Grove City College Department of Accounting graduates outpace their peers when it comes to taking the CPA exam.

The College’s accounting graduates ranked 17th in the nation on the 2015 CPA examination among medium-sized programs, according to the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy, which oversees the test. It was the third time in four years that the College’s graduates were in the top 25 nationally.

Grove City graduates’ passing rate of 79 percent for first-time exam takers was nearly 25 percent higher than the national passing rate of 55 percent, NASBA statistics indicate.

In addition, Grove City College students were ranked third in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for those taking the exam for the first time within one year of graduation.

“We are delighted by the continued success that our students have had on the CPA exam. They are not only hard-working and gifted with technical skills and abilities, but they are also fine young men and women with outstanding character who are great representatives of the College,” Dr. David S. Baglia, chair of the Department of Accounting, said.