GROVE CITY — Grove City College contributed nearly $140 million to Pennsylvania’s economy in 2014, according to a report on the economic impact of private colleges and universities.

The report from the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania looked at payroll taxes, student spending, institutional expenditures, visitor spending, construction, spending and earning by employees, and indirect and direct economic impacts.

The analysis showed that the college had an overall economic impact of $138.5 million and is a “major economic driver for the region, responsible for hundreds of jobs and millions in spending, payroll and taxes generated,” the college said in a news release.

According to the report, the college created a $58.9 million impact through the purchase of goods and services; $12.8 million through construction; and $26.7 million through employee payroll.

Grove City College directly employs 236 people and is responsible for an additional 542 jobs through college-related activity, according to the report.

It also provides $1.28 million to state and local governments through payroll taxes, and helps funnel $3.9 million to state and local businesses through student and visitor spending.

Don Francis, the association’s president, said colleges like Grove City play an increasingly important role in Pennsylvania’s economy, and in “developing human capital,” for the state’s work force.

According to the report, private colleges and universities statewide produced a $17.89 billion economic impact in 2014, and are attended by nearly 290,000 students