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Legal Support Services at Des Moines Area Community College

Ankeny, IA · Public · Associate Degree

serving 10,406 students in Ankeny, IA.

Program Analysis

Graduates of Des Moines Area Community College's Legal Support Services program earn $49,137/yr in their first year — 33% above the $36,991 national median, a strong market signal for this institution.

The 49.4x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. Trade programs often deliver strong ratios, and this one is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 61% task exposure — and the 9% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook for Legal Support Services graduates.

At $8,175 in median debt against $49,137 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.

Ranked #28 out of 127 programs, Des Moines Area Community College's Legal Support Services program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Legal Support Services connects to 2 apprenticeship options. The earn-while-you-learn model can be a strong alternative or complement to a certificate program.

56 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
51
Low End
56
Score
60
High End
Earnings $49,137/yr (33% vs median)
AI-Proof Exposed (39% shielded)
Job Market Large (77,600 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$563K
3.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
50.7x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
6 of 6
Occupations with strong AI resilience

Projected 10-Year Earnings

Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.

Program Tuition (In-State)
$11,100
Out-of-state: $22,200
Median Debt at Graduation
$8,175
2.0 months of Year 1 earnings

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Legal Support Services graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
Legal support workers, all other $68,760 -1.2% 100%
Court reporters and simultaneous captioners $67,310 -0.3% 4%
Paralegals and legal assistants $61,010 +0.2% 48%
Legal support workers, all other
$68,760
-1.2% growth 100% AI-proof
Court reporters and simultaneous captioners
$67,310
-0.3% growth 4% AI-proof
Paralegals and legal assistants
$61,010
+0.2% growth 48% AI-proof

View all 6 career paths with full salary data →

Legal Support Services Career Guide

What can you do with a Legal Support Services credential from Des Moines Area Community College? Our career guide maps every occupation path with earnings and growth data.

Read the full Legal Support Services career guide →

Compare & Explore

Legal Support Services Overview

View all 127 schools offering Legal Support Services →

Legal Support Services at Other Schools

Tacoma Community College ($50,681) Inver Hills Community College ($49,694) North Hennepin Community College ($48,960) Loyola University Chicago ($48,819) North Hennepin Community College ($48,599) MTI College ($47,535) Palm Beach State College ($46,622) Austin Community College District ($46,216)

Other Majors at Des Moines Area Community College

IT Management ($66,093) Computer Science ($60,163) Nursing ($59,181) Allied Health Professions ($56,681) Homeland Security ($54,209) Vehicle Repair Technology ($52,325) Dental Assisting ($49,953) Funeral Service & Mortuary Science ($49,355)

Considering a 4-Year Degree Instead?

Compare Legal Support Services degree programs on DegreeOutlook →

Compare how bachelor's degree graduates fare on earnings, ROI, and AI resilience.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a 56/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Legal Support Services at Des Moines Area Community College?
At 56/100, Des Moines Area Community College's Legal Support Services program delivers middling returns. School cost and personal fit become important decision factors.
Should I worry about AI if I study Legal Support Services at Des Moines Area Community College?
Our scenarios model 61% of Legal Support Services tasks as AI-exposed. That doesn't mean job loss — it means role evolution. Des Moines Area Community College's 56/100 score weights this risk into the overall assessment.
How affordable is Legal Support Services at Des Moines Area Community College?
Median debt of just $8,175 against $49,137/yr in starting salary means graduates can clear their loans in under 2 months. This is one of the more affordable paths in our dataset.
Is Des Moines Area Community College one of the best schools for Legal Support Services?
Among 127 Legal Support Services programs, Des Moines Area Community College's #28 position reflects consistently above-average results across earnings, ROI, and employment probability.
Should I consider an apprenticeship over a Legal Support Services program at Des Moines Area Community College?
There are 2 registered apprenticeships connected to Legal Support Services occupations, such as Legal Secretary and Paralegal (Alternate Title: Paralegal Specialist). The earn-while-you-learn model means no tuition debt and immediate income, though the training period is typically longer.
Is there demand for Legal Support Services workers?
Job availability for Legal Support Services is strong — 77,600 positions open annually across the mapped career paths. For Des Moines Area Community College graduates specifically, local market conditions in IA may shift the picture.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →