Des Moines Area Community College vs Iowa Western Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Iowa Western Community College comes closer — median earnings $42,793 against a $29,258 total, vs $41,018 at Des Moines Area Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Des Moines Area Community College | Iowa Western Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,171 | $14,629 |
| Total net cost | $44,684 | $29,258 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $41,018 | $42,793 |
| Median debt | $11,000 | $11,033 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$191,524 | -$140,598 |
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 Western Community College?
Des Moines Area Community College, at $11,171 a year after aid versus $14,629 — a gap of $3,458 a year, or $15,426 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 Western Community College graduates earn more?
Iowa Western Community College graduates report a median $42,793 ten years after entry, $1,775 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 Western Community College?
Des Moines Area Community College: its completers carry a median $11,000 in federal loans versus $11,033 at Iowa Western Community College, a difference of $33. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
40% of students finish at Iowa Western 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.