Scholarships
for Service
Start Your Cybersecurity Career with the U.S. Government
Generous scholarships, guaranteed jobs after graduation.
LSU has funding from the National Science Foundation to help grow the nation's pool of qualified cybersecurity workers. Full scholarships (including tuition, fees, and a monthly stipend) are available for students who are deeply interested in cybersecurity and pursuing a degree in computer science, computer engineering, or information and decision sciences. In exchange, scholarship recipients work in a federal job after graduation for a period equivalent to the length of their scholarship. Undergraduate students in their last two years of study, M.S. students, and Ph.D. students may apply. For most applicants, a maximum of two years of funding is available.
Scholarship recipients can work at a variety of federal agencies, in positions addressing malware analysis, cyber defense, penetration testing, forensics, public policy, research, and more. Applicants must be deeply committed to the federal service aspect of the SFS program, as the success of LSU's SFS program and the SFS program as a whole is dependent on successful completion of this service. Some examples of federal agencies where recipients might work include the National Security Agency, the Department of Energy, the Central Intelligence Agency, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratory, and many other eligible employers. An annual job fair assists recipients in finding the right match for federal employment.
Over the past year, Scholarship for Service (SFS) has exposed me to numerous events where I was able to connect with real professionals in cybersecurity. I met Cisco leaders and Secretaries of State at the NASS Summer Conference, local political figures and the President of LSU at our cybersecurity initiative announcement, and local and federal agency professionals through the Applied Cybersecurity Lab. On all levels of political, public, and private work, there is a common goal of improving and solidifying America against all cyber threats. I believe SFS is a great initiative to help close the gap of experience allowing students to hit the ground running when entering the workforce.
Christopher Bowen, Computer Science Student
Benefits
Scholarship recipients get a number of benefits.
- A maximum of 3 years of support for undergraduate and graduate (M.S. or Ph.D.) education
- Academic-year stipends of $27,000 per year for undergraduate students and $37,000 per year for graduate students
- Tuition and education-related fees (does not include items such as meal plans, housing, or parking--these must be paid from the stipend)
- Professional allowance of $6,000 for SFS Job Fair and other travel, professional certification, etc.
- Participation in virtual and in-person job fairs in Washington, D.C.
Scholarship Eligibility Requirements
- Applicants must be U.S. citizens, since most federal cybersecurity jobs will require a security clearance
- An applicant must be currently enrolled full-time at LSU and be a rising junior or senior undergraduate or a graduate student
- An overall GPA of at least 3.25 and exemplary performance in cybersecurity courses is required for all students
- Applicants must express a strong interest in cybersecurity and be able to articulate this interest in detail in an essay submitted in the application process and in a subsequent screening interview
- For undergraduate students, applicants must commit to a concentration in cybersecurity and the associated required courses
- For B.S. students, commitment to participation in an undergraduate research project, supervised by a computer science, computer engineering, or information systems faculty member
- For M.S. students, a thesis or project targeting a research area in cybersecurity
- For Ph.D. students, the student’s research and dissertation topic must target an important area in cybersecurity
- Applicants must choose at least one cybersecurity-related certification, such as GIAC GCFA, CEH, Security+, etc., and commit to preparation to pass the test for the certification (Students can work with a faculty mentor to choose a certification and for guidance on how to prepare, and all associated costs will be paid using grant funds)
- Students must participate in at least one summer internship program at a federal agency—there are numerous options available
- Applicants must commit to participation in the student-led LSU Security Society
- Most importantly, a student must commit to all goals and requirements of the SFS program, including the requirement to accept federal employment in exchange for participation in the program and to complete the required program of study while maintaining acceptable academic standing (This commitment also includes voluntarily making lifestyle choices that do not undermine the candidate’s ability to obtain security clearances, which may be required for federal employment)
Internships
One exciting aspect of the SFS program is participating in a summer internship program at a federal agency or research lab. There are many opportunities available.
- Advanced Course in Cybersecurity Bootcamp (ACE)—Air Force
- Cybersecurity Internship Program—Department of Homeland Security
- Cryptanalysis and Signals Analysis Summer Program (CASASP)—NSA
- CAE-CO Cyber Operations Summer Intern Program—NSA
- The Cyber Summer Program (CSP)—NSA
- The Director’s Summer Program (DSP)—NSA
- Undergraduate Internship/Co-Op Program, Cybersecurity Ocer—CIA
- NIST Internship Program (replaces Student Career Experience Program)—NIST
Summary of Obligations to the Federal Government
- Successful and timely completion of the degree program
- Successful completion of a summer internship with a participating government agency
- Employment with a federal agency for a period equivalent to the length of the scholarship received, upon graduation from LSU
