USCA cyber scholarships available for high school, transfer students

USCA offers scholarships to high school juniors and seniors and transfer students planning to major in cyber-related fields.

The USCA Cyber Scholarship Competition is made possible by Steelgate LLC, a leading cybersecurity firm based in Augusta. This marks the third year Steelgate has made the scholarships available.

“We are grateful for the generosity of Steelgate, who has partnered with us to make education affordable for students in the area who are interested in cyber-related fields,” said Dr. Scott McKay, dean, College of Sciences and Engineering.

“We are working closely with regional leaders who are investing in our students and our programs as we work together to meet the regional workforce needs, all while helping students reach their potential and pursue their academic dreams.”

The CSRA is a growing STEM and cyber corridor, and the National Security Agency has designated USCA a Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense. McKay explains that USCA and its partners are providing the highly skilled workforce needed for this growing demand.

“USCA cyber programs will support new technology infrastructure such as the Savannah River National Lab’s Advanced Manufacturing Collaborative, South Carolina National Guard’s Cyber Innovation Center, and new data centers coming to the Aiken area,” McKay said.

Students interested in the cyber scholarships can apply by submitting a 500-word essay, highlighting their future goals in the field.

High school students who enroll in USCA can earn up to $1,000. Students transferring to USCA from other institutions can earn up to $500. Students planning to major in cybersecurity, computer science, game and simulation, information technology, data science, software engineering, and artificial intelligence are encouraged to apply before the Dec. 5 deadline.

Award winners will be announced in the spring of 2026, and the scholarships will be awarded once students enroll at USCA.

More information on both the high school scholarships and the ones for transfer students can be found on the USCA website.

For more information, contact USCA Marketing & Communication at news@usca.edu.