The Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship was created to "provide a continuing source of highly qualified scientists, mathematicians, and engineers by awarding scholarships to college students who intend to pursue careers in these fields." For more information contact JMU Faculty Representative, Melinda Adams. (Open to rising juniors and seniors)

The Computer Science Department awards various scholarships to rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors majoring in computer science. Students are notified each year when applications are due via the department list serv. For more information, rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors should contact Philip Riley. (Open to all Computer Science students)

JMU is one of the original National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Education (Cyber Defense). This designation makes our computer science and information technology students eligible to apply for this scholarship. The scholarship covers books, tuition, fees, a one-time computer purchase, and a $29,000 annual stipend ($34,000 for graduates). The scholarship pays for the last two years of your education. 

Student Obligations: 

• Participate in a summer internship(s) with your sponsoring government entity 
• Upon graduation, work for your sponsoring agency for the same number of years you received the scholarship 
• Failure to meet this commitment requires repayment of all scholarship funds
• Actively participate in the JMU Cyber Defense Club 

Undergraduate Eligibility

Applicants must be a current or CS or IT rising junior or senior pursuing a bachelor’s degree (sophomore or junior students in spring 2026) and maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.2 on a 4.0 scale. CS students are required to take the Cybersecurity Certification courses. IT students must take at least 3 Cybersecurity elective courses in their major

Graduate Eligibility  

Applicants must be a current or accepted master’s degree student in the Cybersecurity master’s program and maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5.

Eligibility Requirements: 

• U.S. citizen eligible to obtain a security clearance. 
• Enrolled in a full-time cyber-related program at a designated National Center of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (JMU) 
• Have at least one full academic year remaining in the degree program 
• Able to relocate within the continental U.S. for internships and service obligations 
• Currently unencumbered to another program with a required service obligation

DoW CSA New Recruitment Application

The student application is completed in two parts:

DoW CSA 2026 Application Part 1: https://forms.osi.apps.mil/r/r0NsnisrLa collects general background information, such as institution and contact details. 

DoW CSA 2026 Application Part 2:  https://forms.osi.apps.mil/r/XMtbEwR6mS focuses on the applicant’s cybersecurity experience, including relevant coursework, knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to complete both parts of the application in a single session and to allow sufficient time to submit the full application in one sitting.

Please note that only one application submission is permitted per student. The application timestamp will be used to determine the official submission. Applications missing either Part 1 or Part 2 will be considered incomplete and will not be reviewed.

DoW CSA Point of Contact: osd.mc-alex.dod-cio.mbx.dod-csa@mail.mil

The DoW CSA scholarship is administered by the Department of War, and all awardees are selected through its official review and selection process. The sponsoring agency is assigned when the scholarship is awarded. 

The application deadline is February 17. 

For more information, visit the DoW Cyber Service Academy Website. Contact Dr.Hossain Heydari or Dr. Brett Tjaden for more information.

Federal Scholarship for Service (SFS) is a unique program designed to increase and strengthen the cadre of federal information assurance professionals that protect the government's critical information infrastructure. This program provides scholarships that fully fund the typical costs that students pay for books, tuition, and room and board while attending an approved institution of higher learning. Additionally, participants receive stipends for living expenses. The scholarships are funded through grants awarded by the National Science Foundation.

Computer Science students (rising juniors) in good standing are encouraged to apply.

Stanley (’54) and Rosemary Jones created the Jones Scholarship to open doors for promising and deserving students in STEM. The Jones scholarship supports an academic scholarship for one incoming freshman in the fall semester.

Recipients must be in-state students, have a declared major in: Computer Science, Engineering, ISAT, Chemistry, Mathematics, Statistics, Physics, Geoscience, or Biology, be a first-generation college student, and have applied to or been admitted to the Honors College. Recipients must remain in the major and maintain good academic standing. The scholarship is renewable for up to 3 years as long as these criteria are met.

No application is required. The Second Century Scholarship application process is used to determine eligibility for the Jones award. Learn more about Stanley and Rosemary Jones.

The Malcolm G. Lane Scholarship provides financial resources annually to one or more students in their junior or senior year.  To be eligible for this scholarship, recipients must have a declared major in Computer Science and a GPA of 3.25 or higher after at least two semesters of study at JMU.  Malcolm Lane is a former Computer Science Department Head and a distinguished computer scientist with a range of experience in academe and industry. (Open to rising juniors and seniors)

The Microsoft Scholarship Program awards tuition and conference scholarships each year to encourage students to further their learnings in Computer Science and related STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) disciplines. Recipients for the scholarship will be awarded in recognition of their demonstrated passion for technology, academic excellence, and leadership while working to push the software industry forward. If you have any questions, contact scholars@microsoft.com.

The JMU Second Century Scholarship (SCS) provides financial support to exemplary students entering Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields. SCS covers 100% of in-state tuition and fees and continues for a maximum of four consecutive years, pending continued exemplary academic performance. 

Criteria: GPA of 3.75 or higher (performance in science, technology and mathematics courses will receive additional consideration), demonstrated interest and commitment to study in a STEM area, declaring a major in the College of Integrated Science & Engineering or College of Science & Mathematics

Submit the SCS application through the Madison Scholarship Hub. Eligible students are encouraged to apply before the Early Admission deadline.

To be named a Kincaid Scholar, the recipient must be a full-time undergraduate student majoring in Computer Science, with financial need as determined by the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships, whose primary residence is in Virginia. The scholarship is renewable as long as the student continues to meet the criteria, subject to the availability of funds. Scholarships will be administered at the discretion of the Department Head of Computer Science following the University's guidelines for the awarding of scholarships.

The department will send a call for applications in the Spring of each year. Open to CS majors who have at least 54 credit hours.