Cuyamaca College
- Graduation Rate
- 37% D
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $32,435 D+
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $6,618 A-
- 61% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 7,177
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 26.9× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $26.9 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $26.9 over 20 years. Net gain: $685,501.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduate earnings fall 20% below the national college median.
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Graduation of 37% — 35% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $26.9 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Cuyamaca College Matters
Cuyamaca College is a public community college in El Cajon, CA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: measurable returns for the students it serves.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Community College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 7,177
- Setting
- Suburban
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Business & Marketing, Mathematics & Statistics, Social Sciences
Why students choose Cuyamaca College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
This school does not report a competitive admit rate — most qualified applicants are admitted.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $6,618 a year after grants and scholarships — 61% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $32,435 ten years after enrolling — 20% below the typical college.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.17 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
Cuyamaca College serves 7,177 students, offering a net price of $6,618, making it an accessible option for many. This affordability is crucial for students looking to balance education with financial responsibilities. The college specializes in programs like Humanities, Business & Marketing, and Biology, catering to a diverse range of interests.
According to data from Opportunity Insights, specific metrics like mobility and graduation rates are essential for understanding student outcomes. Cuyamaca College has a graduation rate of 37%, suggesting that while many students do not complete their degree within the standard time frame, there are opportunities for those who persist. The economic mobility of graduates is a vital consideration for prospective students, and while detailed mobility data is not available, the earnings figure of $32,435 after ten years indicates a potential for upward financial movement.
Students who thrive here are often those looking for a supportive environment that values diverse educational paths. With 27% of students receiving Pell Grants, the college attracts individuals from various socioeconomic backgrounds. The combination of affordable tuition and the potential for decent earnings post-graduation makes Cuyamaca College a practical choice for students aiming to enhance their career opportunities without incurring significant debt.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Cuyamaca College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Cuyamaca College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in El Cajon, California, Cuyamaca College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 37%.
- Retention Rate
- 72%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 27%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $10,865
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 23:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.64
- First-Gen Students
- 61%
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Cuyamaca College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Cuyamaca College is $11,314, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $6,618. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $6,183 after need-based grants.
- In-State Tuition
- $1,346
- Out-of-State
- $11,314
- Avg Net Price
- $6,618
- Pell Grant Rate
- 27%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 2%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $6,183
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $5,219
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $9,270
- Family Income $110K+
- $11,961
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Cuyamaca College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Cuyamaca College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Cuyamaca College report median earnings of $32,435, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $29,836
- 8 Years
- $35,992
- 10 Years
- $32,435
- Earning > $25K
- 39%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (56)
- 12%
- 100% (56)
- 12%
- 100% (56)
- 12%
- 100% (56)
- 12%
How Cuyamaca Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is Cuyamaca College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Cuyamaca College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $6,618/year ($26,472 total). Graduates earn $32,435 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $711,973 in total earnings — a net gain of $685,501 (26.9× your investment).. With a 37% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $26,472
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $711,973
- Net Return
- $685,501
- ROI Multiple
- 26.9×
- Cost Per Year
- $6,618
- Graduation Rate
- 37%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Endowment
- $1,194,034
- Federal Grants
- $2,158,994
- Investment Income
- $83,039
Top Programs
The fields Cuyamaca College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Humanities 37%
- Business & Marketing 13%
- Mathematics & Statistics 5%
- Social Sciences 4%
- Psychology 3%
- Biology & Biomedical 3%
- Visual & Performing Arts 2%
- Computer Science & IT 2%
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Cuyamaca College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-AI/ML Engineer$156,000 · 23% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Computer Vision Engineer$145,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CPhysicist$142,850 · 5% growthAdaptable 66
- CAstronomer$142,850 · 4% growthAdaptable 66
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Cuyamaca College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in El Cajon, California, Cuyamaca College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 37%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Cuyamaca College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Cuyamaca College is $11,314, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $6,618. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $6,183 after need-based grants.
Is Cuyamaca College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Cuyamaca College report median earnings of $32,435, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
How Connected Is Cuyamaca College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Cuyamaca College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.17, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.05). Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Cuyamaca College.
- Forsyth Technical Community CollegeWinston-Salem, NC · Close peer31% grad $34,139 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Mississippi Gulf Coast Community CollegePerkinston, MS · Close peer47% grad $33,017 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
- Pearl River Community CollegePoplarville, MS · Close peer36% grad $33,019 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Hudson County Community CollegeJersey City, NJ · Close peer24% grad $34,333 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
- Los Angeles Southwest CollegeLos Angeles, CA · Close peer34% grad $32,172 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Mott Community CollegeFlint, MI · Close peer26% grad $32,538 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Cuyamaca College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Cuyamaca College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.17, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.05). Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note