Associate0% vs national median317 grads tracked
Design and Applied Arts at Des Moines Area Community College
Ranked 41st of 124 associate programs in Design and Applied Arts by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$34,546
middle 50%: $25,240 – $44,230
Median · 5 years out
$43,216
middle 50%: $34,079 – $54,276
Median · 10 years out
$53,279
middle 50%: $41,326 – $65,534
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Design and Applied Arts (associate) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Design and Applied Arts graduates see a median first-year salary of $35k. Earnings reach $53k by the tenth year.
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
9.5 yrs
≈ $11,150 total interest
Same major at other universities
College Of DuPage
$45,194 · 5 yrs out
Manchester Community College
$45,014 · 5 yrs out
Suffolk County Community College
$44,283 · 5 yrs out
Ulster County Community College
$44,249 · 5 yrs out
Cincinnati State Technical & Community College
$44,129 · 5 yrs out
Middlesex Community College
$43,948 · 5 yrs out
Elgin Community College
$43,820 · 5 yrs out
Utah Valley University
$43,722 · 5 yrs out
Central Lakes College
$43,047 · 5 yrs out
North Hennepin Community College
$43,047 · 5 yrs out
SUNY College of Technology at Alfred
$42,822 · 5 yrs out
Kirkwood Community College
$42,527 · 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
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management (Associate)
$78,843 · 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
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Associate)
$67,948 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$66,468 · 5 yrs out