Master's in Data Science Programs in Iowa

Read on to learn more about data science programs in Iowa.

Studying Data Science in Iowa

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' (BLS) May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) estimates for Iowa, the state had 2,300 data scientists, or 1.476 per 1,000 jobs. The table below shows how that compares with nearby states, based on each state's May 2025 BLS OEWS estimates.

BLS employment figures are estimates. The Iowa estimate is less precise than the others, with a relative standard error of 19.1%, compared with 4% for Iowa. Here are a few organizations and places Iowa has to offer:

• America's Cultivation Corridor describes itself as a cluster-based economic development organization and has offices in Ames and Des Moines. It lists animal science, plant science, biobased products, food technology and advanced manufacturing among its focus industries.
• The Technology Association of Iowa (TAI) says it shapes pro-innovation public policy, runs more than 100 Iowa tech events a year, such as its TechBrew coffee-and-conversation events with local tech leaders, and administers the Prometheus Awards.
• Startups and entrepreneurs can find support from groups such as Plains Angels, which says it invests in entrepreneurs across the Upper Midwest. The State of Iowa also lists an Innovation Acceleration Fund under the Iowa Economic Development Authority and the Iowa Finance Authority, for Iowa-based companies with fewer than 500 employees that commit to commercializing a product in advanced manufacturing, bioscience or information technology.

Data Science Research & Initiatives at Iowa Universities

Iowa State University (ISU) is home to the ISU Research Park, which describes itself as an innovation community in Ames where businesses and entrepreneurial startups can grow with Iowa State resources.

The University of Iowa (UI) also has research and entrepreneurship resources for students interested in data:

• UI's Department of Computer Science lists undergraduate and graduate degrees and a graduate certificate in informatics.
• The Center for Social Science Innovation offers survey and qualitative research services, consultations, and grant development help. It also lists workshops, including Intermediate Spatial Data Science and GeoAI (Python) and Intro to Data Visualization in Stata.
• The Tippie College of Business runs the Tippie Analytics Cooperative, which partners with regional organizations on hands-on student projects and data-based business decisions, and the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center (Iowa JPEC), which lists business consulting and entrepreneurship programs and says it has awarded seed money to Iowa startups.

Online Data Science Programs in Iowa

If you are comparing online options, including programs based in other states, have a look at our list of things to look for in an online data science program.

Online Graduate Certificates in Data Science

Iowa State University offers an online Certificate in Business Analytics, which Iowa State Online describes as 100% online and 12 credits. However, our directory of Online Graduate Certificates in Data Science has a long list of programs offered by schools around the country.

Online Master’s Degrees in Data Science

According to the Iowa State Graduate College, Iowa State's Master of Business Analytics is offered in two formats: a 100% online program for working professionals and a residential, in-person program. The Iowa State catalog says the program draws on courses across campus, including business, computer science, electrical and computer engineering, statistics, and industrial and manufacturing systems engineering.

Data Science Bootcamps in Iowa

Bootcamps are another option to explore. Peruse our guides to learn more about data science bootcamps or data analytics bootcamps.

Data Science Scholarships in Iowa

For this section, we chose to highlight scholarships and assistantships offered by specific graduate programs at Iowa State University and the University of Iowa. Each award belongs to the program named in its entry and follows that program’s own eligibility rules. However, staff in the Graduate Studies Office will have more info on general scholarships and alternative financing options. Talk to them about your options!

Iowa State University

• Bioinformatics & Computational Biology (BCB) Assistantships: The BCB graduate program says assistants receive a monthly salary plus tuition and health insurance scholarships, and Ph.D. students receive full tuition and health care coverage.

University of Iowa

• Iowa MBA Scholarships: The Tippie College of Business says Iowa MBA applicants with a record of academic success may qualify for a scholarship. Recipients are selected each semester, and no separate application is required.
• Informatics Graduate Research & Teaching Assistantships: The informatics graduate program says a research assistantship at 25% or more qualifies a student for Iowa resident tuition, a stipend, a partial tuition scholarship and health insurance benefits. It describes teaching assistantships as the most common form of financial aid.

Data Science Events in Iowa

Data Science Meetups & Communities in Iowa

A few active groups meet in the Des Moines area:

1. Des Moines Data & Analytics: This West Des Moines-based group says it welcomes data analysts, business intelligence analysts, data scientists, analytics leaders, students and faculty. Its listing for the ISU Business Analytics Symposium shows Oct. 15, 2026, at the Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center in Des Moines and says the group is not affiliated with the event.
2. Iowa Data Professionals Association – Des Moines: This group describes itself as a SQL Server local group supporting the Des Moines area since September 2009.

Data Science Conferences & Workshops in Iowa

For larger international events, see the ACM SIGKDD conference series. You might also want to consider tech conferences in nearby cities such as Chicago, Kansas City, Minneapolis, and Omaha.

1. Business Analytics Case Competition: The University of Iowa's Tippie College of Business says it is no longer hosting this competition, which brought graduate-level analytics students together to solve a real-world business problem.
2. UI Computing Conference: The UI ACM student chapter lists the University of Iowa Computing Conference on its website. Separately, the Center for Social Science Innovation lists skills-based workshops, including Python and Stata.

Data Science Jobs in Iowa

Food and agriculture, bioscience, and advanced manufacturing are some of the sectors in the state’s economy to consider, according to America's Cultivation Corridor. Think names like John Deere, whose careers site lists Iowa work locations such as Waterloo; Helena Industries, which lists a Des Moines manufacturing location; and Kemin Industries, which describes its worldwide headquarters as being in Des Moines.

Outside of these sectors, you could try financial firms such as Wells Fargo, which lists banking locations in West Des Moines, and Principal Financial Group, which says its headquarters is in Des Moines, or established tech companies. Three technology employers to know in Hawkeye territory are:

• Kingland Systems, which says it develops enterprise data management software for banking and capital markets, public accounting, and insurance.
• Workiva, which describes its platform as built for finance, audit, risk and sustainability teams and says in its investor FAQs that it is located in Ames.
• CDS Global, which describes itself as a business process outsourcing provider serving membership, nonprofit, media and education organizations, among others, and lists its corporate headquarters in Des Moines on its contact page.

Data Scientist Salaries in Iowa

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, data scientists (SOC 15-2051) in Iowa had a median annual wage of $95,830 in May 2025. BLS reported wages of $56,070 at the 10th percentile, $71,010 at the 25th percentile, $127,340 at the 75th percentile and $146,700 at the 90th percentile. Percentiles describe the distribution of reported wages. The 10th percentile is not a starting wage, and the 90th percentile is not a guaranteed amount.

BLS also publishes May 2025 estimates for Iowa metropolitan areas. Some small-area employment estimates are less precise: BLS lists relative standard errors of 14.7% for Dubuque and 13% for Sioux City.

Interested in STEM Careers?

If you’re looking for information on career paths that involve STEM, see our guides below:

Data Science and Analytics Careers:

Computer Science, Computer Engineering and Information Careers:

• Computer Engineer
• Computer Scientist
• Information Security Analyst
• Computer and Information Research Scientist
• Computer Systems Analyst

Marketing and User Research Careers:

• Marketing Analyst
• Market Research Analyst
• Digital Marketer
• UX Designer

Compare Careers and STEM Fields:

• Data Analyst vs. Data Scientist
• Computer Science vs. Computer Engineering
• Cybersecurity vs. Computer Science
• Data Analytics vs. Business Analytics
• Data Science vs. Machine Learning

Related Graduate STEM Degrees

Related Undergraduate STEM Degrees

• Online Bachelor’s in Data Science
• Online Bachelor’s in Computer Science
• Sponsored: Computer Science at Simmons