Department of Defense Cyber Service Academy

Important Dates

  • November 1, 2024
    • Application Process Opens
  • February 1, 2025
    • Deadline for Application Submissions
  • April 5, 2025
    • Final Student Selection Process Occurs
  • April 26, 2025
    • Final Announcement of Scholarship Offers will Occur

*Dates subject to change

Informational Meeting

Recording from November 7, 2023

2024 DoD CySP Kick Off Materials (PDFs)

About

Colorado State University Cyber Security Center has received designation as a National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C) program.   The National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C ) program is managed by NSA’s National Cryptologic School. Federal partners include the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)/National Initiative on Cybersecurity Education (NICE), the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Department of Defense Office of the Chief Information Officer (DoD-CIO), and U.S. Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM).

NCAE-C program aims to create and manage a collaborative cybersecurity educational program with community colleges, colleges, and universities that:

  • Establishes standards for cybersecurity curriculum and academic excellence,
  • Includes competency development among students and faculty,
  • Values community outreach and leadership in professional development,
  • Integrates cybersecurity practice within the institution across academic disciplines,
  • Actively engages in solutions to challenges facing cybersecurity education.

Project Summary

This project has introduced a systematic program designed to effectively recruit qualified and high-achieving students who are enrolled in our cybersecurity program of study as candidates to the CySP. Selected candidates for this scholarship will receive full support, including a generous annual stipend, a waiver for tuition and all fees, books, and other benefits. Please see below for more information and details.

Advantages

  • Full cost of tuition and all fees provided for the 2024–25 academic year.
  • A $27,000 stipend for undergraduate students to cover room and board.
  • A $32,000 stipend for graduate (master’s/PhD) students to cover room and board.
  • Covering the cost of all required books.

Basic Requirements

  • Applicant must have and maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.2 (undergraduate) and 3.5 (graduate) for the duration of the academic year.
  • Applicant must be entering junior or senior year or a graduate program in fall 2024.
  • U.S. citizen able to qualify for security clearance.
  • By accepting the scholarship, the applicant agrees to work for the DoD as a civilian for one year for each year of scholarship received.

2025-26 Application Cycle

If you are interested in pursuing this full-ride scholarship to support your study in cybersecurity and related fields, the Department of Defense seeks scholarship applications from incoming junior and senior (third- and fourth-year) undergraduate and master/doctoral students for the 2025–26 academic year. Information about this new cycle is given below. 

THE 2025-26 STUDENT RECRUITMENT SEASON WILL OPEN ON NOV. 1, 2024.

How to Apply

First, you will need to create your account online with the DoD Cyber Scholarship Program to apply for a DoD cyber scholarship.

Once you have registered and logged into your account, you will find instructions for preparing and submitting an application for the DoD CySP, as well as the application itself and applicable materials. Please read all information and instructions for application preparation before you begin, as well as the on-screen instruction text. In addition to the application, there is an OF612 supplement. You must acknowledge the OF612 Supplemental Competency Statement as part of the application or your package will be deemed non-responsive and will not be considered.

TEST & EVALUATION PATHFINDERS PROGRAM

The DoD CySP is partnering with DoD’s Director of Operational Test and Evaluation to offer newly selected DoD CySP Scholars the opportunity to participate in the Test & Evaluation Pathfinders program. The Pathfinders program is a 6-week summer internship (June–July 2024) that provides structured, field-specific training industry professional certifications and processed for adjudicated government security clearance during the summer.  The internship is held in a partner training location. All travel is paid to and from the training location, including lodging. Pathfinder Interns will be paid and receive Red Team-specific training/Certification exams, that will include Security+ or Certified Ethical Hacker boot camp style training, hands-on Hack-the-Box security tools, tours of DoD and Federal agencies located near the training location, and access to senior DoD cyber leadership. There is a competitive selection process and selection will be based from the scholar’s interest in the Pathfinder program and submission information provided to DoD CySP. Course and activity offerings may change due to schedules and availability.

Click here to download a one-page guide to the Pathfinders program

Contact

Please use the shared account compsci_dodcysp@colostate.edu for more information about the program.

Lisa Anaya
Director of Research Administration
Dean’s Office, College of Natural Sciences
Stats Building, CSU, Fort Collins, CO

A flyer describing the program. All information is described on webpage.
2024 Scholarship Flyer