Grossmont College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in El Cajon, California. It enrolls 12,163 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorWestern Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (2-Year). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Strong
73/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes49
Value86
Affordability52
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, Grossmont College generally admits all qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Grossmont College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $5,311 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$5,311
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
24%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
1%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$1,332
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$10,628
Room & Board (off-campus)
$22,086
Books & Supplies
$1,062
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,968
Total Cost of Attendance
$14,027
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$4,169
$30,001 – $48,000
$4,736
$48,001 – $75,000
$7,761
$75,001 – $110,000
$9,677
Over $110,000
$12,250
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$1,75010%percentile
$2,00025%percentile
$8,625Medianpercentile
$5,00075%percentile
$8,88790%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $4,550
↓ $4,075
No Pell $3,500
↓ $5,125
Dependent students $3,500
↓ $5,125
Independent students $5,000
↓ $3,625
Female students $4,500
↓ $4,125
Male students $4,500
↓ $4,125
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $4,500, less than completers ($8,625), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
10% of full-time students who enrolled at Grossmont College graduate within six years, and 71% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
10%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
71%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Grossmont College earn a median of $40,309 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$40,309
Earning > $25K
62%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$35,200
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$46,000
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$36,800
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$44,300
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$47,500
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $10,800, about 23% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
21.5 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 77% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Grossmont College is home to 12,163 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 55% are first-generation college students, 63% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
12,163
Part-Time
63%
First-Generation
55%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 38.7%4,702
Hispanic 38.1%4,629
Asian 7.3%882
Other 5.6%680
Black 4.9%591
International 1.7%201
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Grossmont College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large SuburbEl Cajon, California
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
30%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
What You Can Study
Grossmont College offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
68 distinct programs across
21 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Grossmont College is 23:1, high (larger classes are common).
Student : Faculty
23:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$3,799
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$2.9M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$101,015
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
195 instructional faculty across 1 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Instructors
195
100%
$101,015
Pros & Cons of Grossmont College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Grossmont College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Very affordable net price after aid
Open admissions
Low typical debt at graduation
First-gen-friendly student body
Flexible part-time enrollment options
CONS
Larger class sizes than typical
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
Modest first-year retention
Earnings outcomes are on the lower side
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Best for:
Based on the data, Grossmont College is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; families focused on keeping net cost low; working adults or students needing part-time study options.
Frequently Asked Questions about Grossmont College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Grossmont College.
Is Grossmont College hard to get into?
Grossmont College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Grossmont College?
Grossmont College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Grossmont College cost?
The average net price after aid at Grossmont College is $5,311 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Grossmont College worth it?
Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $40,309 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $5,311 per year. That's roughly 7.6x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Grossmont College known for?
Grossmont College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Liberal Arts, Business Administration. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Grossmont College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Grossmont College are $40,309, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Grossmont College accredited?
Yes. Grossmont College is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges.
How many students attend Grossmont College?
Grossmont College enrolls 12,163 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Grossmont College?
Grossmont College graduates 10% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Grossmont College a public or private college?
Grossmont College is a Public institution.
Where is Grossmont College located?
Grossmont College is located in El Cajon, California.
What programs does Grossmont College offer?
Grossmont College offers 68 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Liberal Arts, Business Administration.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Grossmont College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Grossmont College is 23:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in California
Other colleges in California share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Liberal Arts
Liberal Arts
Biological and Physical Sciences
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