Do Students Succeed at Des Moines Area Community College?
Graduation rates, transfer data, and student outcome analysis for Des Moines Area Community College in Ankeny, IA.
Student Success at Des Moines Area Community College at a Glance
Des Moines Area Community College is a public institution offering at least 2 but less than 4 years programs located in Ankeny, IA. Current enrollment is 23,697 students.
- 39.2% overall graduation rate (IPEDS)
- 30.4% of all entering students earn their award within 8 years
- 78% of exiters from its largest program (Python Application Developer, Certificate) were employed within 6 months — verified by the U.S. Department of Labor
- DOL-verified median earnings of $10,504 per quarter after exiting Python Application Developer, Certificate
- 5,308 graduates across 163 programs in 2024
- VA-approved for GI Bill benefits — 474 students used them here
Program-Level Results · Verified by the U.S. Department of Labor
Verified Program Outcomes
Completion and employment results reported to the U.S. Department of Labor for Des Moines Area Community College programs on the state Eligible Training Provider List. Missing values ("—") mean the state suppressed or did not report that metric — they never mean zero.
| Program | Completion rate | Employed 6 mo after exit | Employed 1 yr after exit | Median quarterly earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Python Application Developer, Certificate | 22% | 78% | 84% | $10,504 |
| Associate Degree Nursing, AAS | 57% | 92% | 93% | $14,265 |
| Business Administration, Entrepreneurship, AAS | 8% | 80% | 79% | $6,423 |
| Criminal Justice, AAS | 22% | 78% | 81% | $9,142 |
| Certified Supply Chain Professional | 17% | 81% | 88% | $7,915 |
| Practical Nursing, Diploma | 78% | 84% | 85% | $4,358 |
| Welding, Production MIG Welding | 60% | 76% | 81% | $8,427 |
| Commercial Drivers License Class A | 53% | 71% | 72% | $12,408 |
| Accounting Payroll, Certificate | 31% | 84% | 79% | $11,139 |
| Culinary Arts AAS | 36% | 88% | 78% | $6,565 |
| Agribusiness- Sales/Service Certificate | 48% | 70% | 74% | $7,503 |
| Cybersecurity AAS | 16% | 76% | 75% | $10,412 |
| Accounting Specialist AAS | 22% | 79% | 83% | $8,796 |
| Automotive Mechanics Technology AAS | 49% | 88% | 84% | $7,585 |
| Marketing, AAS | 15% | 80% | 77% | $6,235 |
| Management and Leadership, Certificate | 20% | 84% | 81% | $10,382 |
| Human Services, AAS | 13% | 77% | 73% | $5,533 |
| Interactive Media for Graphic Design Certificate | 39% | 83% | 79% | $7,565 |
| Early Childhood Education Diploma | 42% | 77% | 81% | $6,839 |
| Human Services, Certificate | 19% | 87% | 80% | $6,928 |
| Information Technology/Network Administration | 19% | 83% | 84% | $10,451 |
| Medical Billing and Coding Diploma | 30% | 78% | 81% | $8,620 |
| Paralegal Certificate | 25% | 97% | 77% | $10,413 |
| Diesel Technology Diploma | 50% | 83% | 86% | $13,647 |
| Early Childhood Education, Certificate | 34% | 82% | 86% | $5,800 |
| Accounting Certificate | 38% | 80% | 82% | $10,338 |
| Paralegal AAS | 17% | 82% | 86% | $9,513 |
| Dental Assistant Diploma | 47% | 93% | 91% | $7,831 |
| Forklift Certification | 62% | 72% | 60% | $14,723 |
| Interior Design Consultant Certificate | 31% | 77% | 84% | $4,982 |
| Realtime Court Reporting AAS | 14% | 90% | 79% | $10,764 |
| Medical Laboratory Technology AAS | 60% | 97% | 94% | $11,693 |
| Welding Diploma | — | 78% | 83% | $7,486 |
| Dental Hygiene | 92% | 88% | 84% | $13,994 |
| Auto Collision Technology AAS | 50% | 85% | 87% | $7,958 |
| Heating, Air Conditioning, Refrigeration AAS Technology | 57% | 88% | 86% | $11,225 |
| Patient Access Specialist, Certificate | 26% | 77% | 80% | $8,689 |
| Tool & Diemaking | 46% | 84% | 76% | $11,684 |
| Web Development AAS | 15% | 78% | 76% | $6,996 |
| Computer-Aided Design Technology Diploma | 38% | 86% | 87% | $10,550 |
| Web Developer Certificate | 26% | 100% | 81% | $10,532 |
| Medical Assistant Diploma | 46% | 94% | 92% | $9,308 |
| Civil Engineering Technology AAS | 34% | 83% | 80% | $11,133 |
| Respiratory Therapy AAS | 39% | 97% | 92% | $12,641 |
| Long-Term Care Administrator-Practicum Specialist Certificate | 13% | 91% | 88% | $14,382 |
| Surgical Technology, AAS | 31% | 100% | 91% | $8,767 |
| Horticulture Turf Certificate | 36% | 79% | 83% | $7,163 |
| Veterinary Technology AAS | 46% | 91% | 85% | $7,276 |
| Robotics & Control Systems Engineering Technology AAS | 43% | 84% | 75% | $11,363 |
| Nurse Aide Certificate | — | 84% | 87% | $5,536 |
| Architectural Technologies Diploma | 41% | 80% | 85% | $9,620 |
| Advanced Manufacturing Technology AAS | 40% | 61% | 76% | $11,478 |
| Electronics Engineering Technology AAS | 35% | 92% | 85% | $8,147 |
| Phlebotomy Certificate | 70% | 84% | 86% | $7,889 |
| ASEP-General Motors AAS | 68% | 86% | 84% | $11,520 |
| Diesel Technology AAS | — | 89% | 90% | $11,536 |
| Horticulture, Landscape & Turf Concentration, AAS | 8% | 80% | 80% | $5,556 |
| Biotechnology, Greenhouse Production Concentration, AAS | 18% | 72% | 68% | $5,560 |
| Applied Engineering Technology-Electro-Mechanical Technologies, AAS | 8% | 80% | 86% | $12,309 |
| Fire Science Technology AAS | 11% | 94% | 85% | $5,819 |
| Fashion AAS | — | 77% | 74% | $4,741 |
| Network Technology-Telecommunications, Certificate | 21% | 71% | 77% | $10,631 |
| Administrative Assistant Diploma | 27% | 85% | 88% | $7,363 |
| Health Information Technology AAS | 45% | 93% | 90% | $10,524 |
| Certified Administrative Professional | 80% | 73% | 63% | $7,731 |
| Computer Languages Diploma | 21% | 80% | 82% | $11,360 |
| Accounting and Bookkeeping Diploma | — | 79% | 82% | $9,208 |
| ASSET-Ford AAS | 60% | 100% | 82% | $13,952 |
| Entrepreneurship Certificate | — | 60% | 77% | $7,012 |
| Management AAS | — | 83% | 84% | $9,703 |
| Sales and Management Diploma | 23% | 100% | 88% | $5,847 |
| Applied Engineering Technology- Wind Turbine | 47% | 88% | 50% | $14,490 |
| Hospitality Management, Hotel Management Concentration | 24% | 89% | 79% | $6,631 |
| Architectural Technologies AAS | — | 84% | 73% | $5,895 |
| Network Technology-Telecommunications/Data Communications, AAS | 22% | 78% | 79% | $11,758 |
| Medical Office Specialist, AAS | — | 74% | 81% | $7,188 |
| IT/Helpdesk Fundamentals | 43% | — | — | — |
| Core Construction/Basic Equipment Operator | 100% | 66% | 69% | $8,317 |
| Aging Services Management, Adult Services AAS | — | 91% | 86% | $11,952 |
| The Complete Project Manager with CAPM and PMP Prep | 36% | 100% | 100% | $8,376 |
| Sales, Certificate | — | 79% | 89% | $3,981 |
| Dietary Manager Certificate | — | — | 94% | $10,663 |
| Health Care Patient Services | 100% | — | — | — |
| CPC Medical Billing and Coding (Voucher Included) | 63% | — | — | — |
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, WIOA participant outcomes (trainingproviderresults.gov), PY 2023.
College-Wide Statistics · IPEDS Federal Survey
What Are the Student Outcomes at Des Moines Area Community College?
Unlike the program-level results above, the figures below cover all students at Des Moines Area Community College, tracked over eight years by the federal IPEDS survey.
Overall Completion Rate
30.4%
Working Student Success
30%
Transfer Out Rate
34.8%
Still Enrolled Rate
0.8%
How Des Moines Area Community College Compares
30% completion at Des Moines Area Community College is mid-pack for the trade-school landscape. The 35% transfer-out rate adds important context — many trade students intentionally use their first credential as a stepping stone to a four-year school, so transfer often signals success rather than dropout.
What Happens After Students Enroll at Des Moines Area Community College?
Eight-Year Student Outcomes
Eight-year outcomes for students who entered Des Moines Area Community College. This shows what happened to students in their cohort by the end of the tracking period.
Understanding These Outcomes
Completed: Students who earned a certificate, diploma, or degree from this institution.
Still Enrolled: Students who remain enrolled at this institution after the tracking period.
Transferred Out: Students who transferred to another institution and may have completed there.
No Award: Students who left without earning a credential and are not enrolled elsewhere.
Combined completion and transfer rate of 47.8% indicates strong student success pathways.
These outcomes track what happened to students eight years after they first enrolled. Completion rates include certificates, diplomas, and degrees earned at this institution. Transfer rates show students who continued their education at other colleges. Understanding these pathways helps prospective students set realistic expectations and plan their educational journey.
What Are the Transfer and Continuation Patterns at Des Moines Area Community College?
Success Rates by Student Entry Pathway
Comparing completion rates across different student entry pathways helps understand which groups succeed and how transfer experience impacts outcomes.
Key Insights
Transfer students outperform first-time students by 14.0 percentage points, suggesting the institution provides strong support for transfer pathways and recognizes prior learning effectively.
Combined 24.0% transfer-out rate suggests this institution may serve as a stepping stone for students continuing their education elsewhere.
Cohort Composition
Understanding Student Pathways
First-Time Students: Beginning postsecondary education for the first time at this institution.
Transfer-In Students: Previously attended another postsecondary institution before enrolling here.
Continuing Students: Returned to this institution after a break in enrollment.
Completion rates tracked over 8 years from initial entry.
Different student entry pathways lead to varying success rates. First-time students enter directly from high school or are starting college for the first time. Transfer students bring prior college experience and credits. Understanding these patterns helps you identify which pathway aligns best with your situation and predict your likelihood of success.
What Are the Completion Rates by Student Type at Des Moines Area Community College?
What does this mean for you? These completion rates show how different types of students succeed at this institution. Full-time students have a higher completion rate (32%) compared to part-time students (30%). Consider your work and life commitments when deciding on your enrollment status. First-time students are those new to college, while transfer students have attended another institution before.
What Are the Cohort Outcomes Over Time at Des Moines Area Community College?
Tracking outcomes for the 2015-16 cohort of 6,485 students
After 4 Years
After 6 Years
After 8 Years (Final)
Final Student Status
Completion Breakdown by Cohort
Part-time First-time Transfer Students
All First-time Transfer Students
Full-time First-time Transfer Students
Part-time First-time Students
All First-time Students
Full-time First-time Students
All Full-time Students
Full-time Non-first-time Transfer Students
Time to Completion
About This Data
Outcome measures data tracks student cohorts over 4, 6, and 8-year periods. Data is sourced from IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) and reflects the most recent available reporting year.