Master’s in Data Science Programs in Iowa

The Hawkeye State has much to offer data geeks – if you know where to look. Our guide to earning a data science degree in Iowa can help! It has details on research and conferences to scholarships as well as potential salary numbers.

SPONSORED SCHOOLS

Syracuse University

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Master of Science in Applied Data Science

Syracuse University’s online Master of Science in Data Science can be completed in as few as 18 months.

  • Complete in as little as 18 months
  • No GRE scores required to apply

Southern Methodist University

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Master of Science in Data Science

Earn your MS in Data Science at SMU, where you can specialize in Machine Learning or Business Analytics, and complete in as few as 20 months.

  • No GRE required.
  • Complete in as little as 20 months.

University of California, Berkeley

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Master of Information and Data Science

Earn your Master’s in Data Science online from UC Berkeley in as few as 12 months.

  • Complete in as few as 12 months
  • No GRE required

Syracuse University

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Master of Science in Business Analytics

Looking to become a data-savvy leader? Earn your online Master of Science in Business Analytics from Syracuse University.

  • As few as 18 months to complete 
  • No GRE required to apply

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

Studying Data Science in Iowa

There’s some talk about the tech sector’s role in the state’s economy, but if you look at the percentage of workforce in tech on the map of CompTIA’s Cyberstates, Iowa is way behind the big names. Even nearby states like Kansas, Missouri, and Illinois have stronger stats. There are a small number of data science meetups, conferences, and job postings in Iowa. Here are a few organizations and places Iowa has to offer:

Data Science Research & Initiatives at Iowa Universities

As a member of the Midwest Big Data Hub, Iowa State University (ISU) is being particularly aggressive in its quest to become a data science player:

But the University of Iowa (UI) isn’t sitting on its hands!

Online Data Science Programs in Iowa

Iowa has limited distance learning options, so you may need to expand your degree search to other states. If you’re worried about quality control, 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. 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

ISU’s online Master of Business Analyticsis not 100% online – there are required campus visits at the beginning, middle, and end of the program – but the vast majority of coursework can be done from home.

This is a blended program that pulls on expertise from ISU’s departments of Computer Science, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Statistics, and Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering. Students can choose from a number of advanced electives in areas like machine learning and applied stats (online); everyone is required to participate in a capstone team project (on-campus).

Data Science Bootcamps in Iowa

A data science or data analytics bootcamp is a short-term, intensive course of study meant to quickly introduce students to the field’s basics. Some bootcamps in Iowa are exclusively dedicated to data science, the study of how useful information can be derived from raw data; other bootcamps concentrate on data analytics, a more practice-minded approach to drawing specific conclusions from data; and yet other bootcamps combine the study of both data science and data analytics. Peruse our guides to learn more about data science bootcamps or data analytics bootcamps in Iowa.

Data Science Scholarships in Iowa

For this section, we chose to highlight university scholarships and assistantships that apply to the school’s data program. 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

University of Iowa

  • Full-time MBA Scholarships: The Tippie College of Business administers the MBA in Business Analytics and it has a healthy list of scholarships open to full-time students. This list includes funds for women, scholars, and Iowans.
  • Informatics Graduate Research & Teaching Assistantships: Research assistantships typically demand 25% (or more) of a student’s time in return for Iowa resident tuition, a stipend, a partial tuition scholarship, and health insurance benefits. Teaching assistantships are more common & similar benefits are given.

Data Science Events in Iowa

Data Science Meetups & Communities in Iowa

They may be small, but they do exist! In addition to these suggestions, have a look at techcorridor.io. It aggregates tech meetups from a number of different groups (e.g. R Users Group at UI’s College of Public Health).

  1. Central Iowa R User Group: This meetup has weekly study groups, talks on Python, online stats workshops – everything you might expect from folks devoted to R.
  2. Des Moines SQL Users Group and I-380 PASS SQL Server User Group: Both of these groups represent local chapters of the Professional Association for SQL Server (PASS).
  3. Ignite Quad Cities – Entrepreneurs Meetup: It’s not devoted to tech, but IQC’s meetup in Moline is one to know about if you’re trying to start your own business or make connections.
  4. Startup Ames: ISU students and folks in the Des Moines/Ames area can mix & mingle with other entrepreneurs at these monthly meetups.

Data Science Conferences & Workshops in Iowa

Though it’s not a stop on the circuit for big events like Predictive Analytics World (PAW) and SIGKDD, Iowa has university-based conferences that are worth knowing about. You might also want to consider tech conferences in nearby cities such as ChicagoKansas CityMinneapolis, and Omaha.

  1. Iowa MBA Business Analytics Case Competition: In UI’s competition, teams of MBA & analytics students from around the U.S. compete to solve a real-world business problem.
  2. ISU Spring Analytics Symposium: ISU’s College of Business symposium is a well-attended (~500 people), one-day event in Des Moines. There are speakers from big corporations, analytics powerhouses, and universities around the country.
  3. UI Computing Conference: Hosted by the UI ACM student chapter and the Department of Computer Science, this conference covers a huge range of computing topics (e.g. AI, robotics, coding, new technologies, etc.). UI’s Iowa Social Science Research Center also hosts a summer data science institute and runs skills-based workshops (e.g. Introduction to R, Introduction to Python, Stata, etc.) throughout the year.

Data Science Jobs in Iowa

Agriculture and food production, advanced manufacturing, chemical production, renewable energy, & fuels – these are some of the sectors in the state’s economy to consider. Think names like DuPontJohn DeereHelena IndustriesKemin Industries, and the like.

Dupon is doing a lot of advanced research at its DuPont Johnston Innovation Center, and they may need data professionals with an interest in food, agriculture, and biotechnology to help.

Outside of these sectors, you could try financial firms (e.g. Wells FargoEMC InsurancePrincipal Financial Group, etc.) or established tech companies. Three data science names in Hawkeye territory are:

  • Kingland Systems, which provides technology and outsourcing services for the financial sector.
  • Workiva, which develops cloud-based software.
  • CDS Global, which offers business process outsourcing and customer data management to various industries.

Data Scientist Salaries in Iowa

According to data from the O*NET OnLine in 2020, data scientists made an average $94,230 per year in Iowa.

Last updated: April 2022

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:

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Marketing and User Research Careers:

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This page includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.