How much money do Des Moines Area Community College graduates make and which majors earn the most upon graduating? Six years after enrolling, alumni who are working have average earnings of $29,300 per year. After ten years, graduates earn $35,600 on average.
In terms of specific areas of study, the following is a ranking of degree programs by the median first-year starting salaries for DMACC graduates.
The undergraduate degree which initially pays the highest is Dental Support Services and Allied Professions with a median starting salary of $51,600 followed by Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing paying $50,300 and Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies graduates who have a median starting income of $44,600 .
Note about salary data: First year earnings data are aggregated by the US Department of Education and analyzes IRS reported income for Des Moines Area Community College graduates who received federal financial aid in the form of grants or loans. Not all graduates or fields of study are represented as data for some degree programs are omitted for privacy purposes.
| Major | Earnings |
|---|---|
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions (Associate's Degree) | $51,600 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate's Degree) | $50,300 |
| Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies (Associate's Degree) | $44,600 |
| Funeral Service and Mortuary Science (Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma) | $42,300 |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies (Associate's Degree) | $41,800 |
| Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services, Other (Associate's Degree) | $39,100 |
| Agricultural Business and Management (Associate's Degree) | $38,900 |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants (Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma) | $34,600 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections (Associate's Degree) | $31,600 |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions (Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma) | $30,600 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations (Associate's Degree) | $30,000 |
| Precision Metal Working (Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma) | $29,000 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences Studies and Humanities (Associate's Degree) | $28,800 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services (Associate's Degree) | $26,800 |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services (Associate's Degree) | $26,500 |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services (Associate's Degree) | $25,800 |
| Community Organization and Advocacy (Associate's Degree) | $22,200 |
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=153214 IPEDS survey and College Scorecard data for Des Moines Area Community College.