WhatGradsMake
Certificate (under 1 year)+6% vs national median152 grads tracked

Legal Professions and Studies at Des Moines Area Community College

Ranked 14th of 43 certificate (under 1 year) programs in Legal Professions and Studies by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$43,554
middle 50%: $34,351 – $53,883
Median · 5 years out
$55,111
middle 50%: $43,670 – $67,570
Median · 10 years out
$67,254
middle 50%: $52,460 – $78,686

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for Legal Professions and Studies (certificate (under 1 year)) graduates.

This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates

Graduates of Des Moines Area Community College's certificate (under 1 year) program in Legal Professions and Studies earn a median $43,554 one year after graduating, rising to $67,254 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 6% above the national median of $51,789 for this field, ranking 14th of 43 reporting programs.

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
7.3 yrs
≈ $8,312 total interest

Same major at other universities

Manchester Community College
$59,105 · 5 yrs out
Elgin Community College
$59,105 · 5 yrs out
Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis
$58,858 · 5 yrs out
Alvin Community College
$58,609 · 5 yrs out
Cape Cod Community College
$56,877 · 5 yrs out
William Rainey Harper College
$55,827 · 5 yrs out
Greenville Technical College
$54,993 · 5 yrs out
Mount Wachusett Community College
$54,679 · 5 yrs out
Houston Community College
$51,789 · 5 yrs out
Indiana University - South Bend
$51,223 · 5 yrs out
Trident Technical College
$51,223 · 5 yrs out
Midland College
$51,223 · 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

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