Head-to-head comparison
Des Moines Area Community College vs North Iowa Area Community College: which has better ROI?
Option A Ankeny, IA
Des Moines Area Community College
- Net price / year
- $11,171
- Earnings, 10 years
- $41,018
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Mason City, IA
North Iowa Area Community College
- Net price / year
- $10,010
- Earnings, 10 years
- $43,462
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but North Iowa Area Community College comes closer — median earnings $43,462 against a $40,040 total, vs $41,018 at Des Moines Area Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Des Moines Area Community College | North Iowa Area Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,171 | $10,010 |
| Total net cost | $44,684 | $40,040 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $41,018 | $43,462 |
| Median debt | $11,000 | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$191,524 | -$138,000 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Des Moines Area Community College or North Iowa Area Community College?
North Iowa Area Community College, at $10,010 a year after aid versus $11,171 — a gap of $1,161 a year, or $4,644 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Des Moines Area Community College or North Iowa Area Community College graduates earn more?
North Iowa Area Community College graduates report a median $43,462 ten years after entry, $2,444 more than the $41,018 at Des Moines Area Community College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Des Moines Area Community College or North Iowa Area Community College?
North Iowa Area Community College: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $11,000 at Des Moines Area Community College, a difference of $1,500. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
61% of students finish at North Iowa Area Community College, against 39% at Des Moines Area Community College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.