The College of Engineering and Computing at George Mason University (Mason) has been awarded a five-year (2025–2029) grant from the National Science Foundation CyberCorps® Scholarship for Service (SFS) program to educate and train students specializing in cybersecurity. This initiative aims to equip them for impactful careers in government agencies, strengthening the security of the nation’s critical information infrastructure. Recipients must be a U.S. citizen or a lawful permanent resident.
The scholarship provides undergraduate students with two years of full tuition, a $6,000 annual professional allowance, and a $27,000 yearly stipend for living expenses. Graduate students are eligible for two years of support, while Ph.D. students can receive funding for three years, including full tuition, a $6,000 annual professional allowance, and a $37,000 yearly living stipend. Participants will have the opportunity to engage in cutting-edge research, compete in regional and national cybersecurity competitions, and receive support in securing summer internships and federal employment opportunities. Recipients are required to work in a cybersecurity role within a government agency after graduation for a duration equivalent to their scholarship support.
Mason is deeply committed to cybersecurity education and research. The National Security Agency and Department of Homeland Security have designated Mason’s Center for Secure Information Systems (CSIS) as a National Center of Academic Excellence in both Cyber Defense (CAE-CD) and Cyber Research (CAE-R). Further strengthening its commitment to cybersecurity education, Mason launched its interdisciplinary Bachelor of Science in Cyber Security Engineering (CYSE) in Spring 2015. This program, accredited by ABET under cybersecurity engineering criteria, is housed within the Department of Cyber Security Engineering (CYSE), providing students with a rigorous and comprehensive foundation in the field.