Head-to-head comparison
Iowa State University vs Des Moines Area Community College: which has better ROI?
Option A Ames, IA
Iowa State University
- Net price / year
- $18,589
- Earnings, 10 years
- $63,386
- Payback
- 4.9 yrs
Option B Ankeny, IA
Des Moines Area Community College
- Net price / year
- $11,171
- Earnings, 10 years
- $41,018
- Payback
- No payback
Iowa State University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $74,356 in 4.9 years versus not at all at Des Moines Area Community College, on median earnings of $63,386 vs $41,018 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Iowa State University | Des Moines Area Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $18,589 | $11,171 |
| Total net cost | $74,356 | $44,684 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $63,386 | $41,018 |
| Median debt | $22,869 | $11,000 |
| Payback | 4.9 yrs | — |
| 20-year net return | $226,164 | -$191,524 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Iowa State University or Des Moines Area Community College?
Des Moines Area Community College, at $11,171 a year after aid versus $18,589 — a gap of $7,418 a year, or $29,672 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 Iowa State University or Des Moines Area Community College graduates earn more?
Iowa State University graduates report a median $63,386 ten years after entry, $22,368 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, Iowa State University or Des Moines Area Community College?
Des Moines Area Community College: its completers carry a median $11,000 in federal loans versus $22,869 at Iowa State University, a difference of $11,869. 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?
75% of students finish at Iowa State University, 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.