Des Moines Area Community College vs Kirkwood Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Kirkwood Community College comes closer — median earnings $41,016 against a $19,410 total, vs $41,018 at Des Moines Area Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Des Moines Area Community College | Kirkwood Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,171 | $9,705 |
| Total net cost | $44,684 | $19,410 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $41,018 | $41,016 |
| Median debt | $11,000 | $12,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$191,524 | -$166,290 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Des Moines Area Community College or Kirkwood Community College?
Kirkwood Community College, at $9,705 a year after aid versus $11,171 — a gap of $1,466 a year, or $25,274 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 Kirkwood Community College graduates earn more?
Des Moines Area Community College graduates report a median $41,018 ten years after entry, $2 more than the $41,016 at Kirkwood 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 Kirkwood Community College?
Des Moines Area Community College: its completers carry a median $11,000 in federal loans versus $12,000 at Kirkwood Community College, a difference of $1,000. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
43% of students finish at Kirkwood 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.