Computer Science | College of Liberal Arts and Sciences | The University of Iowa

A view of a teacher explaining data science principles written on a whiteboard behind him.

Computer science for today, tomorrow, and beyond

We empower students to shape the digital future

Why Iowa for CS and Informatics?

The technology industry is changing faster than any other. We give you the rock-solid computer and problem-solving skills you'll need to adapt and meet any challenge.

Study Here

Build a foundation

Our undergraduate programs deliver a full toolkit of problem-solving techniques, including programming principles and methodologies, as well as fluency in mathematics, computer systems, and computational methods.

Build a foundation

Expand your horizons

Our graduate students prepare for challenging technology industry careers or world-class faculty positions. Our master's degree and PhD grads work in leading corporations and universities around the world.

Expand your horizons

Octav Chipara, Ph.D. work with a computer science student

Work with expert faculty

Graduate students and many undergraduates work side-by-side with faculty, conducting breakthrough tech research that advances humanity’s understanding of ourselves and our ever-changing world.

Work with expert faculty

See Yourself Here!

At Iowa you'll be surrounded by our faculty of computer science education experts, engaged graduate students, and a network of alumni — all invested in your success.

Visit

a student holding a handset in drone room

91%

Grads Are Employed or Continuing Their Education 6 Months After Graduation*

*or not seeking employment

student in a robotics class with a computer and a small robot

59%

Undergrad Students Receiving Job Offers Before Graduation

93%

Grads Say Their Employment is Related to Their Studies and career goals

$45K-129K

Range of annual salaries for grads after graduation

students wearing an Iowa sweatshirt in VR headset

Write Your Story

The Department of Computer Science develops the necessary skills you need for the careers you want, so you can hit the ground running after graduation.

Apply

News and announcements

UIowa CS Says Farewell to Former Chair, Professor Emeritus Arthur C. Fleck

Wednesday, August 26, 2026

Fleck joined UIowa's Dept. of Computer Science faculty in 1965, the inaugural year of that department, and eventually served two terms as Chair, publishing numerous papers and books on computer science and its history.

Congratulations to 2026-27 CS Scholarship Winners!

Tuesday, August 18, 2026

The Department of Computer Science is grateful for the generosity of donors who make our many scholarships possible. We're especially proud of our 2026-27 scholarship recipients.

Dr. Sriram Pemmaraju and Dr. Sourya Roy Receive NSF Grant to Study Distributed Random Sampling

Monday, August 10, 2026

The challenge in distributed random sampling is to ensure that the computed random choices are unbiased, even when the task is scaled to run in parallel over multiple machines.

UI to Welcome Dr. Cristopher Moore as Ida Cordelia Beam Distinguished Visiting Professor

Thursday, August 6, 2026

Resident Professor at the Santa Fe Institute, Dr. Cristopher Moore challenges traditional boundaries between disciplines and encourages students and faculty alike to think expansively about the role of computation and technology in the liberal arts.

CS Student Patrick Touhy on his Software Engineering Internship at Casey’s HQ

Thursday, August 6, 2026

Patrick offers highlights of his internship, what he learned, and advice for current students considering a CS internship at Casey’s or other corporate offices.

View more news

Upcoming events

Student Employment Job Fair

Wednesday, August 26, 2026 11:00am to 2:00pm

Iowa Memorial Union (IMU)

This is an excellent opportunity for students to learn about the variety of student hourly and Work-Study jobs available on the UI campus & at qualified off-campus nonprofit Work-Study sites.

The University is excited to have students consider campus employment. Research shows that students who are connected to campus are more successful and more likely to continue enrollment and do well academically. Many first-year students choose student employment as their Pick One.

Typically more than 30...

Transparency and Fairness in AI for Criminal Justice

Tuesday, September 8, 2026 6:00pm to 7:00pm

Biology Building East

What happens when AI intersects with the criminal justice system via facial recognition, mechanical evidence, risk assessment, sentencing, parole, and more? We welcome Ida Cordelia Beam Distinguished Visiting Professor, Dr. Cristopher Moore, of the Santa Fe Institute.

CS Colloquium - "Easy, Hard, and Impossible: Phase Transitions in Computation"

Friday, September 11, 2026 3:30pm to 4:30pm

Schaeffer Hall

Ida Cordelia Beam Distinguished Visiting Professor, Dr. Cristopher Moore, shows how to classify key problems in computing, data science, and statistical inference.

Study Abroad Fair

Tuesday, September 15, 2026 11:00am to 3:00pm

Iowa Memorial Union (IMU)

Ready to take your UI education beyond Iowa City?

The University of Iowa Study Abroad Fair takes place Tuesday, September 15, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. (CDT) in the Iowa Memorial Union (IMU) International Ballroom.

Whether you're just curious or already planning, this is your opportunity to discover what studying abroad can look like for you.

At the fair, you'll discover:

Short-term, semester-long, and faculty-led programs in over 40 countries

Internship and research opportunities that count...

Graduate & Professional Students: Let's Do Lunch!

Tuesday, September 15, 2026 12:00pm to 1:00pm

Sciences Library

Bring your academic interests to the table and engage with fellow graduate and professional students in a casual, supportive environment.

View more events

Paulsen sitting in front of two large screens displaying an overhead view of a simulated city and two smaller screens mimicking the dashboard of an aircraft.

Paulsen flying a simulated aircraft at a NASA research facility.