BYU CyberCorps Scholarship for Service (SFS)
About the Program
The NSF-funded CyberCorps Scholarship for Service program is designed to recruit and train the next generation of information technology professionals, industrial control system security professionals, and security managers to meet the needs of the cybersecurity mission for Federal, State, local, and tribal governments. The BYU program offers a scholarship including a living stipend, full tuition, and professional development funds, for 2 or 3 years (see next section) and participate as part of an SFS community at BYU and throughout the country. Students must complete various obligations (see Obligations below) during their time at BYU, finish a government internship each year, and work for a government entity for as many years as they received the scholarship. If SFS students do not fulfill their commitment, they must repay the entire costs associated with the scholarship.
BYU CyberCorps SFS Options
Applicants can choose one of three options at BYU as outlined below:
- Option 1 - Cybersecurity, B.S. (2 years):
- For declared Cybersecurity majors at BYU who will be Juniors in Fall 2026
- Funding: Junior and Senior years
- Option 2 - IT & Cybersecurity, M.S. (2 years):
- For students who will complete a relevant technical B.S. (Cybersecurity, IT, CS, EE, CE, or IS) from an accredited program before Fall 2026
- Must be accepted into the BYU IT & Cybersecurity M.S. program.
- Late admission petitions available for exceptional students who missed the M.S. program deadline
Funding: Both years of the M.S. degree
- Option 3 - Combined B.S. + M.S. Option (2-3 years):
- For declared Cybersecurity majors at BYU who will be Juniors or Seniors in Fall 2026
- All options require acceptance into the IT & Cybersecurity M.S. program
Funding Options:- Senior year + 2-year M.S. → 3 years of funding
- Senior year + 1-year M.S.* → 2 years of funding
- Junior & Senior year + 1-year M.S.* → 3 years of funding
*A 1-year M.S. requires permission from the SFS Admissions Committee. Please contact Audra McHoes if you would like to discuss eligibility.
Eligibility Requirements
- U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
- Currently enrolled in Cybersecurity B.S. program (Option 1 and 3) or applied for admissions to the IT & Cybersecurity, M.S. program (Option 2).
- Applicants who missed the Fall 2026 M.S. deadline may apply by the SFS deadline for consideration
- Minimum GPA: 3.0 (3.5+ recommended)
- Meet federal employment and security clearance requirements
Benefits
- Full tuition
- Annual stipend: $27,000 (undergrad) or $37,000 (graduate)
- $6,000 annual professional allowance for books, certifications, and travel
- Career support: Guidance in securing government internships and full-time employment through annual government career fairs and agency partnerships with strong ties to BYU
- Faculty mentoring and participation in SFS community of students at BYU and nationally
Student Obligations
- Be full-time student on track to graduate at planned time.
- Maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0.
- Complete SFS Seminar (0.5 credit) each semester you receive the scholarship
- Attend the annual SFS Career Fair in Washington DC
- Participate in BYU cybersecurity research, competitions, outreach, and professional development, including club events and faculty-mentored projects
- No outside employment without program approval (exceptions: BYU Security Operations Center and approved TA positions with weekly hour limits)
- Complete an approved government cybersecurity internship each summer of funding
After graduation, work in a qualifying government cybersecurity role for the same number of years funded
- Includes federal executive agencies, national labs, or state/local/tribal entities
- Failure to meet service requirements requires repayment of all funding