The Department of War (DoW) Cyber Service Academy (CSA) — formerly the Department of Defense Cyber Scholarship Program (CySP) — is both a scholarship initiative for the DoW and a national capacity-building effort. Created through the joint commitment of the Department of Defense and Congress, the program supports higher education to prepare the workforce to defend the Department’s critical information systems and networks.
As reliance on cyber and information technology grows — and threats to information and infrastructure increase — the Department must protect itself with a highly skilled workforce. To meet this need, the CSA, sponsored and administered by the DoW Chief Information Officer, was established to promote cyber education, strengthen recruitment and retention of cyber and IT specialists, expand the pool of trained military and civilian personnel, and ultimately improve the nation’s cyber posture.
Note: Applications for the 2026 / 2027 academic year are now being accepted. Announcements for scholarship selections are expected on May 1, 2026.
Recruitment Scholarships (Non-DoW Employees)
As a recruitment tool, the DoW CSA sponsors students who are not currently employed by the DoW or the federal government and who are enrolled in validated cyber programs at designated institutions. Upon graduation, recipients become eligible for full-time employment across DoW components and agencies. Scholars must work for the DoW for at least one year for each year of scholarship support received.
Eligibility Requirements
- Undergraduate students must have a minimum GPA of 3.2 on a 4.0 scale, and graduate students must have a minimum GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale.
- Applicants must be U.S. citizens able to qualify for a security clearance.
- Applicants should be enrolled full-time in a cyber-related program at a designated National Center of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C). George Mason University has held this designation since it was first established.
- Must not be a full-time permanent DoD federal employee or active-duty military.
- Should have at least one full academic year remaining in their degree program.
New Recruitment Application
The student application consists of two parts. Part 1 gathers background information (e.g., institution, contact information). Upon successful completion of Part 1, applicants will be presented with the link to Part 2. Part 2 focuses on cyber experience (e.g., coursework, knowledge, skills, and abilities). It is recommended to complete the application in a single session and devote sufficient time to complete the entire package in one sitting. Please note that only one application will be accepted per student, and the application date stamp will be used to determine the first submission. Incomplete applications missing either Part 1 or Part 2 will not be considered.
DoW CSA 2026 Application Part 1: https://forms.osi.apps.mil/r/r0NsnisrLa
DoW CSA 2026 Application Part 2: https://forms.osi.apps.mil/r/XMtbEwR6mS
Application Open for New Applicants: December 12, 2025
Application Closing for New Applicants: February 17, 2026 (noon)
DoW CSA POC: OSD MC-ALEX DOD CIO Mailbox DoD CSA
Applications Materials
- Unofficial Transcripts: Applicants will submit unofficial transcripts to the DoW CSA Program Office directly.
- Due date: 12:00 PM EST on 17 February 2026.
- Email Subject Line Format: Applicant Full Name – George Mason University – Unofficial Transcripts
- Email Address: [email protected]
- One (1) Letter of Recommendation: Must be sent directly to the DoW CSA Program Office by the author, not the applicant. The letter should come from a current or most recent faculty member or supervisor who can speak to the applicant’s potential for academic success, cyber knowledge, and ability. The applicant is responsible for contacting the author and ensuring the letter is sent by the deadline. Letters sent by the applicant will not be accepted.
- Due Date: 12:00 PM EST on 17 February 2026.
- Email Subject Line Format: Applicant Full Name – George Mason University – Letter of Recommendation
- Email Address: [email protected]
- Competitions / Cyber Exercises / Capture-the-Flag Documentation: Applicants will submit any cyber competition data directly to the DoW CSA Program Office via email.
- Due Date: 12:00 PM EST on 17 February 2026.
- Email Subject Line Format: Applicant Full Name – George Mason University – Competition Documentation
- Email Address: [email protected]
Current and Returning Scholars
To ensure accurate planning and allocation of resources for the upcoming academic year, all current scholars are asked to complete the application form, indicating whether or not they are reapplying for additional funding. A lack of response by the deadline may impact their eligibility for continued funding.
DoW CSA 2026 Application: https://forms.osi.apps.mil/r/jVeri4J1GL
Application Open for Returning Scholars: December 19, 2025
Application Closing for Returning Scholars: February 20, 2026 (noon)
DoW CSA POC: OSD MC-ALEX DOD CIO Mailbox DoD CSA
Applications Materials
- Unofficial Transcripts: Applicants will submit unofficial transcripts to the DoW CSA Program Office directly.
- Due date: 12:00 PM EST on 17 February 2026.
- Email Subject Line Format: Applicant Full Name – George Mason University – Unofficial Transcripts
- Email Address: [email protected]
- One (1) Letter of Recommendation: Must be sent directly to the DoW CSA Program Office by the author, not the applicant. The letter should come from a current or most recent faculty member or supervisor who can speak to the applicant’s potential for academic success, cyber knowledge, and ability. The applicant is responsible for contacting the author and ensuring the letter is sent by the deadline. Letters sent by the applicant will not be accepted.
- Due Date: 12:00 PM EST on 20 February 2026.
- Email Subject Line Format: Applicant Full Name – George Mason University – Letter of Recommendation
- Email Address: [email protected]
Retention Scholarships (DoW Employees)
The DoW Cyber Services Academy Retention Program provides professional development opportunities for current civilian and military personnel. This program ensures that the DoW retains top talent and upskills their abilities to meet the evolving demands of cybersecurity. Combining DoW training and education with leading cyber programs in higher education, the program directly supports the Department’s goals by strengthening our cyber workforce and bolstering the national cyber talent pipeline.
Eligibility Requirements
- No minimum GPA for applicants pursuing an Associate’s degree; a minimum 3.0 GPA for Master’s degree, and a minimum 3.2 GPA for PhD/Doctorate.
- Open to Active-Duty and Permanent DoD Civilians.
- Requires GRE/GMAT scores, transcripts, and supervisor recommendation/endorsement.
Support Provided
The DoD CSA provides extensive support to both recruitment and retention participants, including:
- Full tuition and required fees, which may include institutional healthcare programs.
- Required books from institution- or degree-specific book lists.
- A one-time laptop/computer purchase.
- Stipends to cover room and board:
- $25,000 for community college students.
- $29,000 for undergraduate students.
- $34,000 for graduate (master’s/Ph.D.) students.
- Continuation of military pay and civilian salary for participants in the Retention Program.
- Opportunities for structured internships and employment within the DoD upon program completion.
- Service obligations aligned with the amount of funding received (typically 1 year of service for each year of funding).
Program History
The Department of Defense (DoD) Information Assurance Scholarship Program (IASP) traces its legislative origins to provisions in the FY2001 National Defense Authorization Act and was subsequently codified in regulation (32 CFR Part 240) in 2012. The program was later rebranded as the DoD Cyber Scholarship Program (CySP) with updates tied to the FY2018 National Defense Authorization Act and related program evolutions, and it has since evolved into the DoD Cyber Service Academy (CSA), reflecting further legislative and structural updates. Since 2017, George Mason University has received over $1 million through this program to support students pursuing cybersecurity degrees, enabling support for 13 unique students across one or multiple academic years, as detailed in the table below.
| Academic Year | Program Name | Award No. | Funded Amount | No. New Students | No. Returning Students | Total Scholarships |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-2018 | IASP | H98230-17-1-0370 | $63,112.00 | 1 | – | 1 |
| 2018-2019 | CySP | H98230-18-1-0300 | $159,612.00 | 3 | – | 3 |
| 2019-2020 | CySP | H98230-19-1-0273 | $152,995.00 | 2 | – | 2 |
| 2020-2021 | CySP | H98230-20-1-0303 | $131,593.00 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 2021-2022 | CySP | H98230-21-1-0305 | $175,807.00 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 2022-2023 | CySP | H98230-22-1-0289 | $219,636.00 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| 2023-2024 | CySP | H98230-23-1-0185 | $87,625.00 | – | 2 | 2 |
| 2024-2025 | CSA | HQ0034-24-1-0017 | $87,833.00 | 1 | – | 1 |
| 2025-2026 | CSA | HQ0034-25-1-0026 | $48,104.00 | – | 1 | 1 |
| Total | $1,126,317.00 | 13 | 19 |