Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technology at Des Moines Area Community College

Based on comparable programs, graduates of this electrical maintenance technology program can expect starting salaries around $45,000, climbing to nearly $67,000 by year four—a trajectory that shows strong mid-career momentum in Iowa's industrial sector. The estimated $12,000 in debt matches the state median and creates a modest debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.26, meaning graduates would owe roughly three months' salary. That's manageable debt for a technical credential that should deliver steady income growth.

The real question is whether Des Moines Area Community College matches the performance of its Iowa peers. Similar programs at Iowa Central produce starting earnings closer to $53,000, while Northwest Iowa sits around $45,000—the same baseline used for this estimate. Without actual graduate outcomes from DMACC, you're betting on the school's reputation and local employer connections. The four-year earnings figure of $66,710 is actual data and suggests the program does lead to career progression, but that first-year number remains uncertain.

For parents, this program offers a solid technical pathway with reasonable debt, but you're working with limited transparency. If your student has alternatives with reported outcomes—or if you can connect with recent DMACC graduates directly—those conversations would fill crucial gaps. The fundamentals look sound, but you're making this decision with fewer data points than ideal.