove City College appears in our ranking of 50 Great Affordable Colleges in the Northeast.

Named the U.S. News & World Report’s 120th best, Grove City College maintains a 13:1 learner-mentor ratio to grant 62 bachelor’s majors from a conservative Presbyterian approach near the Youngstown border with a 96 percent six-month job placement rate. For example, the B.S. in Electrical Engineering builds a 120-credit, ABET-accredited curriculum with a Nantes Semester, the Wolverine Best Robotics Competition, and internships like Tektronix. Chaired by Dr. Gary Thompson, the 128-credit B.S. in Mathematics integrates the SOAR Project on Polytope Numbers, Math Blast tutoring, and MAA membership plus an optional Actuarial Sciences Concentration for certification. The B.S. in International Business packs its 128-credit, ACBSP-approved major with courses like Macroeconomics, Center for Innovation projects, and global trips from Chile to Czech Republic. Started in 2017, the B.S.W. in Social Work led by Dr. Lisa Hosack specializes the 128-credit liberal arts curriculum for service with 400-hour field placements, such as City Mission, George Junior Republic, and Light of Life Ministries.

Other offerings include the B.A. in Political Science, B.M. in Music Education, B.A. in Spanish, B.A. in Economics, B.S. in Computer Information Systems, B.S. in Accounting, B.S. in Conservation Biology, B.A. in Philosophy, and B.S. in Marketing.

About Grove City College

Grove City College originated in 1876 when Dr. Isaac Conrad Ketler and Sun Oil Company exec Joseph Newton Pew opened Pine Grove Normal Academy for an inaugural class of 13. In 1884, a newly created Board of Trustees renamed it Grove City College. By 1913, it had developed a 40-acre, four-building campus in Pennsylvania’s Mercer County with 20 faculty. In 1916, Dr. Ketler’s son Weir became president. Fully accredited in 1922, Grove City famously joined the U.S. Navy Electronics Training Program in 1942. In 1971, Dr. Charles Sherrard MacKenzie introduced the Keystone Curriculum for a liberal arts core. Thirteen years later, Grove City College was central to a Supreme Court case on Title IX compliance. In 2010, its Center for Vision & Values received a Templeton Freedom Award for Excellence in Liberty too. Endowed for $111.68 million, Grove City College now educates 2,400 Wolverines from 13 countries on 180 neo-Gothic acres with 150+ clubs like Helping Hands. Forbes named GCC America’s 112th best private college and 55th top liberal arts school. On Niche, Grove City landed 111th for communications, 156th for engineering, and 185th for finance degrees.

Grove City College Accreditation Details

On June 21, 2018, Grove City College passed a comprehensive evaluation visit from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) to reaffirm the Level II accreditation through 2026 without warning under its ninth president, Hon. Paul J. McNulty, who earned the Edmund J. Randolph Award and Jack Kennedy Memorial Alumni Achievement Award. Located 333 miles east via Interstate 76 in Philadelphia, this six-state Mid-Atlantic Region accreditor is recognized by the U.S. Education Department and Pennsylvania Department of Education. The Office of Institutional Advancement also lists these noteworthy degree accreditations:

  • Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education
  • Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs
  • Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology
  • American Chemical Society
  • Council on Social Work Education (candidacy)

Grove City College Application Requirements

Getting into Grove City College is classified “moderately difficult” by Peterson’s because 1,424 of the 1,783 Fall 2017 applicants were okayed for competitive 80 percent acceptance. First-year Wolverines at PayScale’s 16th best value must finish a traditional high school, homeschool, or GED equivalency diploma. Four years of English plus three of Math, Science, and Social Studies is preferred. Freshmen often rank in the upper half of their classes with a median 3.74 GPA. On average, undergrads present a 1232 SAT and 27 ACT mark. CLEP exam scores above 50-65 are generally accepted. Only the Spanish Language Level 2 test requires a 68 or better. Transfers who’ve completed 12+ credits at other regionally accredited schools graded “C” or higher are welcome. At least 50 percent of the 128-credit curriculum must be remaining. The intensive B.S. in Mechanical Engineering currently doesn’t allow transfers. Foreign entrants from non-English nations need a 550 Paper, 213 Computer, or 80 Internet TOEFL mark.

Grove City College made freshman deadlines of November 1st for Early Decision I, December 1st for Early Decision II, January 20th for Regular Decision I, and March 20th for Regular Decision II. Transfer Wolverines can apply until August 15th for Fall and January 15th for Spring. International students have a firm January 20th deadline though. Registration for the Dual Enrollment Program lasts May 1st to August 15th. Bachelor of Music auditions must be completed by February 8th also. Accordingly, submit the signed GCC Application online or by paper with $50 non-refundable fees. Send official grade transcripts to 100 Campus Drive in Grove City, PA 16127. Other steps frequently include the personal interview, Early Decision agreement, senior class schedule, two recommendation letters, test scores, transfer evaluation, International Baccalaureate diploma, and essay statement. Inquire further by contacting (727) 458-2100 or [email protected].

Tuition and Financial Aid

For 2018-19, Grove City College has charged full-time undergrads $8,965 per semester or $17,930 annually. Part-time learners paid $560 per credit or $1,680 by course. Freshman tuition has come with an HP Elite X360 1030g2 tablet PC included since 2017. Living at the Western Pennsylvania campus’ dorms like Mary Ethel Pew Hall adds $9,770 per year. The Colonial Hall Apartments are an exception costing $9,450 for room only. Standard meal plans for Hicks Dining Hall are then $3,790 extra. GCC budgets $1,000 for books, $500 for transport, and $350 for miscellaneous. Annual bachelor’s attendance equals about $29,550 on-site, $33,020 in apartments, and $19,780 at home. Note annual insurance coverage tacks on $1,624.

According to the NCES College Navigator, the Office of Financial Aid in Crawford Hall connects 67 percent of GCC Wolverines to howlingly good assistance averaging $6,205 each for $9.68 million total. Institutional funds include the Dean’s Scholarship, Achievement Award, Schwab Scholarship, Leadership Scholarship, Presidential Scholarship, Engineering Scholarship, Alumni Merit Reward Scholarship, and Athletic Scholarship. The Trustee Scholarship Program gifts $8,000 per year to 24 freshmen maintaining a minimum 3.4 GPA. Unlike most colleges, it doesn’t require FAFSA forms since federal financial aid, including GI Bill benefits, isn’t offered. Rather, the Grove City College Student Loan has a $58,000 lifetime cap with PNC Bank. Utilize the MyGCC Portal to find student employment for 10-20 hours weekly. The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency has a May 1st deadline for its Need-Based State Grant. The Community Foundation of Western PA & Eastern OH also delivers 200+ local options, such as the Steese Family Scholarship, Roger Flynn Scholarship, and Maxine Nelson Scholarship.

Search through the Arts & Letters Department and Science, Engineering & Mathematics Department at the Grove City College website.