Grossmont College vs Cuyamaca College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Grossmont College comes closer — median earnings $40,309 against a $10,622 total, vs $32,435 at Cuyamaca College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Grossmont College | Cuyamaca College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $5,311 | $6,618 |
| Total net cost | $10,622 | $13,236 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $40,309 | $32,435 |
| Median debt | $8,625 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$171,642 | -$331,736 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Grossmont College or Cuyamaca College?
Grossmont College, at $5,311 a year after aid versus $6,618 — a gap of $1,307 a year, or $2,614 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Grossmont College or Cuyamaca College graduates earn more?
Grossmont College graduates report a median $40,309 ten years after entry, $7,874 more than the $32,435 at Cuyamaca College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which graduates more of its students?
41% of students finish at Cuyamaca College, against 37% at Grossmont College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.