Grove City College will welcome about 600 new students to campus this week, drawn by the College’s strong academic programs and institutional values.
Freshmen and transfer students began moving into campus residence halls on Wednesday, August 21 to prepare for the start of classes on August 26. They were greeted by members of the Orientation Board, a student organization dedicated to acclimating new students to Grove City College’s distinctive campus culture.
The incoming Class of 2028 includes 575 students, who will be joined by 32 transfer students to bring the College’s total enrollment to 2,380, including upperclassmen and graduate students, according to preliminary data from the registrar’s office.
Fifty-one percent of the freshmen class hail from out of state, including international students, and they come from a variety of school backgrounds. Nearly half (48%) attended public schools, 27% came from Christian school settings, 20% were homeschooled, and the rest attended classical, private, online, and charter schools. The freshman class is 55 percent male, 45 percent female.
A survey of freshmen indicated that 99% chose to attend Grove City College because of its academic programs, which include more than 70 undergraduate and graduate degree programs.
The top majors they are pursuing are: Mechanical Engineering, Exercise Science, Elementary Education, Entrepreneurship, Computer Science, Accounting, and Biology Health. Most freshmen (46%) are seeking science, engineering, mathematics, and technology degrees, while 26% are studying the humanities and 25% are enrolled in School of Business programs. The Johnson School of Nursing’s largest ever freshmen class accounts for the rest.
The College’s Christian character influenced 94% of freshmen in their decision-making process. Faith and learning are the foundation of Grove City College’s classically rooted curriculum, which empowers students to pursue truth freely.
Career outcomes, a strong campus community, and conservative values rounded out the top five reasons students chose Grove City College, according to the survey of 280 accepted students conducted by the Admissions Office.
“I chose to attend Grove City College because of its strong Christian foundation and commitment to integrating faith with academics. I value an education that will not only give me the knowledge and skills for my career, but it will also help me in my spiritual growth and development,” one incoming freshman responded.
“The community is a kind and inviting one that has a standard for excellence and desire to provide a challenging and thoughtful education. Grove City seems to have the strongest education you can get at a private Christian college from what I've seen, so I cannot wait to start learning in the fall,” another said.
Grove City College’s commitment to affordability was also appealing, with about 75% saying price was a key factor in their decision. Tuition and costs are about half that of competitive private colleges and about 80% of students receive need- or merit-based financial aid from the College.
Three-quarters of respondents also said the College’s independence was important to their decision. Grove City College rejects all federal funding, including student grants and loans, to ensure it remains free of unwanted and unnecessary government influence and regulation.