Des Moines Area Community College
#9 Most Affordable Colleges in Iowa- Graduation Rate
- 37% D
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $41,018 C
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $11,171 B
- 35% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 10,446
Bottom line: A C overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 19.2× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $19.2 over 20 years. Ranked #9 in Most Affordable Colleges in Iowa.
Every $1 spent returns $19.2 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $812,722.
What The Data Says
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A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduation of 37% — 36% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $19.2 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Economic Footprint
- Inventor Rate
- 0.1%
- Top 95%
- Patents
- 20
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 27
- Downstream influence
Why Des Moines Area Community College Matters
Des Moines Area Community College is a public college in Ankeny, IA 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 College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 10,446
- Setting
- Suburban
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Humanities, Precision Production, Mechanic & Repair Tech
Why students choose Des Moines Area Community 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 $11,171 a year after grants and scholarships — 35% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $41,018 ten years after enrolling — 1% above the typical college, against $11,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 0.8% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 89% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.25 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Over 10,000 students choose Des Moines Area Community College each year, making it a significant hub for educational advancement in Iowa. With a focus on practical skills and workforce readiness, the college emphasizes programs in Health Professions, Criminal Justice, and Business & Marketing.
Graduates from Des Moines Area Community College earn an average of $41,018 within ten years of completing their studies. While the graduation rate stands at 37%, the college serves a diverse student population, including those from lower-income backgrounds, as evidenced by the 16% Pell Grant rate. The Chetty/Opportunity Insights data highlights that while specific mobility rates are not available, community colleges typically play a critical role in helping students improve their economic standing.
Students can expect a net price of $11,171, with a median debt of $11,000 after graduation. This financial structure makes it accessible for many. Those who thrive here are often focused on gaining practical skills for immediate employment or transferring to four-year institutions. The college attracts individuals seeking a cost-effective route to a stable career or further education.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Des Moines Area Community 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 Des Moines Area Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Ankeny, Iowa, Des Moines Area Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 37%.
- Retention Rate
- 63%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 99%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $8,193
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 19:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.54
- First-Gen Students
- 37%
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 Des Moines Area Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Des Moines Area Community College is $6,690, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $11,171. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $9,132 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $11,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $5,790
- Out-of-State
- $6,690
- Avg Net Price
- $11,171
- Median Debt
- $11,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 16%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 11%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $9,132
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $9,175
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $11,130
- Family Income $110K+
- $15,534
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Des Moines Area Community College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Des Moines Area Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Des Moines Area Community College report median earnings of $41,018, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $39,349
- 8 Years
- $40,035
- 10 Years
- $41,018
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.27x
- Earning > $25K
- 57%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (416)
- 23%
- 100% (416)
- 23%
- 100% (416)
- 23%
- 100% (416)
- 23%
How Des Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Des Moines Area Community College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Des Moines Area Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $11,171/year ($44,684 total). Graduates earn $41,018 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $857,406 in total earnings — a net gain of $812,722 (19.2× your investment). The median debt is $11,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 37% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $44,684
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $857,406
- Net Return
- $812,722
- ROI Multiple
- 19.2×
- Cost Per Year
- $11,171
- Median Debt
- $11,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 37%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Des Moines Area Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Des Moines Area Community College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.76%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 8.5% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 9% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $72,600, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 0.76%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 9.0%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 8.5%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $98,638
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
Des Moines Area Community College produces inventors at a measurable rate, with 20 patents tied to its graduates.
- Inventor Rate
- 0.11%
- Top 95% nationally
- Patents Produced
- 20
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 27
- Downstream influence
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Endowment
- $6,661,025
- Investment Income
- $223,151
Top Programs
The fields Des Moines Area Community College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Health Professions 37% $61,489 early-career
- Humanities 14%
- Precision Production 8% $60,668 early-career
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 7% $52,570 early-career
- Business & Marketing 6% $44,872 early-career
- Criminal Justice 6% $38,417 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 5% $61,913 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 2% $41,658 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Des Moines Area Community College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Des Moines Area Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Ankeny, Iowa, Des Moines Area Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 37%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Des Moines Area Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Des Moines Area Community College is $6,690, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $11,171. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $9,132 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $11,000 in federal student loans.
Is Des Moines Area Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Des Moines Area Community College report median earnings of $41,018, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Des Moines Area Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Des Moines Area Community College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.76%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 8.5% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 9% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $72,600, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Des Moines Area Community 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 Des Moines Area Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.25, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.07). Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Des Moines Area Community College.
- Milwaukee Area Technical CollegeMilwaukee, WI · Close peer25% grad $41,113 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size
- Los Angeles Trade Technical CollegeLos Angeles, CA · Close peer31% grad $35,233 earnWhy: similar grad rate · similar net price
- William Rainey Harper CollegePalatine, IL · Close peer47% grad $48,071 earnWhy: similar net price
- Chabot CollegeHayward, CA · Close peer44% grad $48,143 earnWhy: similar grad rate · similar size
- College of Lake CountyGrayslake, IL · Close peer38% grad $43,424 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate
- Merced CollegeMerced, CA · Close peer32% grad $37,815 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Des Moines Area Community 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 Des Moines Area Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.25, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.07). Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note