Certificate (1-2 years)+58% vs national median518 grads tracked
Culinary, Entertainment, and Personal Services at Des Moines Area Community College
Ranked 2nd of 87 certificate (1-2 years) programs in Culinary, Entertainment, and Personal Services by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$43,948
middle 50%: $34,133 – $56,286
Median · 5 years out
$54,642
middle 50%: $41,501 – $69,325
Median · 10 years out
$61,889
middle 50%: $47,616 – $83,858
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Culinary, Entertainment, and Personal Services (certificate (1-2 years)) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
This certificate program in Iowa produces high earnings, with year-one medians at $44k. Graduates see $62k after ten years in the field.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.
Will the degree pay for itself?
Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.
Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).
Paid off in
7.4 yrs
≈ $8,336 total interest
Same major at other universities
National Louis University
$61,332 · 5 yrs out
Illinois Central College
$50,881 · 5 yrs out
Colorado Mountain College
$49,035 · 5 yrs out
Saint Louis Community College
$46,967 · 5 yrs out
College of Coastal Georgia
$46,207 · 5 yrs out
Leeward Community College
$44,521 · 5 yrs out
Suffolk County Community College
$44,398 · 5 yrs out
Hennepin Technical College
$43,948 · 5 yrs out
Columbus State Community College
$43,433 · 5 yrs out
Triton College
$43,047 · 5 yrs out
College of Lake County
$42,423 · 5 yrs out
Moraine Valley Community College
$42,371 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Des Moines Area Community College
Fire Protection (Certificate)
$85,523 · 5 yrs out
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services (Certificate)
$81,357 · 5 yrs out
Fire Protection (Associate)
$81,295 · 5 yrs out
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Certificate)
$79,157 · 5 yrs out
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management (Associate)
$78,843 · 5 yrs out
Computer Programming (Associate)
$73,958 · 5 yrs out
Computer Programming (Certificate)
$72,928 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Certificate)
$71,555 · 5 yrs out
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Certificate)
$71,212 · 5 yrs out
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Certificate)
$71,212 · 5 yrs out
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions (Associate)
$68,222 · 5 yrs out
Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$68,098 · 5 yrs out