Des Moines Area Community College vs Iowa Central Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Iowa Central Community College comes closer — median earnings $42,046 against a $18,656 total, vs $41,018 at Des Moines Area Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Des Moines Area Community College | Iowa Central Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,171 | $9,328 |
| Total net cost | $44,684 | $18,656 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $41,018 | $42,046 |
| Median debt | $11,000 | $11,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$191,524 | -$144,936 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Des Moines Area Community College or Iowa Central Community College?
Iowa Central Community College, at $9,328 a year after aid versus $11,171 — a gap of $1,843 a year, or $26,028 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Des Moines Area Community College or Iowa Central Community College graduates earn more?
Iowa Central Community College graduates report a median $42,046 ten years after entry, $1,028 more than the $41,018 at Des Moines Area Community College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, Des Moines Area Community College or Iowa Central Community College?
Completers at both borrow a median $11,000, so neither school has the debt advantage. That figure covers federal loans of students who finished — borrowers who leave early are not counted, and private loans sit outside it.
Which graduates more of its students?
42% of students finish at Iowa Central Community College, against 39% at Des Moines Area Community College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.