Dakota State University students walking around campus

Preparation + opportunity = success

That's the DSU equation. We're a four-year university with nationally recognized programs, cutting-edge facilities, and the brightest thinkers. But we're also a tight-knit, inclusive community. Small class sizes mean hands-on training and individualized attention. All this with an affordable, public school price that's among the best values in the region.

Majors & Degrees

CyberCorps Scholarship Program

The CyberCorps scholarship program awards high-achieving, driven students in security degree programs following their sophomore year at DSU. The program is funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation with around 10 new students awarded per year.

Recipients in this program can, by application, also become part of the 4+1 program, which allows you to graduate with your bachelor’s and master’s degree in just five years. If you are interested in the Cyber Operations, Network and Security Administration, or Computer Science degree programs at the undergraduate level, you may be eligible for this exclusive scholarship. Graduate students enrolled in either the Master of Science in Computer Science (MSCS) or the Master of Science in Cyber Defense (MSCD) degree programs are also eligible.

Our CyberCorps graduates go on to secure pretty impressive careers at the National Security Agency (NSA), The Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab (APL), Naval Information Warfare Systems Command (NAVWAR), Sandia National Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, State of South Dakota Bureau of Information and Telecommunications (BIT), and various universities.

Benefits

Once awarded, recipients receive (annually):

  • 100% tuition and fees covered
  • $25,000 (undergraduate) to $34,000 (graduate) stipend
  • $6,000 for professional development and books
  • Paid summer internship
  • Cybersecurity career following graduation in federal, state, local, or tribal government.

You may also renew this scholarship for up to three years.

Eligibility and requirements

  • You must be a minimum of 18 years of age.
  • You must be a citizen of the United States at the time of application submission. 
  • You must be a full-time, on-campus student in a cybersecurity or computer science degree program. 
  • You must have completed 60 or more credit hours of undergraduate coursework by the start of the fall semester in which the scholarship will be awarded.
  • You must have a 3.25 cumulative GPA.
  •  You must have a desire to earn a bachelor's and master's degree from DSU.
  • You must complete a summer internship with a government agency.
  • After graduation, you will work for an agency for one year for every year you participate in the DSU CyberCorps. Preferred placement is in Federal Executive Branch Government Agencies. 
    • For example: If you participated in the DSU CyberCorps for three years, you will work for a government agency for three years.  

Contact

Michael Ham

Michael Ham

Associate Professor

Department

The Beacom College of Computer & Cyber Sciences

Contact

Office Location: Beacom Institute of Technology
Phone: (605) 256-5838
Email
Website

Andrew Kramer

Andrew Kramer

Assistant Professor

Department

The Beacom College of Computer & Cyber Sciences

Contact

Office Location: East Hall
Phone: (605) 256-5838
Email
Website