NSF 26-503 CyberAICorps solicitation (web)
Citation
U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF). “NSF 26-503: Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity Education Innovation and Scholarship for Service.” Program solicitation, replaces NSF 23-574, 2026. https://www.nsf.gov/funding/opportunities/cyberai-sfs-cyberaicorps-scholarship-service/nsf26-503/solicitation. Read 2026-11-09. Copy: raw/web/2026-11-09 NSF 26-503 CyberAICorps solicitation.html.
Bottom line
- The solicitation renames CyberCorps Scholarship for Service as CyberAICorps Scholarship for Service (CyberAI SFS) and adds artificial intelligence (AI) to its scope.
- Scholars get stipends of $27,000 (undergraduate) or $37,000 (graduate) a year plus tuition, and then serve in a government organization. NSF expects up to 25 awards a year.
Background
The solicitation has two tracks: a Scholarship Track for scholarships for service, and an Innovation Track for education projects. The program works with the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Its program page is NSF 26-503 CyberAICorps Scholarship for Service (web).
Key claims
- “Program scope was extended to “CyberAI”, defined broadly as the use of AI in cybersecurity operations and the security and resilience of AI systems themselves.” (Important Information and Revision Notes)
- “The goals of the CyberAI SFS Program are to: (1) increase the number of CyberAI experts and support their placement and retention in the mission of government organizations; and (2) enhance the national capacity for the education and training of AI and cybersecurity professionals, educators, and researchers.” (II. Program Description)
- “The Scholarship Track funds academic institutions to award scholarships to students. In return students agree to work in the AI or cybersecurity mission of a government agency. This post-graduation work period must be at least as long as the scholarship.” (II. Program Description)
- “Scholarships provide academic year stipends of $27,000 per year for undergraduate students and $37,000 per year for graduate students.” (V.B Budgetary Information)
- “Each student also gets a professional allowance of $6,000 per academic year for participation in job fairs, other travel, conference fees, research materials, books, and supplies, including a one-time laptop purchase, professional training, certifications, etc.” (V.B Budgetary Information)
- “By law, a CyberAI SFS scholar must repay the U.S. Treasury if they do not meet the academic or service requirements.” (V.A, Recruitment and Selection of CyberAI SFS Scholars)
- “Community colleges are eligible only as sub-awardees of a partnering four-year SFS institutions as described in the Program Description section.” (IV. Eligibility Information)
- “Build communities of practice with shareable datasets, AI models, and computing resources through partnerships.” (II. Program Description, Innovation Track)
Evidence and method
A federal funding solicitation. It gives program rules, award sizes, stipend amounts, eligibility, the service obligation and institutional duties. It cites its statutes and 45 CFR Part 620. It gives no data on past outcomes.
Limits
The solicitation is a federal program. It does not say how many scholars serve in state or local government. It does not describe compute resources for scholars. Due dates in 2026 have passed; the program page lists the 2027 dates.