NSF Awards First CyberAI Scholarships to 14 Universities

The National Science Foundation has selected 14 universities to receive the first awards under its CyberAICorps Scholarship for Service program, a significant expansion of the agency's existing cybersecurity workforce initiative that now addresses the convergence of artificial intelligence and cyber defense.

The program represents a shift from traditional cybersecurity education to prepare students for dual challenges: using AI to enhance threat detection and incident response, while also building AI systems resilient enough to withstand sophisticated cyber attacks. The awards were announced by NSF's Directorate for STEM Education following a competitive Fiscal Year 2026 review process.

Why it matters

Federal agencies, critical infrastructure operators, and defense organizations face mounting pressure to secure AI-enabled systems while simultaneously deploying AI for cyber defense. The scholarship program addresses a workforce gap at precisely the moment when AI is reshaping both offensive and defensive capabilities in cybersecurity. By funding integrated education that spans both disciplines, NSF is building a pipeline of professionals equipped to protect systems that previous generations of cybersecurity workers weren't trained to handle.

Program scope and approach

The funded projects emphasize experiential learning through faculty-mentored research, cyber virtual training environments, security laboratories, and partnerships with government agencies facing real-world challenges. Students will engage with integrated coursework covering AI-enabled cyber defense and cyber-physical systems security, rather than studying these domains separately.

"Through the CyberAICorps Scholarship for Service program, NSF is investing in the talent needed to secure today's digital infrastructure and AI-enabled technologies and advance the nation's capacity to meet evolving cybersecurity threats," said Brian Stone, performing the duties of NSF director.

The program combines scholarships with mentoring, career development, and direct pathways into federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial government service. Recipients will be prepared to support missions across sectors including defense, healthcare, and energy infrastructure.

Selected institutions

The 14 award recipients span the country and include Arizona State University, Augusta University, California State University San Bernardino, Michigan Technological University, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Old Dominion University, Texas A&M University, University of Central Florida, University of New Haven, University of Rhode Island, University of West Florida, University of Texas at Dallas, University of Texas at El Paso, and Vanderbilt University.

Each institution proposed distinct approaches, from integrated bachelor's and master's degree pathways to specialized training in areas such as secure AI for space and defense applications. The University of Central Florida's program, for example, focuses on secure AI in space, defense, and modeling and simulation contexts.

The details were first reported by the National Science Foundation.