Des Moines Area Community College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Ankeny, Iowa. It enrolls 10,446 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.
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.
Good
57/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes38
Value51
Affordability27
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, Des Moines Area Community 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 Des Moines Area Community 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 $11,171 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$11,171
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
16%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
11%
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)
$5,790
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$6,690
Room & Board (on-campus)
$8,244
Room & Board (off-campus)
$9,324
Books & Supplies
$810
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,460
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,680
Total Cost of Attendance
$16,204
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
$9,132
$30,001 – $48,000
$9,175
$48,001 – $75,000
$11,130
$75,001 – $110,000
$13,455
Over $110,000
$15,534
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
$3,00025%percentile
$11,000Medianpercentile
$11,50075%percentile
$21,09490%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 $7,250
↓ $3,750
No Pell $5,500
↓ $5,500
Dependent students $5,500
↓ $5,500
Independent students $8,875
↓ $2,125
Female students $7,000
↓ $4,000
Male students $5,500
↓ $5,500
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,500, less than completers ($11,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
26% of full-time students who enrolled at Des Moines Area Community College graduate within six years, and 63% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
26%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
63%
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 Des Moines Area Community College earn a median of $41,018 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$41,018
Earning > $25K
66%
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
$31,900
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$43,100
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$30,400
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$40,000
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$43,100
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $11,200, about 26% 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 ↑
18.8 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 71% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Des Moines Area Community College is home to 10,446 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 37% are first-generation college students, 51% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
10,446
Part-Time
51%
First-Generation
37%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 65.8%6,872
Hispanic 11.7%1,220
Black 10.4%1,084
Asian 4.4%454
Other 3.7%387
International 0.7%74
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Des Moines Area Community College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large SuburbAnkeny, Iowa
Housing
Limited on-campus housing224 beds
Adult Learners
16%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Des Moines Area Community College offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
85 distinct programs across
28 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 Des Moines Area Community College is 21:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
21:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$8,471
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$6.9M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$72,921
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
355 instructional faculty across 3 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
Full Professors
239
67%
$76,814
Associate Professors
38
11%
$67,159
Instructors
78
22%
$63,803
Pros & Cons of Des Moines Area Community College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Des Moines Area Community College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Open admissions
Low typical debt at graduation
Flexible part-time enrollment options
CONS
Larger class sizes than typical
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Earnings outcomes are on the lower side
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Best for:
Based on the data, Des Moines Area Community College is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; working adults or students needing part-time study options.
Frequently Asked Questions about Des Moines Area Community College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Des Moines Area Community College.
Is Des Moines Area Community College hard to get into?
Des Moines Area Community College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Des Moines Area Community College?
Des Moines Area Community College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Des Moines Area Community College cost?
The average net price after aid at Des Moines Area Community College is $11,171 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Des Moines Area Community College worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $41,018 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $11,171 per year. That's roughly 3.7x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Des Moines Area Community College known for?
Des Moines Area Community College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Practical Nursing, Allied Health Diagnostic. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Des Moines Area Community College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Des Moines Area Community College are $41,018, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Des Moines Area Community College accredited?
Yes. Des Moines Area Community College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Des Moines Area Community College?
Des Moines Area Community College enrolls 10,446 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Des Moines Area Community College?
Des Moines Area Community College graduates 26% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Des Moines Area Community College a public or private college?
Des Moines Area Community College is a Public institution.
Where is Des Moines Area Community College located?
Des Moines Area Community College is located in Ankeny, Iowa.
What programs does Des Moines Area Community College offer?
Des Moines Area Community College offers 85 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Practical Nursing, Allied Health Diagnostic.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Des Moines Area Community College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Des Moines Area Community College is 21:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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