Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions at Des Moines Area Community College

Des Moines Area Community College's allied health certificate sits right in the middle of the pack nationally for earnings, but the debt story tells a more favorable tale. At $20,600, graduates carry about 45% more debt than the national median for this credential, yet they're still keeping debt below half their first-year earnings—a manageable ratio that suggests reasonable repayment timelines. Among Iowa's 16 programs, this ranks in the 60th percentile for earnings while carrying slightly above the state's median debt load.

The real advantage here is how this program structures debt compared to peers nationwide. While falling in the 17th percentile for debt (meaning 83% of similar programs nationally leave students with more debt), DMACC delivers middle-of-the-road earnings without the heavy borrowing that often accompanies certificate programs. You're looking at roughly $1,700 monthly payments before taxes with debt that could reasonably be managed on that salary, especially if your child lives modestly in the first few years.

For an Iowa student weighing options, this represents a solid if unspectacular choice. Northeast Iowa Community College's graduates earn about $5,500 more annually, which over a career could offset their potentially higher debt. But DMACC delivers what matters most in allied health certificates: a credential that leads to employment at predictable wages without creating a debt burden that would make those wages feel inadequate.