Associate+1% vs national median9,125 grads tracked
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Des Moines Area Community College
Ranked 157th of 509 associate programs in Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$32,402
middle 50%: $22,875 – $45,506
Median · 5 years out
$47,324
middle 50%: $34,827 – $61,231
Median · 10 years out
$58,108
middle 50%: $43,416 – $75,698
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (associate) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Liberal Arts graduates from Des Moines Area Community College earn a median of $32k in their first year. Salaries grow to $58k by the tenth year of employment.
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 yrs
≈ $10,748 total interest
Same major at other universities
Trinity Valley Community College
$47,411 · 5 yrs out
McLennan Community College
$47,377 · 5 yrs out
Southern Utah University
$47,353 · 5 yrs out
Illinois Central College
$47,343 · 5 yrs out
Kingsborough Community College/CUNY
$47,333 · 5 yrs out
Kilgore College
$47,330 · 5 yrs out
Brigham Young University - Idaho
$47,301 · 5 yrs out
Front Range Community College
$47,288 · 5 yrs out
Germanna Community College
$47,259 · 5 yrs out
Hill College
$47,258 · 5 yrs out
City Colleges of Chicago - Wilbur Wright College
$47,129 · 5 yrs out
McNeese State University
$47,119 · 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