DMACC vs. ISU

Should I go to Des Moines Area Community College or Iowa State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if DMACC or ISU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
Add a college to compare up to four schools

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

Iowa Michigan State Purdue Nebraska UIC Minnesota UNI Illinois ASU IU UT Dallas NDSU
Des Moines Area Community College vs. Iowa State University comparison
Des Moines Area Community College Iowa State University College 3 College 4
Iowa State University
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

 DMACC ISU
Location Ankeny, IA Ames, IA
Setting Rural Fringe Small City
Enrollment 21,637 29,969
Type Public 2 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #352
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website dmacc.edu iastate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 DMACC ISU
Tuition (In State) $5,340 $8,678
Tuition (Out of State) $10,680 $25,162
Room & Board $7,702 $9,358
Avg Net Price $9,292 $15,310
Avg Grant Aid $5,109 $11,043
% Receiving Grant Aid 54% 80%

Admission

 DMACC ISU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied - 21,919
Admitted - 19,776
Acceptance Rate Open 90.2%
Enrolled % Open 29%
Avg High School GPA - 3.7
Typical High School Grades - A-
Admissions Standards Unavailable Challenging
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/28
SAT Range 1090/1350
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline

Academics

 DMACC ISU
Student to Faculty Ratio 19:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (38%)
  • Health Professions (18%)
  • Business (11%)
  • Precision Production Trades (6%)
  • Mechanic and Repair Technologies (5%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Engineering (17%)
  • Agriculture (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Communication (5%)

Outcomes

 DMACC ISU
Graduation Rate - 68%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $35,600 $53,700
Making Student Loan Payments 36% 74%
Median Student Loan Debt $10,125 $23,868
Median Loan Payment $104 $246

Diversity

 DMACC ISU
% Men 44% 55%
% Women 56% 45%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 74% 76%
% Black 8% 3%
% Hispanic 7% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 2%
% International 1% 7%
% Unknown Race 3% 5%

Students

 DMACC ISU
% In-State 99% 52%
% Out-of-State 1% 45%

Campus

 DMACC ISU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan No Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Iowa State University is larger than than DMACC based on total student enrollment (29,969 students vs. 21,637 students)

DMACC vs. ISU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, DMACC or ISU?

  • Iowa State University is 62.5% more expensive to attend than DMACC for in-state tuition ($8,678.00 vs. $5,340.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 135.6% higher at ISU than Des Moines Area Community College ($25,162.00 vs. $10,680.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Des Moines Area Community College than ISU ($9,292 vs. $15,310)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Des Moines Area Community College are 21.5% lower than costs at Iowa State University ($7,702 vs. $9,358)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Iowa State University than Des Moines Area Community College (80% vs. 54%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Iowa State University students is 116.1% larger than aid received Des Moines Area Community College ($11,043 vs. $5,109)

Which college is harder to get into, DMACC or ISU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between ISU or DMACC .

DMACC vs. ISU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, DMACC or ISU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between ISU and DMACC.

  • Graduates from Iowa State University earn on average $18,100 more per year than DMACC graduates after ten years. ($53,700 vs. $35,600)
  • Des Moines Area Community College students graduate with a $13,743 lower median federal student loan debt than ISU graduates. ($10,125 vs. $23,868)
  • DMACC graduates are paying $142 less per month on federal student loans than ISU graduates. ($104 vs. $246)
  • More ISU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former DMACC students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 36%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/