Scholarship for Service (SFS)

CyberCorps® Scholarships for Service

From electronic banking and e-mails to healthcare and homeland security, society relies heavily on cyber professionals to protect and support the Nation's critical infrastructure. The Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2014, as amended by the National Defense Authorization Acts for 2018 and 2021, and the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, authorizes the National Science Foundation (NSF), in coordination with the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), to offer a scholarship program to recruit and train the next generation of cybersecurity professionals to meet the needs of the cybersecurity mission of federal, state, local, and tribal governments. And, in the age of emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum computing, the CyberCorps(R) Scholarships for Service (SFS) program stands as a national treasure in addressing the escalated demand for more cybersecurity professionals nationwide. For decades, an interagency partnership with the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, and the Department of Homeland Security has supported U.S. institutions of higher education to grow the cybersecurity workforce through the CyberCorps(R) SFS program. Starting in 2001 with a 31-person cohort, the program has grown exponentially, graduating more than 4,500 students who have accepted critical roles securing the Nation's cyberspace by working at federal, state, tribal, and local government organizations. The SFS biennial reports periodically present overviews, initiatives, outcomes, and evaluations of the CyberCorps(R) Scholarships for Service (SFS) program.

2021 CyberCorps® SFS Biennial Report

2023 CyberCorps® SFS Biennial Report

Artificial Intelligence Scholarships for Service (AI SFS) Initiative

2024 AI SFS Initiative Report

As required by the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 (P.L. 117-167) Section 10313(d), this report, developed by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) in coordination with the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM), addresses the need for and feasibility of establishing an artificial intelligence scholarship for service (AI SFS) program. The AI SFS program is intended to recruit and train the next generation of AI professionals to meet the needs of Federal, State, local, and Tribal governments. As statutorily mandated, this report includes (a) recent statistical data on the size, composition, and educational requirements of the Federal AI workforce, including an assessment of current and future demand for additional AI professionals across the Federal Government; (b) an assessment of the capacity of institutions of higher education (IHEs) to produce graduates with degrees, certifications, and relevant skills related to artificial intelligence to meet the current and future needs of the Federal workforce; (c) an evaluation of the need for and (d) feasibility of establishing an AI SFS program as described in Sec. 10313(d) of the CHIPS and Science Act.