A graduate degree can be a significant investment. Fortunately, for those pursuing a masters in cyber security, there are many scholarships available as both the private and public sector seek to fill the massive cyber security talent shortage. Below is a list of the seven best cyber security scholarships for graduate students.
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 [email protected] or visit http://cra.org/cra-w/scholarships-and-awards/scholarships/swsis/#overview for more information.
2 + 3. 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.
2. 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 [email protected]
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3. 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 [email protected]
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4. 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
5 and 6. 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.
5. 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 https://www.afcea.org/shrader-graduate-diversity.
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6. 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 https://www.afcea.org/war-veterans.
7. 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.
- Are a dependent eligible for Transfer of Entitlement under the Post-9/11 GI Bill based on the service eligibility criteria listed above.
How to Apply
Visit here for more information.
If you are interested in pursuing a master’s degree in cyber security but are concerned about the financial obligations, there are options! Contact us to get more details on scholarships and additional avenues that may be available to help you alleviate the financial responsibility of higher education.
At the University of San Diego, we help students gain the skills they need to be considered for jobs with some of the best cyber security companies in the world. We offer two cyber security degrees — a 100% online Master of Science in Cyber Security Operations and Leadership and an on-campus Master of Science in Cyber Security Engineering. If you are interested in learning more about advancing your education to further your career in cyber security and need more info about cyber security scholarship options, contact us.
