Des Moines Area Community College vs University of Northern Iowa
A side-by-side look at cost, graduate earnings, debt and return on investment. The better figure in each row is highlighted.
| Des Moines Area Community College Ankeny, IA | University of Northern Iowa Cedar Falls, IA | |
|---|---|---|
| ROI verdict | Poor return | Break-even |
| 10-year ROI | -111% | +34% |
| 10-year net gain | $-29,150 | $23,680 |
| Median earnings (5 yr) | $44,720 | $54,446 |
| Median earnings (1 yr) | $38,962 | $42,729 |
| Average net price | $11,171 | $15,901 |
| Median debt | $11,000 | $19,691 |
| Break-even | — | 7.5 yrs |
| Graduation rate | — | 68% |
| Admission rate | — | 93% |
Des Moines Area Community College
Poor return
$-29,150 over 10 years
On these figures the cost and debt outweigh the earnings premium.
University of Northern Iowa
Break-even
+$23,680 over 10 years
The payoff is roughly break-even — the degree recovers its cost, but slowly.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard. ROI is computed by Degree Return — see how. Read the methodology. Data as of 2024.