CyberCorps Scholarship for Service: tuition, stipend, and public-service requirement

CyberCorps: Scholarship for Service is a federal program connecting cybersecurity education with internships and later government employment. It may support up to three years of undergraduate or research-based graduate study. The page lists annual stipends of $27,000 for undergraduates and $37,000 for graduate students, plus tuition and related education fees; meal plans, housing, and parking are excluded.

The program includes a $6,000 professional allowance for the SFS Job Fair, certifications, and related travel, along with a summer internship and job fairs. Support comes with a service obligation: after graduation, recipients must work in government for a period equal to the scholarship’s length. Before accepting, read the full agreement and understand the obligations and possible consequences.

Potentially eligible students are U.S. citizens and permanent residents enrolled full-time at a participating institution who are within three years of completing a cybersecurity bachelor’s or master’s degree, or pursuing a research doctorate. They must also meet federal-employment requirements and be able to obtain a security clearance if a job requires it. Institutions set additional requirements.

There is no single OPM application: students contact a participating university because each campus sets availability, dates, and steps. Community-college students may participate only through formal transfer agreements. Ask which employers qualify, how other aid coordinates, whether the degree is approved, and what happens if the academic plan changes or no eligible job is secured.

OPM directs students to review the awardee-institution list and contact a campus about availability and instructions. Treat the service obligation as part of the decision: compare eligible roles, agencies, and potential relocation before accepting funding tied to later federal employment.

Before applying, confirm that the school and program participate, check cycle requirements and dates, keep a copy and submission receipt, and ask how the award coordinates with FAFSA and other benefits. Do not budget funds that have not been awarded.

When comparing options, identify whether the benefit is a scholarship, grant, tuition exemption, or loan: not all aid must be repaid or applies to the same charges. Ask the college for a written estimate after FAFSA and other awards, check renewal and academic-progress rules, and do not accept a loan thinking it is a scholarship.

Read the program profile and the federal FAFSA guide; confirm with the administrator how the aid coordinates.

SFS Student Information — U.S. Office of Personnel Management.

CyberCorps SFS Participating Institutions — U.S. Office of Personnel Management.

Guide checked against official sources on October 13, 2026. Cycles, funding, and eligibility can change; confirm the cycle for your academic year with the administrator and your school financial-aid office.

Bottom line

Confirm eligibility, current terms, and application steps with the official source before relying on aid for college costs.

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