Public
Accredited · Higher Learning Commission
Ankeny, Iowa
Des Moines Area Community College — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
$15,664Annual Cost
$41,018Grad Salary
16.1%Pell Grant
Selectivity
Open Enrollment
Institution Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission
SAT Middle 50%
-40–30
Avg Net Price
$11,050
Need-Based Aid
16.1% receive Pell
Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) is a comprehensive public institution offering a wide array of career-technical and liberal arts programs designed to meet the diverse needs of Iowa's workforce. With multiple campuses and robust distance learning options, it provides high-quality, affordable education that emphasizes hands-on training and real-world application.\n\nThe college is particularly noted for its strong ties to local employers and its extensive range of specialized programs, including fire science, cyber forensics, and skilled trades. Students benefit from small class sizes and personalized support services, making DMACC an ideal starting point for those seeking either a direct entry into a high-demand career or a foundation for a bachelor's degree.
Des Moines Area Community College Acceptance Rate
Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) runs an open-access admission policy — with a 100% acceptance rate, the focus is on getting qualified students in, not filtering them out.
What to Expect
- Eligibility First: A high school diploma or GED typically clears the main bar.
- Plan Ahead for Placement: Placement tests can shape which courses you start in — worth preparing for.
Selectivity at a Glance
Open Enrollment
Selectivity scale: Open Enrollment — rate not reported
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Slightly below-average GPA? A strong test score or clear leadership track record can still keep you competitive.
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Des Moines Area Community College Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Des Moines Area Community College follows a Rolling Admissions policy, meaning applications are reviewed as they arrive and there is no single fixed deadline.
Key Admission Dates
Rolling Admissions — Apply Anytime
DMACC reviews applications continuously throughout the year. Seats and scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so applying early gives you a significant advantage for both admission and financial aid.
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
Check Your Admission Chances at DMACC
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on Des Moines Area Community College's verified institutional data
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Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
⚠️ Note: Predicting based on regional averages as this institution does not publicly report full score datasets.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if DMACC is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into DMACC Without SAT or ACT?
DMACC's test-score policy isn't published. As a default, submit your score only if it's at or above the state/national average — a below-average score can work against you.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for DMACC
Inclusive Strategy: Success & Transfer
Getting into DMACC is the easy part — what matters next is using placement testing, advising, and available resources to set up a strong first year.
Pick a single nursing campus deliberately - DMACC runs five separate nursing sites, and the application locks you to one
DMACC's nursing program requires selecting one specific campus (Ankeny, Boone, Carroll, Newton, or Urban/downtown Des Moines) at the time of application, rather than applying broadly to "DMACC nursing" - admission is based on seat availability at that specific campus, and DMACC accepts students roughly 4-6 months before each cohort starts (fall cohorts typically notified late February/early March; spring cohorts late September/early October). A student should research clinical-site locations and commute logistics for each specific campus before applying, since switching campuses later isn't a simple administrative request.
Know that the standalone ADN entry pathway is gone - DMACC restructured nursing into a different, sequential ladder model
Effective Fall 2024, DMACC discontinued new entry into its standalone Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) program (with a teach-out for already-enrolled students running through the end of 2025); new students now enter through DMACC's Nursing Ladder Program structure, with separate application checklists for first-year nursing entry versus the Advanced Standing (LPN-to-RN) track. A prospective student researching DMACC nursing online should verify they're looking at current Ladder Program materials, not outdated standalone-ADN information still circulating from before the 2024 restructuring.
Treat the "Five Year Rule" on science prerequisites as a real planning constraint, with one narrow exception
DMACC requires science prerequisites (BIO 104, CHM 122, BIO 168, etc.) to have been completed within 5 years of application - but explicitly allows this rule to be waived if the applicant's ATI TEAS Science subscore is 50% or higher. A returning or adult-learner applicant with older science coursework should take the TEAS specifically with this waiver threshold in mind, since clearing the Science subsection at 50%+ can salvage credit from courses that would otherwise need to be retaken.
For students aiming at the University of Iowa BSN, sequence DMACC coursework around UI's specific 64-67 semester-hour completion target, not generic transfer credit accumulation
DMACC has a formal nursing-transfer pathway feeding the University of Iowa College of Nursing's Standard Admission process, which admits up to 72 combined transfer and current pre-nursing students each Spring - UI specifically recommends completing 64-67 semester hours (rather than the minimum 48 required to apply) so that only nursing-major coursework remains if admitted. A DMACC student targeting UI nursing should plan coursework to hit this higher 64-67 hour benchmark deliberately, not just the bare 48-hour minimum, to maximize their position in a competitive applicant pool.
Expert Insight:
DMACC's nursing-program webpages and third-party aggregators contain a meaningful amount of outdated information from before the Fall 2024 program restructuring - references to a "stand-alone ADN program" or evening/weekend tracks may reflect a discontinued structure rather than current entry pathways. A family should confirm current nursing application requirements directly against DMACC's most recently dated official checklist documents rather than relying on search results or program descriptions that may predate the 2024 changes.
DMACC Profile
Full Name
Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC)
City
Ankeny
State
Iowa
ZIP Code
50023-3993
Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission (NCACHE)
Is a DMACC Degree Worth It?
Whether DMACC is worth it depends less on its reputation and more on your program choice, financial aid package, and career goals — here's the data to weigh it against.
The average household income among admitted students is $59,400, with a graduate unemployment rate of 3.11%.
How much does a degree from DMACC Cost?
The sticker price is $15,664/year, but the average net price students actually pay — after Pell and federal grants — is closer to $11,050.
16.1% of students receive a Pell Grant and 13.1% take federal loans at DMACC — file your FAFSA early and list DMACC as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a DMACC Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $41,018 — about 1% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Degree Programs at DMACC
Associate Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About DMACC Admissions
Median earnings for Des Moines Area Community College graduates sit around $41,018 a year.
At about $15,664 a year, Des Moines Area Community College is on the more affordable end.
Des Moines Area Community College's Pell Grant rate of 16.1% sits below the national average — merit-based aid is worth checking regardless of income.
Des Moines Area Community College follows Rolling Admissions — applications are reviewed year-round, so applying early is your best strategy.
Yes — transfers are common. Have transcripts, recommendation letters, and a solid personal statement ready to make your case.
Strong academics, a focused extracurricular profile, and standout essays move the needle most — along with a competitive SAT/ACT score where relevant.