The Funded Grant
Under the leadership of the project’s principal investigator, Waleed Farag, IUP, along with a selected group of national universities, has been awarded funding since 2018 from the Department of War in support of the Cyber Service Academy (CSA), formerly known as the Cyber Scholarship Program (CySP).
Project Summary
This project has introduced a systematic program designed to effectively recruit qualified and high-achieving students who are enrolled in our cybersecurity program of study as candidates to the CSA. Selected candidates for this scholarship will receive full support, including a generous annual stipend, a waiver for tuition and all fees, books, and other benefits. Please see the information below about current and previous cycles, including awarded students, the ongoing mentoring program, and other details.
Application Cycle
If you are interested in pursuing this full-ride scholarship to support your study in cybersecurity and related fields, the Department of War annually seeks scholarship applications from rising junior and senior (third- and fourth-year) undergraduate and master’s/doctoral students. Information about previous cycles is given below. Information about the upcoming AY 2027–28 will be posted in late fall 2026.
Download the flyer.
Recording of the January 23, 2026, Informational Session for the 2026–27 application cycle.
Advantages
- Full cost of tuition and all fees provided for the 2026–27 academic year
- A $29,000 stipend for undergraduate students to cover room and board
- A $34,000 stipend for graduate (master’s/PhD) students to cover room and board
- Up to $1,000 annual allowance for required textbooks
- One-time laptop/computer purchase
Basic Requirements
- Applicant must have and maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.2 (undergraduate) and 3.5 (graduate) for the duration of the academic year.
- Applicant must be entering the junior or senior year or a graduate program in fall 2026.
- Applicant must be a US citizen.
- By accepting the scholarship, the applicant agrees to work for the DoW as a civilian for one year for each year of scholarship received.
Informational Session
An informational session was held on Friday, January 23, 2026, at 11:20 a.m. for any students who would like to learn more about the application process, ask questions, etc.
The session recording can be access via this link.
How to Apply (Applications for AY 2026–27 closed in Feb. 2026)
Review the CSA Recruitment Program and the CSA Scholar Handbook, and visit the DoW Cyber Service Academy website for complete details.
New Students Applications (due February 17, 2026, at noon EST)
- Complete the two-part application.
- Submit unofficial transcripts.
- Submit one (1) letter of recommendation.
- Submit any cyber competition, cyber exercises, or CTF documentation.
Returning Students Applications (due February 20, 2026, at noon EST)
- All current CSA awardees must complete the application to apply for or decline additional funding.
- Complete the application.
- To apply for additional funding:
- Submit unofficial transcripts.
- Submit one (1) letter of recommendation.
Contact
Waleed Farag, PhD
Director of the IUP Institute for Cybersecurity
Stright Hall 334
210 S. 10th St.
Indiana, PA 15705
farag@iup.edu
724-357-7995
Previous Cycle Information
- 2026–27 Cyber Service Academy
- 2025–26 Cyber Service Academy
- 2024–25 Cyber Service Academy
- 2023–24 Cyber Scholarship Program
- 2022–23 Cyber Scholarship Program
- 2021–22 Cyber Scholarship Program
- 2020–21 Cyber Scholarship Program
- 2019–20 Cyber Scholarship Program
- 2018–19 IASP page
DoW Capacity Building Project
In conjunction with the DoW CSA, IUP received funding to find additional ways to recruit more students to enter the cybersecurity workforce. For details about the DoW Capacity Building Project, please visit the DoW Capacity Building Project page.