Information Assurance Scholarship Program
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Recruitment Program (College Students)

Eligibility Requirements

  • 18 years of age or older and a U.S. citizen at time of application.
  • Currently enrolled at, or accepted for enrollment, at a National CAE; or enrolled at an institution selected by a CAE as a collaborative partner for these purposes.
  • Pursuing a course of study and/or have a declared major with an IA concentration in one of the scientific, technical or managerial disciplines related to computer and network security.
  • For undergraduate applicants, must have completed at least the first two years of an undergraduate degree program by August of the calendar year in which scholarship funding will commence and be eligible to begin either the third or fourth year of the degree. GPA must be at least a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (or an analogous rank based on a comparable scale).
  • For graduate applicants, must be eligible to begin the first or second year of a master’s degree program; pursue doctoral studies; or complete a graduate IA certificate program. GPA must be at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale (or an analogous rank based on a comparable scale).
  • Recommended by the CAE for the scholarship program.
  • Able to obtain a security clearance.

Application Procedures

The application period opens each November when the National Security Agency (NSA) issues the annual Solicitation for Proposal, with complete application procedures, to the CAEs. Scholarship applications are processed through the CAE to be attended and students must meet their school’s internal application deadline. CAE proposals to NSA must be postmarked no later than February 28th. All scholarship recipients are notified through their schools in May. For further details, review the IASP frequently asked questions or email askiasp@nsa.gov

Please check back in November to download the 2010 IASP Solicitation for Proposal package (including all attachments).

Payback

In exchange for scholarship funding, students incur a service commitment which is typically fulfilled as a permanent, full–time DoD civilian employee and commences upon graduation. The obligation period is one year of service for each year, or partial year of scholarship received, in addition to an internship, if applicable. Individuals who choose military service as their payback commitment serve on active duty for a minimum of four years.