Dakota State University students walking around campus

Preparation + opportunity = success

That's the DSU equation. We're a four-year university with nationally recognized programs, cutting-edge facilities, and the brightest thinkers. But we're also a tight-knit, inclusive community. Small class sizes mean hands-on training and individualized attention. All this with an affordable, public school price that's among the best values in the region.

Majors & Degrees

DoD Cyber Security Scholarship Program (CySP)

The Department of Defense Cybersecurity Scholarship Program (DoD CySP) is a nationwide program with the goal of increasing the number of qualified students entering the fields of cybersecurity, computer science, information assurance, and information technology at the Department of Defense through a scholarship for service program. These students will help secure the nation against threats of increasing attacks against our nation’s infrastructure and secure our country against threats.

Benefits

  • Stipend for undergraduates: $27,000 annually
  • Stipend for graduate students is $32,000 annually
  • All tuition and fees are paid by the scholarship
  • $1,500 for the purchase of a laptop or desktop computer
  • $1,250 for books, supplies, and tablet/e-readers
  • $1,750 in professional development funding
  • Internships each summer with a selected DoD agency for hands-on experience
  • A full-time job within a Department of Defense agency
  • Both on-campus and online/distance students are eligible
  • The scholarship is renewable for a total of 5 years

Eligibility

  • Students must be accepted into an appropriate program at DSU at the time of their application
  • All students must be enrolled as full-time students while receiving the scholarship
  • You must be 18 years of age or older
  • You must be a citizen of the United States at the time of application
  • Undergraduates must have completed at least 60 credits at the time at which they would receive the award
  • Students must have at least one year of school left (at least a fall and spring semester) in their plan of study. This may be a combination of bachelor's & master's, just bachelor's, or just graduate work.
  • Must meet minimum GPA standards of: 3.2 (undergrad) or 3.5 (graduate)
  • Students should be enrolled in one of the following programs:
    • Bachelors: Network & Security Administration, Cyber Operations, Computer Science
    • Masters: Computer Science, Cyber Defense
    • Ph.D.: Computer Science, Cyber Operations, Cyber Defense

Overall, this scholarship is worth approximately $45,000 per year for a DSU student. When you leverage the scholarship for up to 5 years, it provides a benefit of over $200,000 to you as a student!

To learn more about the CySP program as a DSU student, attend an information session or check out the DSU Activities Post. Feel free to request more information at CySP@dsu.edu

Application

Students that meet the requirements for the scholarship may apply online by following these steps:

  1. Send an email to CySP@dsu.edu to let us know you intend to apply
  2. Create an account and begin the application process at: https://www.dodemergingtech.com/cyber-scholarship-program-cysp/
    1. Upload an unofficial transcript
    2. Respond to the six competency areas, this is where you’re demonstrating to the scholarship selection group just how smart you are! Be detailed in what you know!
    3. Work with your faculty to obtain your letters of recommendation
  3. Complete the DSU portion of the application at:
    1. https://forms.office.com/r/pgS1P5j7y1
    2. We recommend that you work with your advisor to create a plan of study for next fall through your graduation date.
    3. This form is required of all applicants. Applicants that have not completed this form will not have tuition dollars budgeted for them and will not be considered for the scholarship.

The deadline for applications is February 1st, 2023. 

The deadline for applications is set annually by the Department of Defense. The 2022/2023 application cycle is due: February 1st, 2023.

If you have any questions about eligibility, how to apply, or how the program operates, please reach out to CySP@dsu.edu ASAP!

Kyle Cronin

Kyle Cronin

Associate Professor, Coordinator for Ph.D. in Cyber Defense

Department

The Beacom College of Computer and Cyber Sciences

Contact

Office Location: Beacom Institute of Technology
Phone: (605) 256-5838
Email
Website