In order to preserve and protect its independence, Grove City College refused federal student aid beginning in the mid-1980s. In an unprecedented move, the College argued its position in a landmark Supreme Court Case, Grove City College v. Bell. Today, Grove City College remains a beacon of laissez-faire economic freedom in the United States.
Central to the College's identity is a spirit of independence. That spirit extends into every area of Grove City College life, including academic and financial independence. The College is one of only a handful of truly independent institutions of higher learning in the United States that does not depend on the federal government for any kind of support.