Key Points:
- CISA CyberCorps internships open 100 spots for students, offering hands-on cybersecurity experience while fulfilling scholarship requirements.
- Internships provide mentoring, real-world skills, and potential pathways to federal roles.
- The program helps students affected by earlier delays meet service commitments and strengthens the cybersecurity workforce.
CISA CyberCorps internships are now available, as the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has announced 100 new internship opportunities for students enrolled in the CyberCorps Scholarship for Service program. The move reopens a key pathway for undergraduate and graduate students preparing for careers in cybersecurity, after earlier recruitment challenges disrupted placements across federal agencies.
The internships are designed to help students gain hands-on experience while fulfilling scholarship requirements tied to public sector cybersecurity roles. Applications for the positions are now live on USAJobs, with eligible students able to apply until February 27.
CyberCorps is a long-running education and workforce development initiative that supports students studying cybersecurity and related fields. In return for financial support during their studies, participants commit to working in qualifying cybersecurity roles after graduation.
Strengthening pathways from classroom to practice
The new CISA CyberCorps internships allow students to begin their professional training while still completing their degrees. Selected undergraduate students will take part in summer internships that provide structured, on-the-job learning in cybersecurity-related roles. These placements are intended to help students translate academic knowledge into real-world skills.
Graduate students are also eligible to apply, with opportunities that may lead to time-limited federal appointments. In some cases, participants may be considered for full-time roles following the completion of their internships. These appointments are structured to help students transition smoothly into cybersecurity careers without relying on traditional hiring timelines.
The agency said the program supports its long-term goal of building a skilled and prepared cybersecurity workforce. By engaging students early, the CISA CyberCorps internships aim to reduce the gap between academic training and professional readiness.
Supporting students affected by earlier delays
The announcement follows recent adjustments to scholarship timelines for CyberCorps participants. Under the program’s terms, students must secure an approved cybersecurity position within 18 months of graduation. If they do not, their scholarship funding converts into a loan that must be repaid.
Delays in hiring earlier this year created uncertainty for many students nearing graduation. Some participants reported losing job offers or facing limited options, increasing concern about meeting program deadlines. In response, adjustments were made to provide additional flexibility while agencies worked to reopen opportunities.
The availability of CISA CyberCorps internships provides students with another route to fulfill their service commitments, and education leaders, as well as program participants, have described the CISA CyberCorps internships as an important step in restoring confidence in the scholarship pathway.
A long-standing education and workforce program
For more than two decades, CyberCorps has placed students in cybersecurity roles across federal agencies, state and local governments, and national security organizations. Participants typically study computer science, information security, or related disciplines while receiving tuition support and stipends.
The program is widely viewed as a bridge between higher education and public service. It also helps institutions align academic curricula with practical cybersecurity needs, benefiting both students and educators.
The new CISA CyberCorps internships include mentoring and exposure to real operational environments, allowing students to better understand career options within cybersecurity. The agency noted that experiential learning is a key part of developing future professionals who can adapt to evolving digital threats.
For students and teachers, the reopening of applications signals renewed momentum for structured cybersecurity education pathways. As demand for skilled professionals continues to grow, programs like CyberCorps remain central to preparing the next generation of cybersecurity practitioners through a combination of academic study and applied experience.