Home › Des Moines Area Community College › Legal Support Services

Legal Support Services at Des Moines Area Community College

Ankeny, IA · Public · Associate Degree

serving 10,406 students in Ankeny, IA.

Program Analysis

Graduates of Des Moines Area Community College's Legal Support Services program earn $49,137/yr in their first year — 33% above the $36,991 national median, a strong market signal for this institution.

The 49.4x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. Trade programs often deliver strong ratios, and this one is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 61% task exposure — and the 9% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook for Legal Support Services graduates.

At $8,175 in median debt against $49,137 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.

Ranked #28 out of 127 programs, Des Moines Area Community College's Legal Support Services program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Legal Support Services connects to 2 apprenticeship options. The earn-while-you-learn model can be a strong alternative or complement to a certificate program.

56 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
51
Low End
56
Score
60
High End
Earnings $49,137/yr (33% vs median)
AI-Proof Exposed (39% shielded)
Job Market Large (77,600 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$563K
3.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
50.7x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
6 of 6
Occupations with strong AI resilience

Projected 10-Year Earnings

Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.

Program Tuition (In-State)
$11,100
Out-of-state: $22,200
Median Debt at Graduation
$8,175
2.0 months of Year 1 earnings

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Legal Support Services graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
Legal support workers, all other $68,760 -1.2% 100%
Court reporters and simultaneous captioners $67,310 -0.3% 4%
Paralegals and legal assistants $61,010 +0.2% 48%
Legal support workers, all other
$68,760
-1.2% growth 100% AI-proof
Court reporters and simultaneous captioners
$67,310
-0.3% growth 4% AI-proof
Paralegals and legal assistants
$61,010
+0.2% growth 48% AI-proof

View all 6 career paths with full salary data →

About Legal Support Services Careers

Your work will be at the heart of the legal process. As a paralegal, you’ll spend your days in a law office, drafting motions, organizing evidence for trial, and using research databases to find case-critical information. You might also work as a legal assistant, managing an attorney's busy calendar, electronically filing documents with the court, and serving as the primary point of contact for clients during stressful times.

Read the full Legal Support Services career guide →

Compare & Explore

Legal Support Services Overview

View all 127 schools offering Legal Support Services →

Legal Support Services at Other Schools

Tacoma Community College ($50,681) Inver Hills Community College ($49,694) North Hennepin Community College ($48,960) Loyola University Chicago ($48,819) North Hennepin Community College ($48,599) MTI College ($47,535) Palm Beach State College ($46,622) Austin Community College District ($46,216)

Other Majors at Des Moines Area Community College

Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management ($66,093) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($60,163) Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($59,181) Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions ($56,681) Homeland Security ($54,209) Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies ($52,325) Dental Support Services and Allied Professions ($49,953) Funeral Service and Mortuary Science ($49,355)

Considering a 4-Year Degree Instead?

Compare Legal Support Services degree programs on DegreeOutlook →

Compare how bachelor's degree graduates fare on earnings, ROI, and AI resilience.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a 56/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Legal Support Services at Des Moines Area Community College?
At 56/100, Des Moines Area Community College's Legal Support Services program delivers middling returns. School cost and personal fit become important decision factors.
How vulnerable is Legal Support Services to AI automation?
The 61% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.
How affordable is Legal Support Services at Des Moines Area Community College?
Median debt of just $8,175 against $49,137/yr in starting salary means graduates can clear their loans in under 2 months. This is one of the more affordable paths in our dataset.
Is Des Moines Area Community College one of the best schools for Legal Support Services?
Among 127 Legal Support Services programs, Des Moines Area Community College's #28 position reflects consistently above-average results across earnings, ROI, and employment probability.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for Legal Support Services graduates?
Yes — 2 registered apprenticeship programs are mapped to Legal Support Services career paths, including Legal Secretary. Apprenticeships offer paid on-the-job training as an alternative or complement to certificate programs.
Is there demand for Legal Support Services workers?
With approximately 77,600 annual openings across mapped careers, Legal Support Services offers a large employment pool. Physical trades tend to have steady demand driven by infrastructure and construction cycles.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →