DoD Cyber Scholarship Program @ NC State

The Cyber Scholarship Program (CySP) program is administered and funded by the United States Department of Defense (DoD). It is designed to encourage the recruitment of the nation’s top cyber talent who have skills necessary to meet DoD’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 DoD CySP that is open to current DoD civilians and active-duty military, referred to as “retention students.” The DoD offers retention students scholarships to retain their cyber talent/knowledge within the various DoD agencies. Retention students continue to receive their DoD 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 CySP program has a limit of 5 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 csc-cysp@lists.ncsu.edu

Your email will be automatically distributed to the following faculty

• Dr. Thierry Wandji

There will be multiple information sessions in January 2022. Information on these sessions will be posted here.

Application Information

Student must apply and be nominated through NCSU. DoD 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 DoD Agency agrees to hire upon graduation.

How to Apply

Complete the application online.

Deadlines

The application period for 2022-2023 is now open. The application deadline is February 1st, 2022.