Strong transfer numbers
from Ankeny, Iowa
You're deciding whether to spend your first two years at Des Moines Area Community College before finishing a bachelor's at an Iowa four-year. That choice comes down to real numbers: transfer rates, what you'll earn after graduation, and what it actually costs you.
~24,000 undergrads, 35% transfer out by year 8, median $41k 10-yr earnings, $11,000 median debt.
Iowa's largest CC posts a transfer rate that beats most of the field
Des Moines Area Community College enrolls nearly 24,000 undergrads in Ankeny and transfers out 35% of students to a four-year institution within eight years — well above the national community college benchmark. Median earnings ten years out are $41k and median borrower debt is $11,000. Nursing and allied health programs dominate completions, but Liberal Arts at 673 graduates is the clearest transfer-prep pipeline. In-state tuition runs $5,550 and net price is $11,171. The 0% three-year loan default rate is a clean signal.
Des Moines Area Community College is based in Ankeny, Iowa, and enrolls nearly 24,000 undergraduates — one of the largest community colleges in the state. About 76% attend part-time, which is unusually high even by community college standards and means many students stretch their enrollment across multiple years. The top program by completions is Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse Training at 1,637 — a career-terminal credential, not a transfer-prep track. For students targeting a bachelor's degree, Liberal Arts and Sciences is the relevant high-volume option at 673 completions. The eight-year transfer-out rate is 35%, a strong result that sits above the typical 15–25% range for community colleges nationally. Median earnings ten years out are $41k, median debt for borrowers is $11,000, and the three-year loan default rate is 0%. In-state tuition is $5,550 annually; net price averages $11,171. Cost is manageable relative to a four-year, but not negligible — budget accordingly.
What this CC teaches at scale
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse Training. | 1,637 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies. | 673 |
| Welding Technology/Welder. | 333 |
| Homeland Security. | 274 |
| Emergency Medical Technology/Technician (EMT Paramedic). | 213 |
| Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse. | 181 |
| Computer Programming, Specific Applications. | 132 |
| Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician. | 111 |
| Business Administration and Management, General. | 109 |
| Accounting. | 104 |
Source · IPEDS completions (all undergraduate credentials).
Where Iowa transfers tend to go
Reflects state-aggregated IPEDS transfer-in volume — CC-specific destinations are not publicly available from IPEDS or the College Scorecard.
Frequently asked
- Is Des Moines Area Community College a good place to start a bachelor's degree?
- The transfer-out rate suggests yes — 35% of students reach a four-year institution within eight years, which is above the national community college average. That said, DMACC's program mix skews heavily toward career-technical credentials: nursing, welding, EMT, and automotive collectively account for a large share of completions. If your goal is a bachelor's, the Liberal Arts and Sciences program (673 completions) is the clearest on-ramp. In-state tuition is $5,550 and net price averages $11,171, so you'll likely carry some debt — median borrower debt is $11,000. The 0% three-year loan default rate and $41k median ten-year earnings provide a reasonable floor. Go in with a clear four-year target and a transfer plan, and the data supports DMACC as a functional starting point.
- How does Des Moines Area Community College's transfer-out rate compare to typical community colleges?
- DMACC's eight-year transfer-out rate is 35%. National research typically places community college transfer rates in the 15–25% range, so DMACC's figure sits meaningfully above that benchmark. The rate is measured over eight years, and given that 76% of students attend part-time — which naturally extends timelines — it reflects genuine transfer momentum rather than a favorable cohort. An additional 0.8% were still enrolled at the eight-year mark, and 30% had completed a credential at DMACC itself. Taken together, the data suggests DMACC is functioning as an active pipeline into Iowa's four-year system, not just a terminal endpoint for vocational credentials.
- What programs does Des Moines Area Community College offer at meaningful scale?
- DMACC's largest program by completions is Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse Training at 1,637 — a direct-employment credential, not a transfer path. Liberal Arts and Sciences follows at 673 completions and is the main pipeline for students intending to transfer to a four-year institution. Welding Technology produced 333 completions, Homeland Security 274, and Emergency Medical Technology 213. Registered Nursing added 181, Computer Programming 132, Automotive Technology 111, Business Administration 109, and Accounting 104. The mix matters for transfer-bound students: the college is heavily weighted toward healthcare and trades, with Liberal Arts as the primary transfer-prep offering. That program operates at real volume, meaning course sections, advising, and infrastructure for transfer students are genuinely present.
Methodology — Transfer signals reflect IPEDS Outcome Measures 8-year cohorts; earnings and debt come from the College Scorecard. Destinations are state-aggregated; we do not claim CC-specific transfer destinations without authoritative per-student tracking data.