Best Data Science Schools Near Des Moines, IA (2026)

Updated September 5, 2026 BLS data College Scorecard On this page

Des Moines, Iowa is home to about 212,464 residents. Median household income is $63,966 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 29.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area, the top-earning data science-related role is Actuaries at a median $130,540 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Closest Data Science Schools to Des Moines

The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer data science programs near Des Moines, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Des Moines city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS data on every site update.

How We Rank Schools

Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS). To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked against schools at the same credential level:

  • Graduation rate 30%
  • Median earnings, 10 years after entry 25%
  • Average net price (lower is better) 20%
  • Retention rate 15%
  • Fully online availability 10%

Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. On this page, schools are ordered by distance from Des Moines. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

Ranked by BOC Score — U.S. Dept. of Education outcome data. Advertising never affects rankings.

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#1

Coe College

Cedar Rapids, IA 104.6 miles from Des Moines
  • 4 year
52.8 BOC Score
Graduation rate 65%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $57,125
Avg net price $18,745/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 75%
  • Programs offered: 38

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

University of Iowa

Iowa City, IA 107.3 miles from Des Moines
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
73.5 BOC Score
Graduation rate 72%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $64,762
Avg net price $22,531/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 90%
  • Programs offered: 199

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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#3

Saint Ambrose University

Davenport, IA 156.7 miles from Des Moines
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
  • Accredited
62.5 BOC Score
Acceptance rate 77%
Graduation rate 62%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $59,531
Avg net price $24,691/yr
Tuition
In‑state$36,658
Out‑of‑state$36,658
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 80%
  • Programs offered: 59

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

Loras College

Dubuque, IA 163.6 miles from Des Moines
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
67.1 BOC Score
Graduation rate 68%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $58,289
Avg net price $20,716/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 83%
  • Programs offered: 40

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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#5

Dordt University

Sioux Center, IA 167.1 miles from Des Moines
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
62.0 BOC Score
Graduation rate 72%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $52,559
Avg net price $25,807/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 85%
  • Programs offered: 82

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Iowa schools on the Iowa data science page.

Data Science Wages Near Des Moines

Des Moines is part of the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area (BLS area code 19780). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Iowa statewide.

Occupation Median Wage Source COL-Adjusted (US=100)
Data Scientists $103,030 Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA $112,356
Statisticians $58,840 Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA $64,166
Operations Research Analysts $83,410 Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA $90,960
Software Developers $126,460 Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA $137,906
Actuaries $130,540 Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA $142,356
Database Architects $120,030 Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA $130,894
Computer Systems Analysts $102,070 Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA $111,309
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists $76,580 Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA $83,511

Source: BLS, May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.

Des Moines at a Glance

Metric Value Source
Population 212,464 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income $63,966 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ 29.0% Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100) 91.7 (below U.S. average) BEA RPP 2024

Other Des Moines-Area Cities With Data Science Programs

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the highest-paying data science roles near Des Moines?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying data science-related roles near Des Moines are: Actuaries ($130,540), Software Developers ($126,460), Database Architects ($120,030). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Iowa statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.

Should I look at programs in West Des Moines instead of Des Moines?

West Des Moines, IA is 8.9 miles from Des Moines and has its own set of local data science programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.

Is Des Moines an affordable place to study data science?

Des Moines’s median household income of $63,966 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Des Moines while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Iowa public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.

How do I verify a program is accredited?

Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.

Learn More About Data Science Programs

Other Programs Available in Des Moines

Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Des Moines:

Data verified: September 5, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.

Back to Best Data Science Schools in Iowa: Online Programs (2026)