Des Moines Area Community College
Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) offers hands-on training for various skilled trades, including automotive, construction, diesel technology, electrical trades, HVAC, and welding. Many programs emphasize work-based learning, such as apprenticeships and internships, with strong connections to local employers like John Deere Dealership Partners. DMACC also provides short-term certificate programs through its Workforce Training Academy, which can cover tuition, books, and supplies for in-demand fields.
Programs Analyzed
Avg Grad Earnings
Avg TradeSchoolOutlook Score
Tuition (In-State)
All Programs at Des Moines Area Community College
26 trade programs at Des Moines Area CC, ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score (combines earnings, ROI, AI resilience, and job market size). Use the “compare” links to see how this school’s programs stack up against others nationally.
| Program | Score | Earnings | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
|
IT Management
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management Compare nationwide → Compare in IA → |
79 | $66,093/yr | $10,167 |
|
Information Sciences
Computer and Information Sciences, General Compare nationwide → |
78 | $60,163/yr | — |
|
Nursing
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing Compare nationwide → Compare in IA → |
78 | $59,181/yr | $15,075 |
|
Homeland Security
Compare nationwide → |
74 | $54,209/yr | — |
|
Practical Nursing
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants Compare nationwide → Compare in IA → |
74 | $34,390/yr | — |
|
Health Administration
Health and Medical Administrative Services Compare nationwide → Compare in IA → |
73 | $35,662/yr | — |
|
Accounting
Accounting and Related Services Compare nationwide → |
72 | $47,400/yr | $16,625 |
|
Criminal Justice
Criminal Justice and Corrections Compare nationwide → Compare in IA → |
70 | $42,555/yr | $9,750 |
|
Agricultural Business
Agricultural Business and Management Compare nationwide → Compare in IA → |
70 | $40,506/yr | $8,684 |
|
Medical Assisting
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services Compare nationwide → Compare in IA → |
70 | $38,511/yr | $10,265 |
|
Vehicle Repair Technology
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies Compare nationwide → Compare in IA → |
69 | $52,325/yr | $8,770 |
|
Allied Health Professions
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions Compare nationwide → Compare in IA → |
68 | $45,688/yr | $7,500 |
|
Business Administration
Business Administration, Management and Operations Compare nationwide → Compare in IA → |
68 | $35,852/yr | $10,434 |
|
Welding & Metalworking
Precision Metal Working Compare nationwide → Compare in IA → |
66 | $39,397/yr | $5,500 |
|
Funeral Service & Mortuary Science
Funeral Service and Mortuary Science Compare nationwide → |
65 | $49,355/yr | $9,500 |
|
Culinary Arts
Culinary Arts and Related Services Compare nationwide → Compare in IA → |
65 | $26,913/yr | $8,334 |
|
Dental Assisting
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions Compare nationwide → Compare in IA → |
63 | $49,953/yr | — |
|
Carpentry
Carpenters Compare nationwide → |
63 | $34,421/yr | — |
|
Clinical Laboratory Science
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions Compare nationwide → |
59 | $47,585/yr | $14,500 |
|
Legal Support Services
Compare nationwide → |
56 | $49,137/yr | $8,175 |
|
Veterinary Technology
Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians Compare nationwide → Compare in IA → |
53 | $38,962/yr | $9,834 |
|
Human Development & Family Studies
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services Compare nationwide → |
53 | $22,623/yr | — |
|
Drafting & Design Technology
Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians Compare nationwide → |
51 | $44,886/yr | — |
|
Liberal Arts & Humanities
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities Compare nationwide → Compare in IA → |
47 | $31,453/yr | $9,500 |
|
Design
Design and Applied Arts Compare nationwide → |
44 | $25,265/yr | $13,000 |
|
Community Organization
Community Organization and Advocacy Compare nationwide → |
41 | $26,312/yr | $20,503 |
Reading the table: Score combines earnings, ROI, AI resilience, and job market size on a 0–100 scale. Earnings = median first-year salary from College Scorecard. Debt = median federal debt at graduation (blank where Scorecard suppresses small samples). 10yr ROI = projected 10-year earnings ÷ in-state tuition. AI Risk reflects task-level AI exposure across mapped occupations. Job Market = annual openings nationwide for connected occupations.
More Trade Schools in Iowa
Top-scored trade schools elsewhere in Iowa, ranked by average TradeSchoolOutlook Score across their programs.
Apprenticeship Pathways in Iowa
Earn-while-you-learn alternatives in Iowa. Registered apprenticeships skip tuition and pay you during training, though training periods are typically longer.
Trade Schools Near Ankeny
Other cities in Iowa with multiple trade schools, sorted by distance from Ankeny.
About This Data
TradeSchoolOutlook analyzes 26 trade and vocational programs at Des Moines Area Community College using earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and employment projections from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024–2034).
The TradeSchoolOutlook Score (0–100) combines graduate earnings, return on investment, AI resilience, and job market size. AI Risk reflects task-level exposure for the occupations each program feeds into. Job Market shows the size of the national hiring pool. Programs without published debt figures had small reporting samples that the College Scorecard suppresses for privacy.