What Does it Cost to Attend Grove City College?

Grove City College, located in Grove City, Pennsylvania, has a lot to offer prospective students. A Christian liberal arts school, Grove City College students are put on the path to employment and financial security while engaged in a Christ-centered learning and living environment. Ranked by U.S. News and World Report as one of the nation’s best liberal arts colleges, and by Business Insider as one of The 50 Most Underrated Colleges In America, it’s easy to see why spiritually minded students are interested in Grove City College.

For students researching college costs and the expected return on investment of a college education, private, non-profit institutions such as Grove City College hold further appeal. Students attending private, non-profit colleges and universities typically graduate at a higher percentage and outearn their public-school-attending peers. However, these advantages do come at a cost, as these schools are routinely more expensive to attend than public schools.

A CNBC report stated that tuition at private, non-profit four-year schools in 2018-2019 averaged $35,830. But don’t let that large number dissuade you from considering a private, non-profit institution. Most students will only pay a portion of the initial price. In fact, that same CNBC report asserts that the average net price of these schools is approximately $14,500—less than half the listed price!

Why Are College Costs So Variable?

Because the list price of a college or university doesn’t reflect what a student will end up paying for school, it’s a poor metric for comparing the costs of schools. It’s also how institutions like Grove City College, with a list price of over $25,000 a year, make lists like Forbes’ America’s Best Value Colleges.

Net price is a better number to use when evaluating the cost of an institution. Net price takes into account the amount of federal, state, and local government aid given to a student–along with any institutional aid and merit awards received–and deducts the awards from the list price of a school to produce a number representative of what a student can expect to pay out of pocket.

What is the List Price at Grove City College?

The list price, sometimes called “the cost of attendance” on college literature and websites, of Grove City College in 2016-2017 was $27,542. Because Grove City College is a private institution, the cost is the same for both in- and out-of-state students.

As mentioned earlier, the majority of students do not pay full price at Grove City. Students who do end up paying list price are typically from well-off families with average incomes above $175,000 a year who also fall outside of the top 30% of accepted students academically.

What is the Financial Aid Net Price at Grove City College?

The cost of Grove City College for students who qualify for financial aid is $25,591. Once again, because Grove City College is a private institution, the price is the same for both in- and out-of-state students.

What is the Merit Aid Net Price at Grove City College?

Merit aid is awarded for a variety of reasons without regard for a student’s financial need. Students are commonly awarded merit aid for achievement in the classroom, excellence on the athletic field, and talent on stage, but it can be awarded for a variety of other reasons as well. In a CollegeVine survey of over 1,000 colleges and universities, Grove City College ranked 759th for merit aid generosity.

Just 14.9% of Grove City College students without financial need are awarded merit aid. The average award for students who don’t qualify for financial aid is $1,077, which brings the cost of Grove City College to $26,465.

How Many Students Take Out Loans to Attend Grove City College?

Student loans play an important role in many college students’ financial strategy. Accordingly, 61% of Grove City College students have student loans. Keep in mind that some students may also have family members take out loans on their behalf to help fund school.

Student Outcomes

Student outcomes are one way that students can project an institution’s return on investment. One of the advantages offered by private institutions like Grove City College is their higher graduation rate—the college graduates 81% of its students within six years, a rate appreciably larger than the national average for similar schools.

According to PayScale, Grove City College graduates have an average early career salary (between 0 to 5 years after graduation) of $53,500, which is roughly the same as the average salary in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the closest major city to Grove City. The mid-career income for graduates of Grove City College (alumni who have been in the workforce for ten or more years) is $103,300.

Local Area Cost Considerations

A cost that often gets overlooked by prospective college students is the affordability of the surrounding area. Even small differences in the cost of things like housing, transportation, utilities, and groceries can add up to significant amounts over the course of four years. The cost of living index of Grove City, Pennsylvania, is 84.4, making it roughly 15% less expensive than the national average.

Grove City College is a residential college that believes in creating a close community that lives, learns, engages, and thrives together. With this in mind, 96% of Grove City College students live on campus—at first in dorm-style rooms, then in apartments as upperclassmen. The majority of the 4% of students who live off campus are commuters living with parents, guardians, or spouses within 40 miles of the school, veterans returning from active duty or deployment, and students over the age of 25. The cost of just room and board at Grove City College in 2019-2020 was $10,060.

Part-time jobs are one way that college students help offset the cost of school and cover everyday expenses. Pennsylvania has the lowest minimum wage allowed by the federal government, $7.25 an hour. Grove City Premium Outlets is home to 140 stores and services which offer a variety of employment opportunities to students. According to Indeed, the average hourly wage of retail associates, $10.02, exceeds the minimum wage.

Other Ways to Pay for College

Scholarships are an excellent way for college students to make a significant reduction to the cost of their education. Students attending Grove City College are eligible for numerous merit-based awards. Scholarships such as the Trustees Scholarship and Presidential Scholarship are given to incoming students with a record of outstanding academics. Other scholarships like the Engineering Scholarships are awarded to engineering applicants who have demonstrated academic promise and leadership.

Scholarships from private sources can provide further funds for college. Grove City College maintains a webpage highlighting a variety of scholarships potentially available to incoming students.

Another scholarship Grove City College-bound students should look into is the National Merit Scholarship. Given to students who score in the top 1% on the PSAT, National Merit Scholarships are awarded to roughly 7,500 students a year. Incoming freshmen who are National Merit Scholarship finalists automatically qualify for this one-year scholarship in the amount of $2,500.  Read our blog How to Qualify for the National Merit Scholarship Program to learn more about this renowned program.

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