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Des Moines Area Community College
Ankeny, IA 10,406 Undergrads 26.3% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$15,664
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$11,050
After Aid
Median Earnings
$41,018
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$11,050
Peer Midpoint: $16,832
Earnings (10yr)$41,018
Peer Midpoint: $31,349
Graduation Rate26.3%
Peer Midpoint: 66.3%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients34.3%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time47.8%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS65.4%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
100.0%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -
ROI Sensitivity Analysis
This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.
Lifetime Value Added (NPV)
Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$437k
+$113k
-$47k
Median Cost$11k/yr
+$427k
+$102k
-$57k
Full Cost$16k/yr
+$423k
+$98k
-$62k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$11k/yr
Never
-559%
Full Cost$16k/yr
Never
-424%
Analysis Assumptions:
- Starting Salary: Estimated from the 10-year median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).
- Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
- Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
- NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.
Social Impact ROINew
Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.
Donor Return-673%
Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.
Taxpayer Return-178%
Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator with your specific estimates of cost and salary.
Program ROI Analysis
Certificates
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services
CertCIP: 5108
Median Debt
$10,265
Earnings (2yr)
$31,762
Lifetime Value Added
-$103k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
CertCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$7,500
Earnings (2yr)
$35,060
Lifetime Value Added
-$65k
Carpenters
CertCIP: 4602
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$32,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$95k
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions
CertCIP: 5110
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$34,377
Lifetime Value Added
-$95k
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions
CertCIP: 5106
Median Debt
$5,500
Earnings (5yr)
$40,484
Lifetime Value Added
-$29k
Design and Applied Arts
CertCIP: 5004
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$31,656
Lifetime Value Added
-$125k
Funeral Service and Mortuary Science
CertCIP: 1203
Median Debt
$9,500
Earnings (5yr)
$56,635
Lifetime Value Added
+$140k
Graphic Communications
CertCIP: 1003
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$41,575
Lifetime Value Added
-$18k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
CertCIP: 5107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$36,476
Lifetime Value Added
-$73k
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants
CertCIP: 5139
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$60,470
Lifetime Value Added
+$179k
Precision Metal Working
CertCIP: 4805
Median Debt
$5,500
Earnings (5yr)
$52,978
Lifetime Value Added
+$102k
Associate's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
AssocCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$16,625
Earnings (5yr)
$54,763
Lifetime Value Added
+$64k
Agricultural Business and Management
AssocCIP: 0101
Median Debt
$8,684
Earnings (5yr)
$55,664
Lifetime Value Added
+$72k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
AssocCIP: 5109
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$51,482
Lifetime Value Added
+$63k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
AssocCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$10,434
Earnings (5yr)
$36,421
Lifetime Value Added
-$116k
Civil Engineering Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$49,644
Lifetime Value Added
+$44k
Community Organization and Advocacy
AssocCIP: 4402
Median Debt
$20,503
Earnings (5yr)
$36,993
Lifetime Value Added
-$110k
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services, Other
AssocCIP: 1199
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$70,359
Lifetime Value Added
+$207k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
AssocCIP: 1101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$52,107
Lifetime Value Added
+$69k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
AssocCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$9,750
Earnings (5yr)
$44,408
Lifetime Value Added
-$36k
Culinary Arts and Related Services
AssocCIP: 1205
Median Debt
$8,334
Earnings (5yr)
$41,811
Lifetime Value Added
-$62k
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions
AssocCIP: 5106
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$57,900
Lifetime Value Added
+$93k
Design and Applied Arts
AssocCIP: 5004
Median Debt
$13,000
Earnings (5yr)
$44,720
Lifetime Value Added
-$33k
Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technology
AssocCIP: 4701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$69,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$196k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
AssocCIP: 5107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$27,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$203k
Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies
AssocCIP: 4703
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$69,533
Lifetime Value Added
+$199k
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
AssocCIP: 1907
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$31,337
Lifetime Value Added
-$167k
Legal Support Services
AssocCIP: 2203
Median Debt
$8,175
Earnings (2yr)
$33,266
Lifetime Value Added
-$127k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
AssocCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$9,500
Earnings (5yr)
$46,441
Lifetime Value Added
-$17k
Marketing
AssocCIP: 5214
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$52,544
Lifetime Value Added
+$43k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
AssocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$15,075
Earnings (5yr)
$64,288
Lifetime Value Added
+$152k
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies
AssocCIP: 4706
Median Debt
$8,770
Earnings (5yr)
$61,327
Lifetime Value Added
+$125k
Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 0183
Median Debt
$9,834
Earnings (5yr)
$36,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$116k
Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate, accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.
For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results should not be compared with those Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors starting at age 18.