Career Training Path › California › Grossmont College
Grossmont College
El Cajon, California · Public community college · Training programs available:
Address: 8800 Grossmont College Dr, El Cajon, CA 92020 · Phone: (619) 644-7000 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
Grossmont College is a public trade and career school in El Cajon, California offering culinary & pastry programs, accredited by the ACCJC.
Grossmont College's completion rate is 37.4%, below the state average of 64.2%; median graduate debt is $8,625 and median earnings 10 years after entry are $40,309, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Cost of attendance is not reported for Grossmont College in federal data, but federal financial aid including FAFSA and Pell Grants can be used, and 24.5% of students receive Pell Grants.
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chefs and head cooks | $37,380 | $64,500 | $81,040 |
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in California (May 2025; national where the state figure is not published). The program table below shows what this campus's own graduates earned in their first year, whatever job they took.
Trade programs at this campus
| Program | Credential | Grads / yr | Earnings, yr 1 | Earnings, yr 2 | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 45 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 19 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | Associate degree | 16 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 1 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | Associate degree | 1 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
Earnings are median wages and self-employment income reported to the IRS (W-2 and Schedule SE) for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled, measured in the calendar year after finishing. They are pay only: health insurance, retirement contributions and other benefits are not included.
Graduates per year from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey. Earnings and debt are College Scorecard field-of-study medians for graduates of this program at this campus (reported at the 4-digit program level, so closely related programs share a figure); "not reported" means too few graduates were counted to publish a figure.
About this school
Grossmont College is a public community college in El Cajon, California, accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, with additional program-level accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing and the American Occupational Therapy Association's Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy. Federal financial aid, including FAFSA and Pell Grants, can be used at this campus. Among its trade offerings, the college awards the most credentials in culinary and pastry programs, with 82 completers recorded in that field out of 5 program families offered.
Federal data shows a completion rate of 37.4%, which is below the state average of 64.2%. Graduates who took out loans carried a median debt of $8,625, and median earnings ten years after entry were $40,309. Roughly 24.5% of students received Pell Grants, pointing to a meaningful share of lower-income enrollment. Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data.
With an undergraduate enrollment of 12,163 in a large suburb setting, Grossmont serves a broad mix of students, though program length and schedule details for culinary and pastry training are not specified here, so fit for adult career-changers cannot be inferred beyond the presence of a public, Title IV-eligible campus. Anyone considering enrollment should confirm current program length, cost, and licensing requirements directly with the school by phone or website, and review official outcome figures on the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard before applying.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
Grossmont College offers culinary and pastry programs among its trade offerings, with 82 completers recorded in that field. The campus lists 5 program families total, though only culinary & pastry is specified in top programs data.
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes, Grossmont College is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges. It also holds program-specific accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing and the American Occupational Therapy Association's Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy.
Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?
Yes, this school participates in Title IV federal financial aid programs, so FAFSA and Pell Grants can be used here.
What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?
The completion rate is 37.4%, which is below the California state average of 64.2%.
How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?
Graduates carry a median debt of $8,625, according to federal data.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entry are $40,309, per federal data.
How much does it cost to attend for a year?
Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data. Contact the school at (619) 644-7000 or visit its website for current tuition information.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
Grossmont College is a public institution, which typically means lower tuition for state residents and eligibility for state funding, though specific tuition figures are not reported here.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Program length is not reported in the data provided. Contact the school directly to confirm program duration for culinary and pastry training.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can verify accreditation status and review detailed outcome data on the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?115296.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
Program length and schedule details are not specified in the data, so fit for career changers cannot be determined beyond confirming the school is public, accredited, and Title IV-eligible. Contact the school directly to discuss options for adult learners.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can reach Grossmont College at (619) 644-7000 or visit https://www.grossmont.edu/ for application information.
How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?
Comparative data with nearby schools is not reported in this dataset; consult the College Scorecard to compare completion rates, debt, and earnings across institutions.
Other trade and career schools in El Cajon, CA
- Bellus Academy-El CajonEl Cajon, CA · 72% completion
- ATA CollegeEl Cajon, CA · 90% completion
- Cuyamaca CollegeEl Cajon, CA · 41% completion
- Bellus AcademyEl Cajon, CA · state-licensed school
- Cajon Valley Union School DistrictEl Cajon, CA
- Grossmont Adult EdEl Cajon, CA
- Vista Adult SchoolVista, CA · community college
- MiraCosta CollegeOceanside, CA · college
See all trade and career schools in California or search by ZIP code.
Data: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey; College Scorecard June 2026; Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), September 2026. Figures are the U.S. Department of Education's official measures, not Career Training Path's opinion. Tuition, schedules and program availability change — confirm with the school before enrolling.