During his undergraduate years in India, Kunal Suresh built an AI model that could spot early eye disease from retinal scans. Seeing how accurate it was, he realised just how powerful technology could be in solving real-world problems. “That was a light bulb moment for me,” he says.
From there, one project led to another. Suresh experimented with AI further before expanding into AR/VR training simulations and computational biology. The more he learned, the more he wanted to explore those interests. But to do that, he knew he needed the advanced knowledge and skills that only a good master’s programme could provide.
That led him to Iowa State University’s Department of Computer Science — the birthplace of the first electronic digital computer. The Atanasoff-Berry Computer was built on campus in the late 1930s.
Suresh sought a department with strengths in data-driven research and immersive technologies as well, so he could work across disciplines rather than within the boundaries of a single field. Iowa State’s team-driven research culture offered exactly that.
“The department’s collaborative vibe, access to top-notch resources, and the chance to grow both academically and professionally really clicked with my goals,” he says.
With publications and a patent already to his name, Suresh opted for the MS in Computer Science with thesis option. Today, he is a graduate research assistant and developing a Python pipeline that screens genomic data for safe gene-editing sites in zebrafish — a project that reflects the interdisciplinary approach he was seeking.
Iowa State helps students build skills in software, AI, robotics, and data through academic learning, internships, research, and innovation opportunities. Source: Iowa State University
A track for every goal
If you want to produce original research, you can choose the MS in Computer Science or MS in Artificial Intelligence with thesis option, a route built for anyone aiming for a PhD in the future or deeper independent work.
Suresh picked the MS in Computer Science with thesis option because he knew this was the better choice for him. “My prior publications and patents showed me the power of deep inquiry over structured capstones,” he says. “Iowa State’s resources, like labs for AI and bioinformatics, made this ideal.”
Luke Marzen graduated in May 2025 with an MS in Computer Science and now works as a software engineer at Arm, a British chip designer. He chose the same research track but credits a different strength: how far the faculty went to shape the programme around his goals. “The faculty were very supportive and approachable, especially when it came to tailoring my master’s path to align with my career goals,” he says. “As an R1 ‘very high research activity’ university, Iowa State offers an abundance of research opportunities, which made it easy to find professors whose interests overlapped with mine.”
If industry is your goal instead, you can opt for the capstone-based MS, which trades the thesis for hands-on, real-world projects that mirror what employers expect on day one. During your final semester, you’ll complete an industry-based project with one of the department’s partners, either Collins Aerospace, Kingland, or Union Pacific’s Building America. This is designed to provide you with real world experience in project management and software and algorithm design, while also honing your soft skills in time management and communication.
If you’re arriving without a computing background, the MS Bridge Programme gives you a way in without requiring an undergraduate degree in the subject first. You’ll open with an intensive run of foundational courses — Computational Methods I, then Algorithmic Foundations I and II — built to bring you up to speed before you move into standard master’s-level coursework. The whole journey to an MS in Computer Science takes about two and a half years.
Looking to combine computing with an entirely different field? Consider the Master of Financial Technology, a STEM-designated, course-only programme run jointly with Iowa State’s Ivy College of Business. Built around financial analysis, computational methods, and algorithms, it’s a programme that equips you with a strong foundation in fintech.
No matter the path, Iowa State provides the resources, support, and guidance you need to succeed during your graduate journey and beyond. Source: Iowa State University’
A town built for students
Ames came out on top of Research.com’s 2025 Best College Towns and Cities list, and you can understand why once you’re there. Labs stay open late. The library runs around the clock during exam weeks. Campus transit keeps going until midnight.
“Living in Ames significantly enhanced my graduate experience by creating an environment conducive to academic focus and personal well-being,” Marzen says.
The city and campus are just as conducive for living. Suresh is Vice-President of the Badminton Club, which has taken him to regional tournaments and given him a wider circle of friends. “These opportunities mix skill-building with fun, making it easier to network and grow,” he says.
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