DMACC vs. Iowa

Should I go to Des Moines Area Community College or University of Iowa? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if DMACC or Iowa 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.
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Des Moines Area Community College vs. University of Iowa comparison
Des Moines Area Community College University of Iowa College 3 College 4
University of Iowa
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Overview

 DMACC Iowa
Location Ankeny, IA Iowa City, IA
Setting Rural Fringe Small City
Enrollment 21,637 30,015
Type Public 2 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #224
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website dmacc.edu uiowa.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 DMACC Iowa
Tuition (In State) $5,340 $8,711
Tuition (Out of State) $10,680 $30,674
Room & Board $7,702 $11,476
Avg Net Price $9,292 $19,587
Avg Grant Aid $5,109 $9,959
% Receiving Grant Aid 54% 82%

Admission

 DMACC Iowa
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied - 25,729
Admitted - 22,128
Acceptance Rate Open 86%
Enrolled % Open 23.4%
Avg High School GPA - 3.81
Typical High School Grades - A-
Admissions Standards Unavailable Challenging
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 22/28
SAT Range 1130/1340
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline May 1, 2025

Academics

 DMACC Iowa
Student to Faculty Ratio 19:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (38%)
  • Health Professions (18%)
  • Business (11%)
  • Precision Production Trades (6%)
  • Mechanic and Repair Technologies (5%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • Communication (8%)

Outcomes

 DMACC Iowa
Graduation Rate - 71%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $35,600 $59,800
Making Student Loan Payments 36% 70%
Median Student Loan Debt $10,125 $21,616
Median Loan Payment $104 $223

Diversity

 DMACC Iowa
% Men 44% 44%
% Women 56% 56%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 74% 67%
% Black 8% 3%
% Hispanic 7% 7%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 1% 12%
% Unknown Race 3% 4%

Students

 DMACC Iowa
% In-State 99% 54%
% Out-of-State 1% 45%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • University of Iowa is larger than than DMACC based on total student enrollment (30,015 students vs. 21,637 students)

DMACC vs. Iowa Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, DMACC or Iowa?

  • University of Iowa is 63.1% more expensive to attend than DMACC for in-state tuition ($8,711.00 vs. $5,340.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 187.2% higher at Iowa than Des Moines Area Community College ($30,674.00 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 Iowa ($9,292 vs. $19,587)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Des Moines Area Community College are 49% lower than costs at University of Iowa ($7,702 vs. $11,476)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Iowa than Des Moines Area Community College (82% vs. 54%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Iowa students is 94.9% larger than aid received Des Moines Area Community College ($9,959 vs. $5,109)

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

DMACC vs. Iowa Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, DMACC or Iowa? 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 Iowa and DMACC.

  • Graduates from University of Iowa earn on average $24,200 more per year than DMACC graduates after ten years. ($59,800 vs. $35,600)
  • Des Moines Area Community College students graduate with a $11,491 lower median federal student loan debt than Iowa graduates. ($10,125 vs. $21,616)
  • DMACC graduates are paying $119 less per month on federal student loans than Iowa graduates. ($104 vs. $223)
  • More Iowa graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former DMACC students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 36%)

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