ARC vs. Grossmont College

Comparable Facts

Compare American River College in Sacramento, CA with Grossmont College in El Cajon, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

American River College is larger than Grossmont College based on total student enrollment (30,462 students vs. 14,440 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• American River College is located in Sacramento, CA (Large Suburban setting); Grossmont College is in El Cajon, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• American River College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Grossmont College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: American River College 29:1; Grossmont College 24:1.

ARC vs. Grossmont College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ARC or Grossmont College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Grossmont College than ARC ($8,351 vs. $9,488).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) are the same at American River College and Grossmont College ($22,086).
• Grossmont College is 3.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than ARC (about $44 more per year; $1,332.00 vs. $1,288.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 18.7% higher at ARC than at Grossmont College (about $1,988 more per year; $12,616.00 vs. $10,628.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at American River College than at Grossmont College (89% vs. 67%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Grossmont College students is 16.8% larger than aid received by American River College students ($6,370 vs. $5,456).

ARC vs. Grossmont College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ARC or Grossmont College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Grossmont College and ARC.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ARC - Open admission; Grossmont College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Grossmont College Jun 1, 2027.

ARC vs. Grossmont College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ARC and Grossmont College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from Grossmont College earn a median of about $1,600 more per year than ARC graduates about ten years after starting college ($38,200 vs. $36,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Grossmont College graduates have a $7,733 lower median loan debt than ARC graduates ($4,500 vs. $12,233).
• Among borrowers, Grossmont College graduates have an estimated $80 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than ARC graduates ($46 vs. $126).
• More Grossmont College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ARC students, three years after graduation. (43% vs. 26%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.