CyberCorps Scholarship for Service
VT Cybercorps is not accepting applications for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Please subscribe to the Hume Center Newsletter to be notified when applications will be accepted for Fall of 2025.
Scholarship For Service (SFS) is a unique program designed to increase and strengthen the cadre of federal information assurance professionals that protect the government's critical information infrastructure. This program provides scholarships that fully fund the typical costs incurred by full-time students while attending a participating institution, including:
- Tuition and education related fees (does not include items such as meal plans, housing, or parking)
- Annual stipend of $27,000 for undergraduate and $37,000 for graduate students
- Professional development reimbursement up to $3,000 / semester for:
- Books
- One-time laptop purchase up to $2,000
- Travel to the SFS Job Fair and other approved travel
- Approved certifications
Upon graduation SFS participants have a commitment to work for an agency within the Federal Executive Branch in an information assurance field for three years. (A limited number of students may be provided an exception to work for National Laboratories and Federally Funded Research and Development Centers.)
Virginia Tech operates a CyberCorps Scholarship for Service program which provides full tuition and up to $27,000/year in scholarships to students interested in pursuing careers in cybersecurity. The program is open to undergraduate students majoring in Computer Science, Secure Computing, Electrical Engineering, or Computer Engineering. The program is not open to MIT students, BIT students or incoming M.S. students.
To qualify for the CyberCorps scholarship, students must complete the Minor in Cybersecurity and enroll in the Accelerated BS/MS program in their respective major (CS or ECE).
Program Process
Sophomore Year
- If you are a CS or ECE student with sophomore standing, advancing to junior next semester, and meet the eligibility requirements, apply for the scholarship.
- Selected for CyberCorps Scholarship
Junior Year
- Enroll in cybersecurity minor, and begin taking necessary courses
- Apply for summer internships with federal government agencies
- ECE Students: Apply for ECE Accelerated UGG Degree Program
- CS Students: Apply for CS Five-Year BS/MS Program
- Admitted to Graduate Program
- Complete first summer internship
Senior Year
- Apply for summer internships with federal government agencies
- Continue taking courses to complete major and cybersecurity minor
- Complete second summer internship
Master's Year
- Apply for full-time position with federal agencies and labs
- Continue taking courses to complete major and cybersecurity minor
- Complete and defend masters thesis
Graduated
- Complete three-year service commitment working for a federal executive branch agency
Course Guide
Please see the undergraduate and graduate course requirements for the ECE and CS departments as the official references. Students who have advanced placement or other credits who can take their CLE Electives early will find it much easier to fit the required courses into their schedule.
Application and Program Requirements
Students interested in this program should apply during the semester in which they will complete 60 or more credits of undergraduate study, typically spring of their Sophomore year.
The following are the eligibility requirements:
- Major of Computer Science, Secure Computing, Computer Engineering, or Electrical Engineering;
- GPA of 3.3 or higher; and
- US citizenship and ability to obtain a security clearance.
The following are the program benefits:
- Full tuition and fees, books, and a $27,000 stipend during undergraduate studies; and
- Full tuition and fees, books, and a $37,000 stipend for one year of graduate studies.
The following are the program requirements:
- Maintain a 3.3 or higher GPA;
- Participate in SFS cohort activities;
- Enroll in and complete the undergraduate minor in cybersecurity (unless you are a Secure Computing major) ;
- Apply for and be accepted into an accelerated BS/MS program in ECE or CS;
- Meet graduate-level security coursework requirements by taking ECE/CS 5560 and at least one other security-focused course;
- Complete BS and MS within three years of starting the program;
- Apply for, receive, and participate in internships each summer with a federal agency or lab; and
- Apply for, receive, and accept a full-time position with a federal agency upon completion of MS, and complete three years of service at that organization.
- Complete the CyberCorps Service Agreement (please carefully review this legal document)
