Department of Defense Cyber Service Academy Scholarship Program
This program is currently accepting applications!
The DoD CSA Scholarship Program provides scholarships to college students at the undergraduate and graduate levels to study in cyber-related majors at select National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C).
The DoD CSA Scholarship Program will cover all tuition, required fees and books, and a laptop for first year students; it will also provide a $29,000 per year stipend for undergraduates and a $34,000 per year stipend for graduate students. This program is aimed at rising juniors, rising seniors, and all graduate students who are interested in cyber security careers withing the Department of Defense, and who are in a degree program of interest to the DoD (Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, CMDA, BIT Cyber, and other programs that are applicable to the field of cybersecurity.
Through this program the Hume Center has been able to assist several students successfully apply and obtain this scholarship each year of the past 5 years. We are hoping to add a minimum of 5-8 additional students this year. Due to Virginia Tech’s outstanding reputation, Virginia Tech students tend to be very competitive in the selection process for the program. Current students are slated to work at organizations across the DoD and Intelligence Community, including Naval Sea Systems Command (Red Team), Space and Naval Warfare Systems, U.S. Air Force Cyber Hunt, and the National Security Agency.
Key requirements for applicants are as follows:
- Rising junior, senior (third and fourth year) undergraduate, or graduate/doctoral students- have at least one full academic year remaining in degree program
- Must be a United States Citizen able to qualify for a security clearance
- Must be 18 years old or older
- Have a 3.2 grade point average for undergraduate students and a 3.5 for graduate students or higher
- Currently not a full-time, permanent DoD,Federal Employee, or Active duty military
- Enrolled in a full-time cyber program at a designated National Center of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (https://www.caecommunity.org/cae-map)
- Pursuing a course of study and/or have a declared major in one of the scientific,technical, or managerial disciplines related to cyber or have a concentration in cyber.
- Maintain flexibility to move within the continental U.S. to perform internships and final service obligations
- Currently unencumbered to another program with a required service obligation
- Enrolled in a degree program of interest to the DoD (Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, CMDA, BIT Cyber, and other programs with an interest in cybersecurity.)
Students selected into the program must:
- Agree to serve one year of service to the DoD, upon graduation, for each year or partial year of scholarship received, in addition to the internship identified below to receive full scholarships
- Attend colloquium
- Maintain a 3.2 grade point average for undergraduate students and a 3.5 for graduate students or higher
- Full tuition and required fees (which may include institutional health care programs)
- Required books/supplies
- Security certification support
- One-time laptop/computer purchase
- $29,000 stipend per year for undergraduate students
- $34,000 stipend per year for graduate (master’s/Ph.D.) students
Yes, please register your interest via this form and we will send you the link for the application.
Applications are open and will remain open until 01 Feb 2025, 11:59 PM EST.
If you have any questions about the Hume Scholars program or the application process, contact Tiasha Khan at tiasha@vt.edu.