NSF CyberCorps Scholarship for Service (SFS)

The CyberCorps® scholarships fully fund typical costs incurred by full-time students admitted to the program, including tuition, fees, and a stipend to cover room and board. Upon graduation, the CyberCorps® graduates have a mandatory commitment to work for the government in an information assurance field for the amount of time equal to their scholarship. This governmental obligation can be fulfilled by working in cybersecurity for the federal, state, local or tribal governments; this list includes, but is not limited to, various federal agencies, government branches, as well as federally funded national labs.

RIT has been awarded a National Science Foundation grant #1922169 to prepare “Crosscutting Cybersecurity Scholars,” talented students enrolled in the BS programs in Cybersecurity, Computer Science, and Software Engineering and interested in pursuing an MS degree in Cybersecurity. 

The CyberCorps® program is open to students enrolled in the three accelerated BS/MS dual degree programs at RIT majoring in Cybersecurity, Computer Science, and Software Engineering. To qualify for the CyberCorps® scholarship, students must apply, qualify for, and enroll in the accelerated BS/MS dual degree program in their undergraduate respective major and an MS in CSEC.  Note that this scholarship is not for first-year students. Individuals who are interested in pursuing a Ph.D. in Cybersecurity, please email bo.yuan@rit.edu.

Other eligibility requirements include all of the following:

• US citizen or lawful permanent resident
• GPA of 3.25 or higher
• Completed at least one co-op before admission into the CyberCorps® program
• Must be able to obtain an appropriate security clearance. (Please review the federal SF-86, http://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/SF86.pdf)

• Undergraduate Year: full tuition and fees and $27,000 stipend per year
• Graduate Year: full tuition and fees and $37,000 stipend per year
• Professional development allowance of $6,000 per year for books, SFS Job Fair and other travel, professional certification, etc.

• Sign CyberCorps®: Scholarship For Service (SFS) Service Agreement
• Sign a Forgivable Loan Promissory Notes
• Maintain a 3.25 or higher GPA
• Participate in all CyberCorps® cohort activities
• Accept no outside employment without written permission of the RIT CyberCorps® program
• Continued ability to obtain and/or maintain a security clearance
• Apply for, receive, and participate in internships (co-ops) each summer with an approved governmental agency
• Apply for, receive, and accept a full-time position with an approved governmental agency upon completion of degrees; and complete service at that agency equal to the time funded by the scholarship

• Complete this application form before March 31. (Please note that this project is currently under the renewal process.)
• You will need to upload the following PDF documents
  • A statement from the applicant not to exceed two single-spaced letter-sized pages (12 point Times Roman font) that discusses the applicant’s motivation for applying, interest in cybersecurity, any past relevant experiences, and future plans. Please include current or past military or other government services
  • A copy of the student’s most current transcript (unofficial transcripts are acceptable)
  • A current resume
  • A draft worksheet for your BS/MS program (please work with your advisor on this)
  • Two letters of professional reference, with at least one from an RIT faculty member and one from a co-op (or other jobs) supervisor, if at least one co-op has been completed. These letters must discuss the student’s professional capabilities and what makes the student an appropriate candidate for the CyberCorps® scholarship.
  • One letter of personal reference from a family member. The letter must discuss the student’s personal commitment to serving the nation (to submit a letter directly). 

Failure to satisfy the academic requirements of the program or to complete the service requirement will result in forfeiture of the scholarship award, which will revert to a student loan with repayments pro-rated accordingly to reflect partial service completed. The institution is responsible for collecting the repayment amounts, including interest, consistent with the provisions of part B or D of Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965. All forfeited scholarship funds, fewer grantee costs associated with collection of the repayment not to exceed 5% of the forfeited amount, will be returned to the United States Treasury and may not be re-used by the awardee institution. Scholarship recipients in coordination with the institution and the NSF Principal Investigator may petition the NSF Program Office to waive or suspend repayment of scholarships in cases of extreme hardship or other circumstances that would preclude the fulfillment of the service obligation.

A list of Q&A and other pertinent  information can be found on the OPM website: https://sfs.opm.gov.

Please send all emails to Dr. Bo Yuan at bo.yuan@rit.edu