WhatGradsMake
Certificate (under 1 year)+63% vs national median58 grads tracked

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Des Moines Area Community College

Ranked 2nd of 17 certificate (under 1 year) programs in Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$48,487
middle 50%: $27,237 – $84,159
Median · 5 years out
$71,212
middle 50%: $41,154 – $92,387
Median · 10 years out
$72,585
middle 50%: $42,446 – $100,908

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (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 Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities earn a median $48,487 one year after graduating, rising to $72,585 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 63% above the national median of $43,801 for this field, ranking 2nd of 17 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
6 yrs
≈ $6,792 total interest

Same major at other universities

Northern Virginia Community College
$74,643 · 5 yrs out
Purdue University
$68,424 · 5 yrs out
Ohio University
$49,855 · 5 yrs out
Vincennes University
$48,268 · 5 yrs out
Tri-County Technical College
$44,743 · 5 yrs out
Sinclair Community College
$43,801 · 5 yrs out
Orangeburg - Calhoun Technical College
$42,146 · 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
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

Related fields of study

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
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