Academic Comparison between Grove City and Penn State

Grove City College and Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus are frequently compared when students or parents prepare college admissions. Grove City is a four-year, private (not-for-profit) school located in Grove City, PA and Penn State is a four-year, public school located in University Park, PA.

Comparison at a Glance

The following list compares two colleges briefly in important perspectives. You can compare them with comprehensive information on full comparison page.

  • Grove City is a private (not-for-profit) and Penn State is a public school and both are four-year schools.
  • Penn State has more expensive tuition & fees ($41,790) than Grove City ($21,700).
  • It is harder to admit to Penn State than Grove City.
  • Penn State has a higher submitted SAT score (1,265) than Grove City (1,265).
  • Penn State has higher submitted ACT score (27) than Grove City (27).
  • Penn State has more students with 50,737 students while Grove City has 2,383 students.
  • Grove City has a lower number of students per faculty with 13 to 1 while Penn State's ratio is 16 to 1.
Which school is more in your mind and would you like to go to?
Grove City Penn State
Vote to see the other's choices.

Comparison Table with important Academic Factors

Grove City Collegevs.Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus
Grove City, PennsylvaniaLocationUniversity Park, Pennsylvania
Four-year, Private (not-for-profit)School Typefour-year, Public
Master's degreeHighest Degree OfferedDoctor's degree
Baccalaureate College - Diverse FieldsCarnegie ClassificationResearch University (very high research activity)
$21,7002025 Tuition & Fees
In-State$20,644
Out-Of-State$41,790
68%% Receiving Financial Aid50%
$8,950Average Amount of Financial Aid$14,013
72.32 %Acceptance Rates60.56 %
37.29 %Yield (Enrollment Rates)17.11 %
1,265SAT Score1,330
27ACT Score30
83 %Graduation Rate86 %
7 %Transfer-out Rate2 %
88 %Retention Rate93 %
2,383Student Population50,737
-Number of Faculties4,174
13 to 1Students to Faculty Ratio16 to 1
Distance Learning (Online Classes), Study Abroad, Teacher CertificationSpecial Learning OpportunitiesDistance Learning (Online Classes), ROTC, Study Abroad, Weekend/Evening College, Teacher Certification
Academic/career counseling service, Employment services, Placement servicesOn Campus Student ServicesAcademic/career counseling service, Employment services, On-campus daycare