Admissions

Des Moines Area Community College is dedicated to helping individuals reach their educational and vocational goals. Admission to the College is open to all who apply and can benefit from courses and programs offered by the College. The College does reserve the right to guide the course placement of students on the basis of counseling, examination, preenrollment interviews and past academic achievement. Admission to the College does not guarantee acceptance into all courses or programs offered, and enrollment in some programs and courses depends on basic skill levels and/or available space.

DMACC operates under a continuous admissions process, so acceptance of applicants is granted when admissions procedures and requirements have been completed. Therefore, applicants will find it to their advantage to apply as soon as they have decided to seek admission to a program. After meeting program entrance requirements, those students who apply to a program already at enrollment capacity will be placed on standby status until an enrollment opportunity occurs.

Each program establishes the minimum entrance requirements for applicants. Proficiency in reading, writing and/or mathematics may be required for enrollment in selected courses within a program in addition to the program admission requirements.

Applying for Admission

Current and Returning Students: If you have submitted an admission application in the past three years, you do not need to reapply for admission. Contact the DMACC Admissions Office about your status.

New Students:

1. Complete an admission application and submit it online or at the DMACC campus nearest you. You may request a form by calling any DMACC campus. To apply online, visit the DMACC Admissions website. There is no fee for applying for admission to DMACC.
2. Submit ACT or ACCUPLACER and ALEKS exam results to DMACC. Assessment guidelines can be found under the heading, Guidelines for Required Assessment.
3. If you are not a resident of Iowa, provide proof of secondary education completion by submitting official high school or HiSET transcripts.
4. If you have attended another college or university, submit official transcripts to the Admissions Office.
5. Complete any program prerequisites for your specific program.

Admission procedures and entry requirements vary by program. Check our Academic Programs website for specific program details. Please note: Some programs accept a limited number of students. If you have met all of the program requirements and the program is full, you will be placed on a standby list until a seat becomes available.

Once your application is received, it will be processed as soon as possible. You should receive communication from us within five working days informing you of your admission status.

Guidelines for Required Assessment

Assessment requirements: Testing Center website

DMACC uses assessment scores of new students to provide information about students’ academic skills in reading, writing, and mathematics. Assessment information is used in course selection, course planning, and math placement. Students wishing to take a math class are required to take ALEKS math as a math placement requirement.​

To see what assessments you need for the program you applied for, log into your myDMACC account, select Academic Records under Tools and then Admission Applications.  This will allow you to review your application status and any missing items to complete your application.

1. You must meet any assessment entry requirements before the application to your DMACC program can be accepted.​
2. Students wishing to take a math class are required to take ALEKS math as a math placement. Please visit Math Placement/ALEKS website for additional information regarding the math placement assessment requirement.

Admission for many programs is on a first-come, first-served basis. It’s important to complete any assessment entry requirements as soon as possible.

Math Placement

All students who wish to enroll in a mathematics course will be required to complete a placement exam, ALEKS, offered by the College to determine which course(s) they may take and to help them succeed in their math course(s). Students must obtain a satisfactory score on ALEKS, before enrollment in a math course. Students who have earned a C- or higher in an accredited college  prerequisite math course within 18-months will be exempt. Students who only need MAT 772 for their program of study are also exempt.

For more information consult: mathplacement.

English Language Learner(ELL) Students Assessment

New students who fill out a DMACC application for admission and indicate that English is not their first language may need to take the ESL ACCUPLACER. ELL students who submit ACT scores and do not score a 19 or above in any one area will be required to take the equivalent ESL ACCUPLACER assessment unless they can show evidence of successful college experience.

The ESL Test in ACCUPLACER will be waived for students who submit an ACT score. (All ACT scores must be sent.) 

Find a Testing Center

Students With Disabilities

Students taking the ACCUPLACER Next Gen test who are in need of an accommodation due to a disability may apply and provide documentation to the Disability Services Coordinator at 515-964-6850. This request must be submitted prior to the test, and the student should make accommodation arrangements with both the Testing Center and the Disability Services Coordinator in advance of the test date. 

Admission of High School Students

DMACC offers the opportunity for high school students to enroll in credit courses. High school-age student enrollees will be required to meet the same academic standards as any other student and will be awarded the same credit for courses successfully completed. This procedure does not apply to high school age students enrolling under Senior Year Plus programming or any special contractual agreements.

1. Submit a completed Application for Admission.
2. Submit a completed DMACC High School Permission Form.
3. Students must meet all necessary prerequisites for college level courses.

This procedure does not apply to high school age students enrolling under the Postsecondary Enrollment Options Act, Career Advantage or other special contractual agreements, except to the extent that full-time students must meet the Guidelines for Required Assessment.

Admission of Pre-High School Students

In limited circumstances, DMACC may allow pre-high school students to enroll in credit courses. Completion of all the steps listed below is necessary before the College will make a decision about admitting and enrolling any person who is not at least a freshman in high school:

1. Submit a completed application for admission.
2. Submit written approval from a parent/guardian and from the school counselor or principal on the DMACC High School Permission Form.
3. Complete ACCUPLACER (reading and writing) assessment and ALEKS math assessment or submit ACT scores. Students not meeting minimum scores for placement in college-level courses will not be allowed to enroll. Course placement based on test scores will be mandatory.
4. Student must provide documentation that they have been identified as talented and gifted.
5. Any specific course or program prerequisite must be met.
6. Students are limited to no more than two credit courses per semester.
7. Student must meet, without the parent being present, with the Director of Student Development for an evaluation of readiness. A determination that a student is not ready either academically or emotionally will prohibit enrollment.

Admission of Guest Students

Guest Students: Students whose primary enrollment is at another college and are enrolling at DMACC:

1. Submit a completed DMACC Application for Admission. Always apply as Liberal Arts, no matter what your major.
2. Provide proof of enrollment, such as an acceptance letter or valid student ID from primary school of attendance.
3. Must remain part-time during the Fall and Spring semesters, but can be full time during the Summer.

Note: Guest students are not eligible for financial aid.

Admission of International Students

An international student is typically defined as someone who will be on a nonimmigrant visa, and who is neither a U.S. citizen or permanent resident of the United States. Specific requirements must be met before being admitted to Des Moines Area Community College.

No admission decision will be made until the International Student Office, located on the Ankeny campus, receives all required documents. For required documents visit the International Students Admissions website.

Deadlines for New International Students

All Applications for Admission and supporting documents must be received NO LATER THAN 30 days prior to the first day of the semester.

For upcoming terms, the deadline will be 30 working days prior to the start of the term for new international students.

If application documents are not received after the deadline, DMACC will process the application for the next semester.

Example: For students who apply to attend school for the Fall semester and the documentation arrives after July 5, 2024, DMACC will process the application for the Spring semester.

Deadlines for International Transfer Students

International Student Applicants

New Full-Time International Student Applicants

New full-time international students need to obtain Certificate of Eligibility Form I-20 to receive a student visa through the U.S. Consul or Embassy in their country. The I-20 indicates that all admission requirements have been met to enter the College. This document is issued through SEVIS, the Student Exchange Visitor Information System. The U.S. Consulates make the final decision regarding whether students will be allowed to enter the United States to study. For required documents visit the International Students Admissions website.

All international students must report to DMACC by the date stated in the I-20 forms. Late-arriving students will not be allowed to register for class.

International students requesting admission and issuance of an I-20 must provide:

1. A completed and signed DMACC International Application for Admission. Do not apply online.

2. A completed International Student Information Form.

3. A Financial Resource Statement verifying the ability of the student or the student’s sponsor to meet all educational and living expenses for one year while attending DMACC. This must be signed and sealed by a notary public and accompanied by a letter or bank statement dated within six months of the application. Financial support of approximately $18,434 (USD) is needed per year. (In addition, a refundable deposit of $4,000 (USD) is required. Refer to #7 for more deposit details.) Students who are issued an F-1 visa to study in the United States are not permitted to work off-campus unless they receive authorization from the U.S. government. There are limited on-campus employment options for international students at DMACC.

4. An official transcript that provides evidence of graduation from a secondary school and transcripts from all postsecondary institutions attended. Photocopies may be accepted if they are properly notarized as true copies. Transcripts must be translated into English.

Students who wish to transfer credits from a college or university from outside the United States to apply toward degree requirements at Des Moines Area Community College must have transcripts reviewed by a commercial service. The review must be completed at the subject analysis or catalog level. Students are responsible for the additional fees. Contact the International Student Office for further information.

The college issues an I-20 Certificate of Eligibility form after students complete the steps above and qualify for admission.

The following items must be provided upon the student’s arrival at DMACC to complete the admission process

5. Page 1 of passport.

6. Official evidence of English proficiency. All full-time and part-time students whose native language is NOT English are required to take and pass the English Language Learning (ESL) ACCUPLACER as a requirement for admission. This test is available at the assessment centers located on each DMACC campus. This requirement may be waived by providing any of the following:

   1. TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score of 173 on the computer test, 500 on the paper test, or 61 on the iBT Internet-based version (45 if speaking not completed) in order to enroll in credit courses. The code for DMACC is #6177.

   2. Official transcripts from an accredited United States college or university showing successful completion (‘C’ or better grade) of a college-level writing course and 6 hours of college-level academic coursework requiring reading.

   3. ACT score of 19 or higher in Reading and Writing. The ACT code for DMACC is 1272.

   4. IELTS (International English Language Testing System) score of 5.0.

   5. Duolingo English Test: The Duolingo English Test (DET) is an online English proficiency test that can be taken online, on demand, in under an hour for only $59. The test is taken online via a computer with a webcam and microphone. The test includes a proficiency score, video interview and writing sample which are shared with DMACC when you send your results. Certified results are avail​able within 48 hours of the test session. DET tests taken on or after July 15, 2019, require a score of 90 or higher. To take your test today, please visit the Duolingo English Test website.

7. A refundable deposit of $4,000 (USD) is required for new or transfer F-1 students and must be paid before course registration. It may not be used to pay educational expenses until the last semester the student is enrolled.

International Transfer Student Applicants

International students who apply to DMACC as transfer students from a college or university within the United States must provide the same admission items as new students listed as 1-7 above. In addition, international transfer students need to provide:

8. A completed DMACC International Student Inquiry Form, completed by the current school’s International Student Advisor.

9. Copies of passport including the VISA pages, I-94 form and all previously issued I-20 forms.

International Guest Student Applicants

Students who are enrolled full-time at another college or university within the United States and wish to enroll part-time at DMACC must provide admission items 1, 6 and 9 from above. Students should designate “Liberal Arts” as their program of study.

All other types of applicants should contact the International Student Office.

Residency

Requirements for proof of Iowa residency are established for community colleges by the Iowa Department of Education. Please note that a student cannot be a resident of two states at the same time. If your home is in another state and you are living in Iowa for the purpose of attending school, you are a resident of your home state and not a resident of Iowa.

You will be considered a resident of Iowa for DMACC tuition and fee purposes if you are:

1. Permanently domiciled in Iowa (not living in Iowa primarily for educational purposes); and
2. Have resided here for a period of not less than 90 days prior to the first day of the semester in which you will be attending; and
3. You provide supporting documentation issued/dated on or before the appropriate date on the timeline below to prove your Iowa residency. (See list of acceptable documents under Application Process below.)

Iowa has established a public-private, non-profit organization called Iowa Sister States to promote cultural and economic partnerships. DMACC recognizes this formal relationship by allowing individuals from the following “states” to be eligible for resident tuition fees:

• Hebei Province, China
• Kosovo (nation)
• Veneto Region, Italy
• Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan
• Terengganu, Malaysia
• Yucatan, Mexico
• Stavropol Krai, Russia
• Taiwan (the entire country/state)
• Cherkasy Oblast, Ukraine

Proof must be given showing that the student is actually from the Sister State.

If you are classified as an out-of-state student, it is your responsibility to submit the appropriate documents needed to prove Iowa residency. In-state residency status is not automatically changed after a certain period of time.

Residency Application Timelines

To meet the 90-day requirement, you must provide documentation proving that you began residing in Iowa on or before the following dates:

If you seek to be reclassified after the term begins, your new classification will be effective beginning with your next term of enrollment. Residency status cannot be reclassified once the term begins.

To apply for reclassification from nonresident to resident status, follow these steps:

• Complete the DMACC Request for Residency Status form.
• Submit supporting, dated documentation demonstrating residency in Iowa to any DMACC campus prior to the first day of the semester for which you are registering. To show that your purpose for living in Iowa is for more than attending school and to show that you have been a resident of Iowa for 90 days or more, you must provide one of the items listed in A through E below as evidence. The second document you provide may be from A through G.
  1. Iowa driver’s license
  2. Iowa vehicle registration form
  3. Iowa state income tax return, signed and dated
  4. Iowa voter registration card
  5. Proof of Iowa Homestead credit on property taxes
  6. Written and notarized documentation from an employer that you have been employed in Iowa for a minimum of 90 days prior to the start of the semester
  7. Other indicators of Iowa residency, such as apartment lease dated and signed by both you and the manager, utility bills, bank statements, etc., dated and showing your Iowa address.

If you are a lawful permanent resident (LPR) of the United States or an approved refugee, you may apply for residency status. International students who are in the United States on any type of student visa (e.g., an F-1 or F-2 visa) cannot establish in-state residency while studying in this country.

For more information, see our Residency Requirements website or contact the Registrar’s office at 515-964-6320.

Readmission

In general, students who are in good standing and have submitted an admission application in the past three years, do not need to reapply for admissions. Prior to registration, students must verify the accuracy of their existing information. It is recommended that students visit with a counselor/advisor to review their academic records.

Students accepted to a limited enrollment or selective admission program and who did not start when planned or withdrew for one or more semesters must contact the department chairperson to request enrollment as a “Restart” student.

Students who have been suspended due to failure to meet the College’s academic standards must meet the requirement for readmission as found in the Academic Standards  section of the catalog before reenrolling.

Students who have been suspended for a disciplinary reason may not reenroll until they have met all requirements imposed at the time of suspension.

Transferring Credit to DMACC

Evaluation of Previous Training and Education

Students must request that a transcript bearing the official seal and signature of the official in charge of the records be sent directly to the DMACC Admissions Office by each college or university previously attended. Transcripts that have been in the student’s possession will not be considered official documents. Transcripts must be sent from each previously attended institution; all previous records may be summarized on one transcript. DMACC will accept credit from an institution only when submitted by the institution where the credit was earned.

Students that have earned credit from an institution whose transcript is in a language other than English must have the transcript evaluated and translated by an approved credential evaluation service. Contact the DMACC Credentials staff for more information.

A maximum of 43 semester credit hours of transfer credit is applicable toward associate degree requirements. The total grade point average of credits transferred to DMACC must equal 2.0 or higher. Some programs may require a minimum grade of “B” or”C” in each course that fulfills a degree requirement. Since the student’s DMACC grade point average is calculated from coursework taken at DMACC only, grades earned at other colleges or universities will not be used in the computation of the student’s GPA at DMACC.

Upon completion of the transfer credit evaluation, students can access their DMACC degree audit using the “Degree Works” found in their DMACC Dashboard to view the transfer award.

The acceptance and use of transfer credit is subject to limitations in accordance with the educational procedures of the College.

Credit for Educational Experience in the Armed Forces

Credit earned through educational experiences in the armed forces can be validated and accepted by the College. Credit is accepted based on statewide policies at Iowa colleges and universities and based on its applicability toward meeting the requirements in the student’s program of study. An American Council on Education (ACE) publication, “Guide to the Evaluations of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services,” is generally used in making these determinations.

Credit is awarded only for significant learning experiences as recommended by the ACE guide. No credit will be awarded based on the Military Occupational Specialties (MOS) evaluation program.

Credit may be awarded for coursework completed via correspondence, classroom study and/or examination through the United States Armed Forces Institute. Credit may also be granted on the basis of scores earned on the Subject Standardized Test of the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Educational Support (DANTES). Copies of transcripts showing such work will be evaluated by the Credentials Office.

Campus Tours

Prospective students are invited to visit any or all of the DMACC campus locations. Individual tours may be arranged by calling 1-800-362-2127 and selecting the campus of your choice, on the Visit DMACC website or by calling the individual campus at:

	Ankeny Campus	515-965-7100
	Boone Campus	515-432-5025
	Carroll Campus	712-792-8501
	Newton Campus	641-791-3622
	Urban Campus	515-248-4226
	West Campus	515-633-2408