8 Cyber Security Scholarships for Information Security Professionals
1. SWSIS (Scholarships for Women Studying Information Security) Program Scholarship
Up to $10,000 for women working towards their bachelor’s or master’s degree in a field related to information security. Scholarships are offered to women entering the field of cyber security to close the growing gender gap in the field.
Eligibility
To be eligible, you must be accepted at or enrolled in a US campus of a US university. Applicants must be US citizens or permanent residents.
How to Apply
Contact swsis@swsis.org or visit http://cra.org/cra-w/scholarships-and-awards/scholarships/swsis/#overview for more information.
2. National Science Foundation Scholarship for Service (SFS)
Eligible graduate students can receive a scholarship stipend up to $34,000 per year. The National Science Foundation receives approximately 40,000 proposals each year for research, education, and training projects, of which approximately 11,000 are funded.
Eligibility
The CyberCorps®: Scholarship for Service (SFS) program seeks proposals that address cyber security education and workforce development. The Scholarship Track provides funding to award scholarships to students in cyber security. All scholarship recipients must work after graduation for a federal, state, local, or tribal government organization in a position related to cyber security. The work period must be equal to the amount of time they were receiving scholarship funds. For example, if a recipient received scholarship funding for two years, they would have to work for a federal, state, local, or tribal government organization in a cyber security related position for two years post-graduation.
Eligibility requirements include:
Be a full-time student pursing a bachelor’s or master’s degree in a coherent formal program that is focused on cyber security at an awardee institution, or research-based doctoral student.
Be a citizen or a lawful permanent resident of the United States.
Meet criteria for federal employment and can obtain a security clearance, if required.
How to Apply
Contact vpiotrow@nsf.gov for more information.
For a list of CyberCorps(R) FAQs click here.
4. Center for Cyber Safety and Education Graduate Level Scholarships
The Center for Cyber Safety and Education offers two scholarships for graduate students: the women’s scholarship and the graduate scholarship, awarding recipients between $5,000 and $40,000. See details below :
3. Women’s Scholarship
The women’s scholarship can be worth as much as $40,000.
Eligibility
Must be pursuing, or plan to pursue, a degree with a focus on cyber security or information assurance.
GPA must be at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale (or an analogous rank based on a comparable scale).
You may be a citizen of any country (US citizenship not required).
May be attending on campus or online.
May be attending full time or part time.
May be attending in the US or Internationally.
You do not currently need to be enrolled, however no awards will be disbursed until the recipient is enrolled in a college or university.
If awarded: the funds will be sent to the school with instructions that it be applied to tuition, fees and books.
How to Apply
Visit https://iamcybersafe.org/scholarships/womens-scholarships/ or contact scholarships@isc2.org
4. Graduate Scholarship
Applicants may be awarded up to $5,000 each.
Eligibility
Applicants do not currently need to be enrolled, however no awards will be disbursed until the recipient is enrolled in a college or university.
If awarded: the award will be sent to the school with instructions that it be applied to tuition, fees and books.
Applicants must:
Be pursuing, or plan to pursue, a degree with a focus on cybersecurity or information assurance.
Be eligible to begin the first or second year of a master’s degree program or pursue doctoral studies.
Have a GPA at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale (or an analogous rank based on a comparable scale).
Note: If you have just been accepted to graduate school, or are just beginning classes, you will use the final cumulative GPA from your undergraduate degree transcript to meet these criteria.
Applicants may:
Be a citizen of any country (US citizenship not required).
Attend on campus or online.
Attend full time or part time.
Attend in the US or Internationally.
How to Apply
Visit https://iamcybersafe.org/scholarships/graduate-scholarships/ or contact scholarships@isc2.org
5. The Google Anita Borg Memorial Scholarship
Recipients will receive $10,000 and the opportunity to take part in the annual Google Scholars Retreat in Mountain View, CA, participate in workshops and take advantage of several professional development and community outreach opportunities.
Eligibility
Identify as female.
Currently be enrolled at an accredited university for the 2016-2017 academic year.
Intend to be enrolled in or accepted as a full-time student in a bachelor’s, master’s or PhD program at a university in the United States or Canada for the 2017-2018 academic year.
Be studying computer science, computer engineering or a closely related technical field.
Demonstrate experience or course work in computer science.
Demonstrate a strong academic record.
Exemplify leadership and demonstrate passion for increasing the involvement of women in computer science.
How to Apply
Visit https://www.womentechmakers.com/scholars
6 and 7. The AFCEA Scholarships
The AFCEA offers several scholarships for those interested in studying cyber security. There graduate level cyber security scholarships include the Ralph W. Shrader Graduate Diversity Scholarship and the War Veterans Scholarship.
6. Ralph W. Shrader Graduate Diversity Scholarship (Women and Minority Students)
Recipients receive $3,000.
Eligibility
Applicants must be currently enrolled in their second semester at an accredited college or university in the United States at the time of application.
Applicants must have a current overall GPA of 3.5 or higher at the time of application.
Expected graduation date cannot be in the year the scholarship is awarded.
How to Apply
Visit http://www.afcea.org/site/?q=foundation/scholarships/HBCU-scholarship .
7. War Veterans Scholarship
Recipients receive a merit-based scholarship in the amount of $2,500.
Eligibility
Applicants must be U.S. citizens currently enrolled and attending a four-year accredited college or university in the United States as a sophomore or junior at the time of application.
Applicants must be enrolled part-time or full-time in an eligible undergraduate degree program.
Applicants must have an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher.
Candidates must be majoring in one of the accepted majors, including cyber security, as listed on the eligibility page.
Applicants must have served in Afghanistan and/or in the Iraq war (from 2003 to present) and must provide DD214 or Certificate of Service as evidence.
How to Apply
Visit http://www.afcea.org/site/?q=foundation/scholarships/war-veterans.
8. The Yellow Ribbon Program
Yellow ribbon schools such as the University of San Diego, offer support to Veterans through yearly scholarship money that is then matched dollar for dollar by the VA. Scholarship amounts vary from year to year. In 2017, the scholarship amount at USD was $14,896.
Eligibility
Applicants must be eligible for the maximum benefit rate under the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
Applicants must not be on active duty or a spouse using transferred entitlement.
The applicant’s school must agree to participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program.
The applicant’s school must have not offered Yellow Ribbon to more than the maximum number of individuals, as stated in their participation agreement.
The applicant’s school must certify your enrollment to VA and provide Yellow Ribbon Program information.
Applicants may be eligible if they fit the following circumstances:
Served an aggregate period of 36 months in active duty after Sept. 10, 2001.
Were honorably discharged from active duty for a service-connected disability and you served 30 continuous days after Sept. 10, 2001.