Program Payoff

Des Moines Area Community College

Ankeny, Iowa. 116 certificate and associate programs, public. 116 of them report what graduates earn; for the rest, the figure below is what the occupation pays in Iowa.

ProgramCredentialMedian debtGraduates earnThe occupation pays
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions Associate's degree $55,964 (33) $128,490
Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary
Computer and Information Sciences, General Associate's degree $52,107 (11) $114,890
Software Developers
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing Associate's degree $15,075 $51,750 (116) $78,630
Registered Nurses
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions Associate's degree $51,482 (13) $128,490
Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary
Civil Engineering Technologies/Technicians Associate's degree $49,644 (12) $72,540
Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians
Funeral Service and Mortuary Science Undergraduate certificate $9,500 $46,790 (37) $63,700
Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians Associate's degree $8,770 $44,244 (75) $50,510
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics
Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians Associate's degree $44,091 (16) $48,680
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services, Other Associate's degree $42,682 (50)
Agricultural Business and Management Associate's degree $8,684 $39,909 (21) $66,760
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products
Precision Metal Working Undergraduate certificate $5,500 $36,938 (42) $55,090
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions Undergraduate certificate $7,500 $35,060 (11) $128,490
Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary
Design and Applied Arts Associate's degree $13,000 $35,060 (17) $50,310
Graphic Designers
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants Undergraduate certificate $33,281 (20) $39,350
Nursing Assistants
Legal Support Services Associate's degree $8,175 $33,266 (12) $54,550
Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Health and Medical Administrative Services Undergraduate certificate $32,772 (18) $40,980
Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants
Carpenters Undergraduate certificate $32,382 (12) $78,510
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers
Criminal Justice and Corrections Associate's degree $9,750 $32,332 (37) $37,080
Security Guards
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services Undergraduate certificate $10,265 $31,762 (16) $45,480
Medical Assistants
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions Undergraduate certificate $5,500 $31,762 (16) $128,490
Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary
Marketing Associate's degree $31,670 (13) $66,390
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists
Business Administration, Management and Operations Associate's degree $10,434 $30,926 (41) $87,690
General and Operations Managers
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities Associate's degree $9,500 $29,685 (355) $71,680
Postsecondary Teachers, All Other
Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians Associate's degree $9,834 $28,302 (35) $128,490
Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary
Culinary Arts and Related Services Associate's degree $8,334 $28,236 (45) $35,670
Cooks, Restaurant
Health and Medical Administrative Services Associate's degree $28,055 (19) $40,980
Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions Undergraduate certificate $25,967 (11) $128,490
Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary
Design and Applied Arts Undergraduate certificate $24,730 (12) $50,310
Graphic Designers
Community Organization and Advocacy Associate's degree $20,503 $22,329 (23) $65,940
Social and Community Service Managers
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services Associate's degree $20,140 (19) $28,420
Childcare Workers
Accounting and Related Services Associate's degree $16,625 not published $48,180
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions Associate's degree $14,500 not published $128,490
Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management Associate's degree $10,167 not published $96,540
Project Management Specialists
Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians Associate's degree not published $64,220
Architectural and Civil Drafters
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) Associate's degree not published $60,680
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers
Precision Metal Working Associate's degree not published $55,090
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers
Accounting and Related Services Undergraduate certificate not published $48,180
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks
Agricultural Business and Management Undergraduate certificate not published $66,760
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products
Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services Undergraduate certificate not published $46,610
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers
Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services Associate's degree not published $46,610
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers
Biology, General Associate's degree not published $61,200
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Biology/Biotechnology Technologies/Technicians Undergraduate certificate not published $48,050
Biological Technicians
Biology/Biotechnology Technologies/Technicians Associate's degree not published $48,050
Biological Technicians
Biotechnology Associate's degree not published $109,760
Natural Sciences Managers
Business Administration, Management and Operations Undergraduate certificate not published $87,690
General and Operations Managers
Business Operations Support and Assistant Services Undergraduate certificate not published $46,090
Customer Service Representatives
Business Operations Support and Assistant Services Associate's degree not published $46,090
Customer Service Representatives
Carpenters Associate's degree not published $78,510
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers
Chemistry Associate's degree not published $61,200
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Civil Engineering Technologies/Technicians Undergraduate certificate not published $72,540
Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians
Communication and Media Studies Associate's degree not published $62,970
Public Relations Specialists
Community Organization and Advocacy Undergraduate certificate not published $65,940
Social and Community Service Managers
Computer Programming Undergraduate certificate not published $114,890
Software Developers
Computer Programming Associate's degree not published $114,890
Software Developers
Computer Software and Media Applications Undergraduate certificate not published $114,890
Software Developers
Computer Software and Media Applications Associate's degree not published $114,890
Software Developers
Computer and Information Sciences, General Undergraduate certificate not published $114,890
Software Developers
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management Undergraduate certificate not published $96,540
Project Management Specialists
Criminal Justice and Corrections Undergraduate certificate not published $37,080
Security Guards
Culinary Arts and Related Services Undergraduate certificate not published $35,670
Cooks, Restaurant
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services Undergraduate certificate not published $72,690
Dietitians and Nutritionists
Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians Undergraduate certificate not published $64,220
Architectural and Civil Drafters
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft Undergraduate certificate not published $77,740
Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft Associate's degree not published $77,740
Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers Undergraduate certificate not published $60,860
Electricians
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers Associate's degree not published $60,860
Electricians
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians Undergraduate certificate not published $74,840
Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians Associate's degree not published $74,840
Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians
Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians Undergraduate certificate not published $48,680
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other
Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians Undergraduate certificate not published $74,840
Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians
Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians Associate's degree not published $74,840
Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians
Energy Systems Technologies/Technicians Associate's degree not published $74,880
Wind Turbine Service Technicians
Engineering, General Associate's degree not published $147,320
Architectural and Engineering Managers
Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians Undergraduate certificate not published $71,670
Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians
Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians Associate's degree not published $71,670
Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians
English Language and Literature, General Associate's degree not published $61,200
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations Undergraduate certificate not published $87,690
General and Operations Managers
Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians Undergraduate certificate not published $60,680
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers
Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians Associate's degree not published $60,680
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers
Film/Video and Photographic Arts Undergraduate certificate not published $77,740
Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary
Film/Video and Photographic Arts Associate's degree not published $77,740
Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary
Fire Protection Undergraduate certificate not published $128,080
Managers, All Other
Fire Protection Associate's degree not published $128,080
Managers, All Other
Funeral Service and Mortuary Science Associate's degree not published $63,700
Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers
General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations Undergraduate certificate not published $66,760
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products
General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations Associate's degree not published $66,760
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products
Graphic Communications Undergraduate certificate not published $40,790
Printing Press Operators
Graphic Communications Associate's degree not published $40,790
Printing Press Operators
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) Undergraduate certificate not published $60,680
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers
History Associate's degree not published $61,200
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Homeland Security Undergraduate certificate not published $128,080
Managers, All Other
Homeland Security Associate's degree not published $128,080
Managers, All Other
Hospitality Administration/Management Undergraduate certificate not published $80,470
Business Operations Specialists, All Other
Hospitality Administration/Management Associate's degree not published $80,470
Business Operations Specialists, All Other
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services Undergraduate certificate not published $28,420
Childcare Workers
Human Services, General Associate's degree not published $42,480
Social and Human Service Assistants
Journalism Associate's degree not published $57,200
Editors
Legal Support Services Undergraduate certificate not published $54,550
Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services Undergraduate certificate not published $61,200
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services Associate's degree not published $61,200
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Management Information Systems and Services Undergraduate certificate not published $143,780
Computer and Information Systems Managers
Marketing Undergraduate certificate not published $66,390
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists
Mathematics Associate's degree not published $61,200
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General Associate's degree not published
Physics Associate's degree not published $61,200
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Political Science and Government Associate's degree not published $61,200
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Psychology, General Associate's degree not published $128,080
Managers, All Other
Security Science and Technology Undergraduate certificate not published $77,440
Accountants and Auditors
Sociology Associate's degree not published $128,080
Managers, All Other
Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations Undergraduate certificate not published $66,760
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products
Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations Associate's degree not published $66,760
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness Undergraduate certificate not published $49,350
Coaches and Scouts
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness Associate's degree not published $49,350
Coaches and Scouts
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods Associate's degree not published $60,580
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education
Teaching Assistants/Aides Undergraduate certificate not published $40,620
Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All Other
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians Undergraduate certificate not published $50,510
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics

"Graduates earn" is the median two years after completing, from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard, released 2026-06-10; the number in brackets is how many graduates it covers. A dash means the Department has not published a figure — it withholds any median computed from too few graduates — and never that the figure is zero. "The occupation pays" is the state median for the occupation the program leads to, from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, and describes everyone in that job rather than graduates of this school.