Des Moines Area Community College — tuition $5,550 in-state, $11,100 out-of-state
Outcomes
C
48/100
Affordability
B
67/100
Resources
C+
58/100
Experience
B
69/100
Prestige
D
35/100
Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology
Quick Stats
24,418
Total Enrollment
34%
Graduation Rate
62%
Retention Rate
21.0:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
N/A
Acceptance Rate
$10,119
Avg Net Price
🏠 Housing Market Near Des Moines Area Community College ▼
54%
of first-year students live off campus and not with family (U.S. Dept. of Education, IPEDS). Upper-year students at most universities move off campus at much higher rates, so near-campus rental demand is typically larger than this figure suggests.
What happens to students who enroll at Des Moines Area Community College, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
$41,018
Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$39,349
Median earnings 6 yrs after entry
$11,000
Median debt at graduation
39.2%
Completion rate (within 150% of normal time)
15.7%
Students receiving Pell grants
Typical debt at graduation equals about 27% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.
Earnings rank: 86th percentile among certificate-focused colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (IA wage index 0.90). This drives the Outcome Rating.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.
Earnings by Major at Des Moines Area Community College
Median pay of associate's degree graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.
For parents & investors
The Des Moines Area Community College Town Property Report
Avg home value near campus: $357,414
Avg rent near campus: $1,506/mo — vs ~$600/mo campus room rate
Top nearby ZIP by cap rate: 50316 (5.6% cap, Des Moines)
Get the free 1-page report: rent-vs-dorm math, the 3 best nearby ZIPs by yield,
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🏆 Where Des Moines Area Community College Ranks
Rankings based on Repit College Grade among schools offering each program.
🏘️ Rental Demand: ~13,259 students need off-campus housing
💻 Learning Mode
In-Person58%
Hybrid (Some Online)20%
Fully Online22%
📊 Age Distribution
18-24 (Traditional)37%
25-64 (Adult)16%
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at Des Moines Area Community College?
Acceptance rate data is not available for this institution. Many schools with open enrollment or specialized programs do not report traditional acceptance rates.
How much does it cost to attend Des Moines Area Community College?
Tuition at Des Moines Area Community College is
$5,550 for in-state students
and $11,100 for out-of-state students
.
However, the average net price after financial aid is $10,119.
What is the graduation rate at Des Moines Area Community College?
The graduation rate at Des Moines Area Community College is 34%.
This graduation rate is low, which may reflect the institution's student population, program types, or other factors worth investigating.
Is Des Moines Area Community College a good school?
Des Moines Area Community College has a Repit College Score of 54/100 (Grade: C+).
Our rating evaluates five key factors:
Outcomes (C): Graduation and retention rates
Affordability (B): Net cost and financial aid access
Resources (C+): Class sizes and selectivity
Experience (B): Campus life and learning format
Prestige (D): Reputation and recognition
How many students attend Des Moines Area Community College?
Des Moines Area Community College has a total enrollment of 24,418 students.
Is there rental demand near Des Moines Area Community College?
Yes! Approximately 54% of students at Des Moines Area Community College live off-campus (not with family).
That's roughly 13,259 students who need rental housing near campus.
This represents significant rental demand, which affects housing availability and pricing in the Ankeny area.
Deciding between a dorm and buying near campus? Run the numbers for Des Moines Area Community College — four years of dorm costs vs. owning, including what you’d recover at resale. Buy vs Dorm calculator →
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