Des Moines Area Community College: A Comprehensive Overview

Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) stands as a vital public community college in central Iowa, playing a significant role in the region's education and economic development. Created on March 18, 1966, DMACC has grown substantially, becoming a launchpad to success and a home to lifelong learners. The college is dedicated to providing an accessible and outstanding educational experience to all Iowans of postsecondary school age.

General Information and Academic Structure

DMACC's primary campus is located in Ankeny, a northern suburb of Des Moines. Its campus is located in a suburb with a total enrollment of 23,051. DMACC utilizes a semester-based academic year. The school has an open admissions policy and offers credit for life experiences. There is no application fee.

The institution offers a wide array of academic programs, with students able to earn degrees and certificates in 74 different fields. Popular programs include Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies, Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, and General Studies. This variety allows students to pursue diverse career paths and educational goals.

Tuition, Fees, and Financial Aid

For the academic year 2020-2021, the in-state tuition and fees were $5,220, while out-of-state tuition and fees were $10,440. At Des Moines Area Community College, 24 percent of undergraduates receive grant or scholarship aid and the average scholarship or grant award is $3,864. DMACC also provides resources like a Tuition Comparison Calculator to help students understand and plan for the costs associated with their education.

Student Life and Services

DMACC provides a comprehensive range of services to support its students. These services include:

Read also: About Grossmont Community College

Employment services for students
Credit for life experiences
Academic/career counseling service
Placement services for completers
On-campus day care for students' children

These services ensure that students have the resources they need to succeed academically and professionally.

Athletics

DMACC's athletic programs are located on the Boone Campus. The DMACC Bears compete in the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference and the National Junior College Athletic Association. The Bears participate in men's baseball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's golf, women's softball, and women's volleyball.

DMACC's Role in Iowa's Community College System

Iowa's 15 locally governed community colleges play vital roles in the economic development of their communities and the state. DMACC is one of these institutions. Each community college offers a comprehensive educational program. All Iowans of postsecondary school age are eligible to attend any of the community colleges. Community colleges also offer special programs for students who attend local secondary schools.All community colleges comply with approval standards adopted by the State Board of Education.

Iowa's community colleges offer programs in three major areas of instruction: adult education, career programs of vocational and technical education, and college parallel.

Adult Education

Through adult education, the community colleges provide part-time programs for adult students. These programs include: adult basic education programs for adults who have less than an eighth grade education; high school completion programs leading to adult high school diplomas and high school equivalency diploma; supplementary career programs of vocational and technical education for upgrading the skills of employed Iowans; and continuing education programs for adults who desire instruction to meet pre-occupational training needs, avocational and recreational interests, or other needs.

Career Programs of Vocational and Technical Education

The preparatory career programs of vocational and technical education provide preparation for immediate employment in a wide variety of careers. Those training programs ordinarily require full-time instruction of four weeks to two years. Many of these programs are cooperative programs which provide classroom instruction in conjunction with paid employment experience related to the career preparation, and many are available on a part-time basis.

College Parallel Program

The college parallel program provides arts and sciences courses that may be transferred to other colleges and universities as the equivalent of the first two years of a four-year baccalaureate program.

Economic Development and Community Engagement

By working together and forming connections with local business and industry, community organizations, state agencies, and other key stakeholders, Iowa’s community colleges are tightly linked to regional economic development and labor force needs and well-positioned to collaboratively address statewide challenges.

A Look at DMACC's Growth

DMACC has experienced tremendous growth in the last two decades. In the fall of 2000, 10,803 students were enrolled at DMACC.

tags: #community #colleges #in #des #moines #iowa