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Career Training PathIowa › Des Moines Area Community College

Des Moines Area Community College

Ankeny, Iowa · Public community college

LPN / LVN programsWelding schoolsEMT & paramedic trainingAuto mechanic schoolsCulinary & pastry schoolsDiesel mechanic schoolsPhlebotomy classesDental assistant schoolsDental hygiene programsHVAC schoolsConstruction trades programsElectrician schoolsMedical assistant programsCNC & machining programsMedical billing & coding programs
39%completion rate · Iowa avg 64%
$11,000median debt of graduates
$39,349median earnings, 6 yrs after entry
$41,018median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
not reportedannual cost of attendance
Yesfederal aid (FAFSA / Pell) eligible
Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing | American Board of Funeral Service Education, Committee on Accreditation | American Dental Association, Commission on Dental Accreditation | Higher Learning Commission (Accredited)
Address: 2006 Ankeny Blvd, Ankeny, IA 50023 · Phone: (515) 964-6200 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
Accountability record (federal accreditation database, last 36 months; Department of Education oversight)
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
Sanctions are probation, warning, show-cause and loss-of-accreditation actions by any recognized accreditor, including program-specific accreditors (a nursing-program probation counts for the campus). Routine monitoring reviews and voluntary withdrawals are not counted. Ask the school what the action concerned and how it was resolved.
Completion rate vs. benchmarks
Des Moines Area Commu… Des Moines Area Commu…: 39.2% 39.2% Iowa average Iowa average: 63.6% 63.6% National average National average: 62.1% 62.1%

What these trades pay once you're working

OccupationStarting (10th pct)MedianExperienced (75th)
Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses$50,550$62,630$70,840
Welders, cutters, solderers and brazers$45,590$55,090$60,200
Emergency medical technicians$35,600$40,660$47,870
Automotive service technicians and mechanics$36,100$50,510$67,200
Chefs and head cooks$36,770$47,990$59,380
Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists$43,710$59,680$71,570
Phlebotomists$35,970$38,240$44,120
Dental assistants$39,360$48,430$57,620
Dental hygienists$78,320$84,010$93,880
HVAC and refrigeration mechanics and installers$43,040$60,680$75,950
Construction laborers$38,180$48,490$58,470
Electricians$39,770$60,860$79,970
Medical assistants$36,730$45,480$48,030
Machinists$44,500$57,540$61,530
Medical records specialists$38,910$50,640$61,920

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in Iowa (May 2025; national where the state figure is not published). The program table below shows what this campus's own graduates earned in their first year, whatever job they took.

Trade programs at this campus

ProgramCredentialGrads / yrEarnings, yr 1Earnings, yr 2Median debt
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants Certificate, under 300 hours 686 not reported $33,281 not reported
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants Certificate, 300–899 hours 512 not reported $33,281 not reported
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions Certificate, under 300 hours 186 $40,759 $35,060 $7,500
Precision Metal Working Certificate, under 300 hours 143 $30,604 $36,938 $5,500
Precision Metal Working Certificate, 300–899 hours 86 $30,604 $36,938 $5,500
Precision Metal Working Certificate, 1–2 years 63 $30,604 $36,938 $5,500
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians Associate degree 53 $41,813 $44,244 $8,770
Culinary Arts and Related Services Associate degree 32 $30,970 $28,236 $8,334
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians Certificate, 300–899 hours 25 not reported not reported not reported
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions Certificate, under 300 hours 24 not reported $25,967 not reported
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions Certificate, 1–2 years 22 $33,532 $31,762 $5,500
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions Associate degree 21 $51,133 $55,964 not reported
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) Associate degree 19 $41,529 not reported not reported
Precision Metal Working Certificate, 1–2 years 19 $30,604 $36,938 $5,500
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants Certificate, 1–2 years 18 not reported $33,281 not reported
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians Associate degree 18 $41,813 $44,244 $8,770
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians Certificate, 1–2 years 16 not reported not reported not reported
Carpenters Certificate, 1–2 years 12 $34,614 $32,382 not reported
Precision Metal Working Associate degree 12 $51,059 not reported not reported
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services Certificate, 1–2 years 11 $35,933 $31,762 $10,265
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers Certificate, 1–2 years 11 not reported not reported not reported
Precision Metal Working Certificate, 300–899 hours 10 $30,604 $36,938 $5,500
Culinary Arts and Related Services Certificate, 1–2 years 8 not reported not reported not reported
Precision Metal Working Associate degree 8 $51,059 not reported not reported
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians Certificate, 1–2 years 8 not reported not reported not reported
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians Certificate, 1–2 years 7 not reported not reported not reported
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians Associate degree 6 $41,813 $44,244 $8,770
Carpenters Associate degree 4 not reported not reported not reported
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions Associate degree 2 $44,272 $51,482 not reported
Health and Medical Administrative Services Certificate, 300–899 hours 2 not reported $32,772 not reported
Health and Medical Administrative Services Associate degree 2 not reported $28,055 not reported
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions Certificate, 300–899 hours 1 $40,759 $35,060 $7,500
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians Associate degree 1 $41,813 $44,244 $8,770

Earnings are median wages and self-employment income reported to the IRS (W-2 and Schedule SE) for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled, measured in the calendar year after finishing. They are pay only: health insurance, retirement contributions and other benefits are not included.

Graduates per year from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey. Earnings and debt are College Scorecard field-of-study medians for graduates of this program at this campus (reported at the 4-digit program level, so closely related programs share a figure); "not reported" means too few graduates were counted to publish a figure.

Visit the school's website ↗

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Data: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey; College Scorecard June 2026; Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), September 2026. Figures are the U.S. Department of Education's official measures, not Career Training Path's opinion. Tuition, schedules and program availability change — confirm with the school before enrolling.

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