Scholarship Requirements

Consistent with award criteria from the National Science Foundation, UNM seeks SFS students with the following profile:

  • Strong desire to work on national security challenges
  • Willingness to apply for and eligibility to receive a security clearance (top secret, Q, or higher)
  • Above average to superior undergraduate grades and placement test scores
  • Pursue an MS in Cybersecurity and Business Analytics or MS in Computer Engineering
  • Study full-time on UNM’s main campus, completing all degree requirements in three or four semesters

Minimum eligibility requirements for the SFS scholarship include:

  • U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent residency
  • Completed bachelor's degree from an accredited college, with an emphasis in CS, engineering, MIS, or a closely related field
  • Undergraduate grade point average of 3.2 or higher
  • Confirmed as qualified for employment in the CyberCorps® by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management

Students who are awarded an SFS scholarship must meet additional continuing requirements for their scholarship, including:

  • Maintain continuous full-time enrollment
  • Enroll in courses as determined by the SFS program director
  • Maintain good academic standing and a minimum 3.2 GPA
  • Participate in SFS mentoring and professional development activities
  • Avoid conduct that negatively impacts your ability to receive a security clearance or to be employed within the CyberCorps®
  • Complete required summer internship in the CyberCorps®
  • Actively seek and accept a summer internship and two-year employment within the CyberCorps®

Students who fail to meet continuing requirements will be reviewed by the program director and their scholarships may be suspended or permanently revoked.

Acceptance of the scholarship creates a financial obligation to repay all funds expended to the awardee or on his/her behalf. That financial obligation ceases when the awardee completes two years of CyberCorps® employment.