Des Moines, Iowa Trade Schools & Colleges

 

Des Moines is the state capital of Iowa and one of the most populous cities in the state. Des Moines is broken down into a five-county metropolitan area. This metropolitan area is ranked as being the 91st most populous city in the United States according to the United States Census Bureau. With roughly 599,789 residents in the city overall, Des Moines has not only been ranked most populous, it has also been ranked number one as a best city for young professionals. It is also been ranked the third best city for recent college graduates and the number two best cities for employment in the United States.

 

Reasons to Consider Career Training in Des Moines

Des Moines is considered a highly influential city in terms of US politics. As the state capital, it is home to the first caucuses in presidential primary cycles. A variety of presidential candidates have used to Moyne Iowa as their headquarters. An important hub of the government, commerce, technology, telecommunications, finance and law, there are many professional training opportunities available in Des Moines.

 

Des Moines is chock-full of notable public and private colleges providing two year to four year educational programs. Among the most notable colleges in the state are: Drake University, Grand View University, Simpson College, Upper Iowa University, William Penn University, ITT Technical Institute, Kaplan University, and Vatterott College. For those interested in vocational training and career programs, the community college institutes in the Des Moines area provide excellent accessibility for affordable accreditation. Additional notable institutes of higher education in Des Moines include AIB College of Business and Des Moines University/ Medical School.

 

Popular Career Niches in Des Moines

 

Des Moines is considered a major hub of US industry in terms of financial services and publishing services. With a variety of professional roles for young graduates to branch into, the city has been credited as being a ‘number one spot for US insurance companies,’ according to an article published in Business Wire. Des Moines has also been named the third-largest insurance capital not only in the United States but also in the world.

 

As a state capital, Des Moines’s offers many opportunities for civil service related jobs working in partnership with local and state government. The Moyne also offers excellent opportunities for commercial, recreational and cultural hubs of commerce. Some of the key industries in Des Moines include financial and insurance services, bioscience, data centers, logistics and advanced manufacturing. The city remains committed to recognizing and offering employment opportunities to a newly educated workforce. As far as the Moyne’s citywide ranking, the cost of doing business in Des Moines is 16% lower than the national average. Des Moines is also ranked high for quality of living, low cost of living and is considered ideal for opening a business.

 

Top Industries in Des Moines, Iowa

 

The financial and insurance services in the greater Des Moines’s area is a huge part of the local economy with over 81 insurance headquarters in the Des Moines area, it is not only a hub of insurance, it is one of the highest concentrations of insurance and financial services related employment in the United States. Another key industry in Des Moines is tech companies and data centers. Major companies like Microsoft and Facebook can be found in the Des Moines area as they are a cost-effective and strategically excellent location for such headquarters to operate. Des Moines is ranked one of the top 10 locations for data centers in the country. Bioscience is a growing industry in the city as the city provides excellent access to a talented workforce, raw materials, science-geared academics, and strategic access for customers.

 

The advanced manufacturing sector of greater Des Moines holds very important place in local and statewide infrastructure. Due to the high rate of new local operations, advanced manufacturing must stay up to speed to meet the mounting demands of the Des Moines marketplace.

 

The logistics of Des Moines in terms of location is what makes it one of the most desirable hubs of many industries. Not only is it located in the center of the country; it has immediate access to both interstates 35 and 80. Greater Des Moines is recognized as being an excellent location for distribution facilities and warehouses.

 

Top Trade Schools in Des Moines, Iowa

• Kaplan University (Des Moines Campus): Kaplan University is recognized as being one of the nation's top private universities. A local leader in career training programs, the University is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and provides and wide array of diplomas and degrees in industries such as healthcare and business. Kaplan University provides high-quality academic training and certification programs. Among the university’s largest programs is the registered nurse certification track. Other top programs offered through Kaplan University include Arts and Sciences, Business, Criminal Justice, Fire Science, Graduate Education, General Education, Health Sciences, Information Technology, Legal Studies, Nursing, School of Professional and Continuing Education.

• Vatterott College: Vatterot College is considered one of Des Moines's most notable career colleges and trade schools. Specializing in training programs for Business, audiovisual, culinary arts, automotive technology, healthcare, health and beauty, traditional trades and legal programs, the college offers a wide array of opportunities for graduates. The college is accredited by the ACCSC and offers programs with an average duration of 14 months. currently, their largest program is medical assistant training. The overall undergraduate tuition and fees are roughly $11,785 USD. The overall graduation rate is 48%. Located at 7000 Fleur Drive, Des Moines, Iowa 50321.

 

• Aveda Institute: Aveda Institute offers specialized training in cosmetology, massage therapy and esthetics. The Institute is located in a state-of-the-art facility totaling roughly 22,000 ft.². The Institute's largest program is cosmetology and their average program duration is roughly 13 months. This Institute offers excellent opportunities for work after graduation, with a graduation rate of an astonishing 80%. The Institute has been accredited by the National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Science since 2011. Overall tuition and fees for new students is roughly $21,100 USD. Located at 6905 Mills Civic Pkwy Suite 120, West Des Moines, Iowa 50266.

 

• Mercy College of Health Sciences College: one of the leading medical training universities in the state, Mercy College of health sciences offers fast-paced and comprehensive accreditation programs in: Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Health Care Administration, Health Information Management, Health Science (Pre Med), Medical Assisting, Medical Laboratory Science, Nursing (ASN), Nursing (BSN), Nursing (RN to BSN), Paramedic (EMS), Physical Therapist Assistant, Public Health, Radiologic Technology, Surgical Technology, Critical Care Paramedic, Emergency Medical Technician and Blended Learning. The college's overall undergraduate tuition and fees is roughly $15,642 USD. The acceptance rate is 96.7% as of the year 2014. Graduation rate is 38.5%. The average expected salary for attending undergraduates is $46,700 USD. The average annual cost for students who receive financial aid is roughly $19,631 USD.

 

• Iowa School of Beauty: ranked as one of Iowa's leaders in cosmetology education, the campus has five locations including one in Des Moines, Iowa. The Iowa school of beauty has worked to drink professionals since 1923 and offers programs in cosmetology, nanotechnology, massage therapy, aesthetics and instructor training. Located at 3305 70th St, Urbandale, IA 50322.

 

Housing Market and Rent Costs in Des Moines, Iowa

 

The real estate market in Des Moines is considered to be booming. Everything in the Des Moines metropolitan area is especially popular at the moment. More buyers will be able to qualify for owning a home than before. Home prices widely range around the Des Moines area from as low as $100,000 to as high as $600,000. In March 2016, the Des Moines area Association of realtors announced 939 recently sold homes and a dramatic 20% rise in overall pending sales.

 

The housing boom in the Des Moines metro area is greatly to be good to the presence of major insurance providers and financial services companies including Wells Fargo, Wellmark, Blue Cross Blue Shield. With more individuals going to work from reliable major employers, both renting property and eventually owning property in Des Moines is increasingly doable. According to local real estate agents, there are a lot of buyers moving up and upgrading existing properties. At the moment, it is difficult for the local housing industry to keep up with demands. There are fewer than 3000 homes currently on the market in the Des Moines metropolitan area. The median home sale price is $125,750. The price per square foot is roughly $73. In the Des Moines metropolitan area, the median monthly rent is roughly $1025.

 

The rental market in Des Moines's is opening up many affordable opportunities and ranking is among the most affordable cities to rent a what greater apartment in the country. Standard monthly rent in Des Moines is roughly $878; bottoming at $700 and topping around $1200 per month. Outside of the city, the cost of a one-bedroom apartment is even more affordable ranging from $450-$800 with a median price of around $611. The rent prices in the Des Moines area are staggered by 69.11%. The overall cost of renting in Des Moines is 15.5% lower than the national cost of rent average.

 

Job Market Growth in Des Moines, Iowa

 

The workforce in Iowa is considered highly productive. Des Moines possesses one of the highest public high school graduation rates in the country at 90%. The median ranking of SAT and ACT scores Iowa students possess on college entrance exams is also among the highest ranking in the country. Des Moines offers excellent training incentives through comprehensive and highly ranked educational institutions. Joining the workforce in Iowa after earning degrees or credentials within the state opens the doors to many profitable long-term opportunities. Many screening assessments and testing services are offered to companies and higher education institutions. Some employers offer training reimbursements as there is a statewide move to train workers upfront and develop long-term relationships.

 

Iowa is considered a right to work state. Under state law, employees are not obligated to join a union or pay fees to any labor union, organization or association. Being free of this condition of employment opens the door to many possibilities for saving money. Des Moines Iowa also has one of the lowest rates of unemployment in the nation. As the year 2016, the new standard employer rate granted to non-construction business within a three-year period was just 1% based on a $28,300 wage base. The average rate is estimated to maintain at 1.57%.

 

Top Employers and Top Wages in Des Moines, Iowa

 

The city of Des Moines is home to the headquarters of Principal Financial Group, EMC Insurance Companies, the Meredith Corporation, Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield and Ruan Transportation. Additional major corporations represented in the city include Wells Fargo, in ACE Limited, Voya Financial, Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, Monsanto, Marsh and Pioneer Hi-Bred. As Des Moines also represents a growing technological presence, companies such as Hewlett-Packard, Facebook and Microsoft also maintain a high business profile in the city. With established facilities across the Des Moines metropolitan area, they are among the top employers in the state.

 

Some of Des Moines's other top employers include:

• UnityPoint Health
• Mercy Medical Center
• MidAmerican Energy Company
• CDS Global
• UPS
• Firestone Agricultural Tire Company
• EDS, Drake University
• Titan Tier
• The Des Moines Register
• Anderson Erickson
• Dee Zee
• EMCO

 

Forbes magazine ranked Des Moines’s metro area as the top on the list of “ best places for business and careers.” This ranking was based on a variety of factors including the cost of operating a business, the cost of living, the cost of education and the low crime rate.

 

An additional list of top employers in Des Moines Iowa include:

• Mercy Medical Center
• UnityPoint Health
• Hy-Vee Inc.
• The Principal Financial Group
• Nationwide – Insurance
• DuPont Pioneer
• Vermeer Manufacturing Company
• JBS USA, LLC - Pork processing and packaging
• Pella Corp. - Windows, doors and skylights
• John Deere Companies
• Kum & Go
• Wellmark
• UPS
• Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations

 

Things to Do in Des Moines, Iowa

 

For young college students and young professionals, the city has a variety of entertaining hotspots. In addition to its notable sports teams, Des Moines's offers the Wells Fargo Arena for sporting events and other excellent sporting showcases. Des Moines is host to a variety of professional minor league teams including professional indoor football, baseball, hockey and soccer teams. Des Moines is the home of the Pacific Coast league in the Iowa Cubs baseball team.

 

For those looking to enjoy the nightlife, there are excellent places to buy delicious and affordable food and drink, view live entertainment and by local with an excellent downtown shopping community. First firing sports professionals, the city offers excellent opportunities for sports related academic scholarships and ongoing opportunities for professional athletics. For those interested in nature and recreation, Des Moines has over 76 parks, three family aquatic Parks and three golf courses.

 

Resources
Greater Des Moines Partnership. “Business Climate.” 2016
https://www.desmoinesmetro.com/en/economic_development/business_climate/

Real Work Matters. “Iowa Vocational and Training Schools.” Quinn Street Inc. 2016.
http://www.rwm.org/iowa/

Sperling’s Best Places. “Cost of Living: Des Moines, Iowa.” 2016.
http://www.bestplaces.net/cost_of_living/city/iowa/des_moines