Department of Defense Cyber Scholarship Program 2021

The application deadline is Friday, January 29, 2021.

An information session webinar was held on Friday, Dec. 18, 2020. The webinar recording is available for anyone who was unable to attend.

All selected participants will receive the following benefits:

• The full cost of tuition and all related fees (including healthcare) for the academic year
• A generous annual stipend to cover room and board
  • $25,000 for undergraduate students
  • $30,000 for graduate students
• Cost of all required books (up to $1,250 per year)
• A laptop (up to $1,500)

Applicants interested in applying for a DoD CySP Scholarship must:

• Be a U.S. citizen and be at least 18 years or older at the time of application
• Be starting their junior or senior year of a bachelor’s program (BS in Cybersecurity preferred) in Fall 2021 OR entering the graduate program (MS in Cyber Operations preferred) in Fall 2021
• Have and be able to maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.2 (undergraduate) and 3.5 (graduate) for the academic year
• Sign a written agreement obligating themselves to work for the DoD as a civilian employee for one calendar year for each scholarship assistance year. Applicants will also be required to participate in internships arranged by DoD during the summer terms or other semester breaks
• Have a clean background and be able to obtain a security clearance

1. Before applying, make sure you are eligible and satisfy all basic requirements as listed above
2. Please familiarize yourself with the scholarship program and its requirements by carefully reading the Scholarship Application Requirement document
3. Fill out the Metro State’s specific application for this program using this link
4. To prepare your application, make sure you read and comply with all the instructions in the Student Application Preparation document
5. If you are a new student, download the New Student Application and complete it in its entirety. Do not forget to include all the requested documents
6. If you are a returning student (one with a current scholarship and would like to renew for an additional year), download the Returning Student Application and complete it in its entirety
7. Prepare the resume using the provided Resume Template
8. Please note:
   • All application materials must be typed. Handwritten application materials will not be evaluated
   • Official (certified) transcripts are required from all the institutions of higher learning you have attended
   • All documents must be prepared according to the provided instructions and must be mailed to the following address:
     Faisal Kaleem
     Metropolitan State University
     700 East Seventh Street
     Saint Paul, MN 55106
   • You must also combine all the documents using the exact order specified in the instructions document and create one PDF file. You must name the resultant PDF file as LASTNAME_FirstName_UniversityName (Example: DOE_John_Metropolitan State University.pdf) and email it to cyber.scholarships@metrostate.edu
   • To be considered for the DoD CySP, we must receive both your mailed and emailed application package before the indicated deadline

The Metropolitan State review committee will initially screen all applicants. These applicants will be scored based on their application packages and submitted for consideration to the DoD review board. The DoD participating agencies will review the submitted applications and select candidates based on their respective agency’s mission needs and goals. DoD makes the final determination for all scholarship awards and relays the information back to Metropolitan State, who will notify the students within a May–June 2021 timeframe.

For DoD CySP program-related questions, please contact Metropolitan State University Cybersecurity Program Coordinator Professor Faisal Kaleem at cyber.scholarships@metrostate.edu.