Des Moines Area Community College

As the largest two-year institution in the state of Iowa, Des Moines Area Community College is a public junior college based in the suburb of Ankeny with satellite locations at the Boone, Carroll, Newton, Urban, West Des Moines, Perry VanKirk, Southridge, Knoxville, and Ames Hunziker campuses. Serving a 6,560 square mile area covering the entirety of 22 counties throughout the central region of Iowa, DMACC provides career-oriented education to more than 75,000 credit and non-credit students annually. According to the college's mission statement, DMACC provides quality, affordable, student-centered training to empower Iowans of all ages and backgrounds to pursue life's opportunities and achieve their professional dreams.

Established in 1966 by a nine member Board of Directors, DMACC was designated to serve Audubon, Boone, Carroll, Dallas, Guthrie, Jasper, Madison, Marion, Polk, Story, and Warren counties. With a shining reputation as one of the finest academic institutions in America today, Des Moines Area Community College has been named as one of the top "Military-Friendly Colleges" for providing educational opportunities to military veterans and their families in the nation by GI Jobs magazine. Also a recipient of the Great Des Moines Partnership Diversity Award, DMACC is honored as one of the "top workplaces" by the Des Moines Register.

Fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (NCA), DMACC offers 153 associates degree, certificate, and transfer degree programs in a wide range of special academic interests. Among the most popular programs are in accounting, agriculture, architecture, automotive technology, biological science, business, graphic design, health science, human services, information technology, and manufacturing. As the first 20-credit honors program at an Iowa community college, the DMACC Honors Program is designed for degree-seeking students to expand their knowledge to continue studies at a four-year college.

Since Des Moines Area Community College understands how crucial it is for students to get involved on-campus, each campus has their own newspapers, student advisory council, intramural sports, and student clubs. Located on the Boone campus, the DMACC Bears compete in the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference and the NJCAA with varsity teams in baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, softball, volleyball, and a dance team. Some of the most notable former Bears include billionaire Dennis Albaugh, Attorney General Bonnie Campbell, and the co-owner of Gateway Market George Formaro.