Cybersecurity Public Service Scholarship Program

The Application is Open

The Cybersecurity Public Service Scholarship Program supports students who are pursuing an education in programs that have been identified by the Secretary of Higher Education as being directly relevant to cybersecurity.

Submit all required documents to MHEC by SECURE UPLOAD online through your MDCAPS account. Once logged in, select “Electronic File Upload” from the homepage then follow the prompts.

Who May Apply?

Individuals currently enrolled at public or private non-profit institutions in the State who are within two years of graduation from an approved, credit-bearing degree in cybersecurity, or an approved, credit-bearing certificate program in cybersecurity.

Applicants must be enrolled full-time (12+ credits in an undergraduate program; 9+ credits in a graduate program)
Applicants must have at least a cumulative GPA of at least a 3.0 at the time of application.
Applicants who have received the Federal Cyber Corps Scholarships for Service award are not eligible to apply.

How to apply

Complete the Cybersecurity application on MDCAPS ; and
Submit all required documents which include:

an official or unofficial college transcript from a public or private non-profit institution; and
the Institutional Verification Form confirming enrollment in an approved cybersecurity program and completion of the program within two years.

Eligible Majors and Programs

To view a list of all eligible programs for consideration of this scholarship click here. Students not enrolled in one of the approved programs are ineligible for the Cybersecurity Public Service Scholarship program.

Award Selection & Award Amount

The award amount of the Cybersecurity Public Service Scholarship award shall be in the amount prescribed by MHEC and may be used to pay for education expenses as defined by MHEC, including:

Tuition and mandatory fees; and
Room and board.

Renewal Requirements

Award recipients may renew the award for an additional year if the individual:

continues to be eligible for in-state tuition;
continues to maintain satisfactory academic progress;
maintains a grade point average of at least a 3.0 GPA; and
continues to enroll as a full-time student.

For more information concerning the Cybersecurity Public Service Scholarship Program, click here for the conditions of awards.

Important Deadlines

The deadline to submit the Cybersecurity Public Service Scholarship Program application and all required documentation is July 1, 2022.

Employment Obligation

Recipients of the Cybersecurity Public Service Scholarship award must sign an agreement agreeing to work full-time in the state for each year they received the scholarship in:

a unit of state government in the cybersecurity field; or
a public high school in the state, teaching in an education program that is directly relevant to cybersecurity.

The award will convert into a loan payable to the state if the student fails to adhere to the following:

Earns credit as a full-time student as defined in MHEC regulations;
Completes an approved program that is directly relevant to cybersecurity at an eligible institution; and
Performs the work obligation as required.