Grossmont College
Bottom line: A B- overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 51.5× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $51.5 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $51.5 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,071,863.
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What The Data Says
A B- overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
Graduation of 34% — 40% below the national average.
Every $1 invested returns $51.5 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Grossmont College Matters
Grossmont 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
- 12,163
- Setting
- Suburban
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Business & Marketing, Social Sciences, Computer Science & IT
Why students choose Grossmont 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 $5,311 a year after grants and scholarships — 69% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $40,309 ten years after enrolling — 1% below the typical college, against $8,625 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.24 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
Grossmont College serves more than 12,000 students, with a net price of just $5,311, making it an affordable option for many. This low cost is particularly appealing to those looking to minimize debt while pursuing education. The median debt for graduates stands at $8,625, letting students focus on their futures without heavy financial burdens.
Graduates from Grossmont College earn an average of $40,309 ten years after enrollment. While the graduation rate is 34%, many students transfer to four-year institutions, enhancing their educational and career prospects. The Chetty/Opportunity Insights data indicates that the college supports students from diverse backgrounds, including a significant percentage of Pell Grant recipients at 24%. This access can help foster upward mobility, especially for those from lower-income families.
Students thrive here when they engage in programs like Humanities, Business & Marketing, Social Sciences, Computer Science & IT, and Health Professions. The college attracts individuals who appreciate a supportive environment and a focus on practical skills. Those looking for a pathway to higher education or a solid foundation for a career will find Grossmont College a viable choice.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Grossmont 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 Grossmont College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in El Cajon, California, Grossmont College enrolls students across a range of programs. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 34%.
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 Grossmont College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
When weighing the true cost of attending Grossmont College, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $10,628 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $5,311 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $4,169 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $8,625.
What Families Actually Pay
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Grossmont College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Grossmont College report median earnings of $40,309; prospective students should weigh that figure against the program's cost when calculating return on investment.
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
How Grossmont 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 Grossmont College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Grossmont College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $5,311/year ($21,244 total). Graduates earn $40,309 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,093,107 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,071,863 (51.5× your investment). The median debt is $8,625, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 34% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
Top Programs
The fields Grossmont College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Grossmont College's most popular programs, with median pay and projected growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Grossmont College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements +
As a public institution in El Cajon, California, Grossmont College enrolls students across a range of programs. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 34%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Grossmont College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +
When weighing the true cost of attending Grossmont College, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $10,628 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $5,311 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $4,169 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $8,625.
Is Grossmont College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI +
Ten years out, alumni of Grossmont College report median earnings of $40,309; prospective students should weigh that figure against the program's cost when calculating return on investment.
How Connected Is Grossmont 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 Grossmont College, with an economic connectedness score of 1.24 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (0.04), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Grossmont College.
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Grossmont 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 Grossmont College, with an economic connectedness score of 1.24 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (0.04), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note