DoW Cyber Service Academy @ NC State

The Cyber Service Academy (CSA) program is administered and funded by the United States Department of War (DoW). It is designed to encourage the recruitment of the nation’s top cyber talent who have skills necessary to meet DoW’s cyber requirements and help secure our nation against threats of information systems and networks. This program provides scholarships to students in pursuit of a cyber-related degree at National Centers of Academic Excellence (CAE).

Scholarship Benefits

• NC State tution and fees (excluding meal plans, housing, and parking)
• Academic year stipends to cover room and board
• Health insurance allowance
• An allowance for textbooks, professional development, and travel for degree-specific events
• Summer internships, typically paid, with a government organization

Note: The DoW CSA that is open to current DoW civilians and active-duty military, referred to as “retention students.” The DoW offers retention students scholarships to retain their cyber talent/knowledge within the various DoW agencies. Retention students continue to receive their DoW pay, should have employer-provided insurance, and do not need room and board.  Retention students only receive tuition, books, and fees.

Eligibility

To be eligible for consideration, an applicant must be a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States and be a full-time student pursuing a bachelors, masters, or doctoral degree in cyber disciplines. For undergraduate students, rising Juniors and Seniors are preferred. Students must maintain an overall grade point average (GPA) of 3.2 (undergraduate) or 3.5 (graduate) out of 4.0 (or an analogous rank based on a comparable scale). Students must qualify to receive a security clearance.

Bachelors students in computer science will be expected to enroll in the Cybersecurity Concentration. Masters students in computer science will be expected to enroll in the Track in Cybersecurity.

Students must reapply for each year of funding; funding returning students is the first priority of program. Students will typically complete a funded internship in the summer between academic years.

The CSA program has a limit of five years of support per student.

Recipient Obligations

Upon receiving the scholarship, students must:

• Maintain a specified grade point average.
• Complete an internship at an approved federal agency during the first summer.
• After graduation, work for an approved government agency for a period equal to the length of the scholarship. Note: most positions will require ability to receive a security clearance.

More Information

For more information, contact Patrick Morrison or isabella_white@ncsu.edu

Your email will be automatically distributed to the following faculty

• Dr. Patrick Morrison
• Dr. Isabella White

Application Information

Student must apply and be nominated through NCSU. DoW Agencies participate in a review panel and select students based on the mission needs and goals of their agency. Students are selected for the scholarship when a DoW Agency agrees to hire upon graduation.

How to Apply

1. Ask a professor for a letter of recommendation, to be sent by the application deadline.
2. Complete the application online.

FAQs and more information about the program can also be found at the above link.

Deadlines

The application period for 2026 - 2027 will open on January 1, 2026. The application deadline is February 17th, 2026.