Cybersecurity Education News & Updates

The cybersecurity education landscape is evolving rapidly. New scholarship programs, federal funding changes, workforce statistics, and training opportunities are announced regularly. This page tracks the most significant developments affecting cybersecurity students, career changers, and education programs — with a focus on what matters for residents of Orange County, Riverside County, and Southern California.

2026 Updates

ISC2 Center for Cyber Safety and Education: 2026 Scholarships Now Open

The Center for Cyber Safety and Education has opened applications for its 2026 academic scholarship cycle, with a deadline of March 15, 2026. In 2025, the Center awarded 59 scholarships to women — including 40 career development and 23 academic scholarships. These scholarships support students pursuing cybersecurity degrees and career development at accredited institutions. Students at colleges in Orange County and Riverside County are eligible to apply.

California Cybersecurity Education Summit 2026

The California Cybersecurity Education Summit is scheduled for March 23-26, 2026, at the Moscone Center in San Francisco during RSAC. This annual event brings together educators, workforce development professionals, industry leaders, and government officials to discuss cybersecurity education strategy for California. Topics include K-12 cybersecurity curriculum, community college programs, apprenticeships, and diversity initiatives in the cybersecurity workforce.

CyberAICorps SFS: FY 2026 and FY 2027 Competitions Open

The National Science Foundation has two active CyberAICorps Scholarship for Service competition windows in 2026. The FY 2026 Scholarship Track has a target date of April 3, 2026, and the FY 2027 cycle opens with a deadline of July 21, 2026. The expanded program now integrates artificial intelligence into its cybersecurity curriculum, reflecting the growing intersection of AI and cyber defense. Students at participating California universities should contact their SFS program coordinator for application details.

GenCyber Summer Camps Paused for 2026

The NSA/NSF-funded GenCyber summer camp program, which provides free cybersecurity camps for K-12 students and teachers, will be paused for the 2026 season. Updates about 2027 camps are expected later this year. Families in Orange County and Riverside County looking for alternative summer cybersecurity programs should check with local community colleges and libraries, which often run their own STEM and cybersecurity workshops during the summer months.

2025 Highlights

California AI-Cybersecurity Workforce Development Summit

The 2025 California AI-Cybersecurity Workforce Development and Education Summit, hosted by the California Cybersecurity Task Force and Los Angeles Valley College, took place on February 28, 2025. The summit brought together public and private sector employers, educators, and workforce development professionals to discuss California's cybersecurity talent pipeline. Key sessions covered employer perspectives on hiring, K-12 and higher education partnerships, IT-Cyber apprenticeships, and diversity and inclusion in the cybersecurity field.

NSF Launches Expanded CyberAICorps Program

The National Science Foundation announced the CyberAICorps solicitation, formally expanding the long-running CyberCorps Scholarship for Service program to include artificial intelligence. The rebranded CyberAICorps program reflects the federal government's recognition that AI and cybersecurity are increasingly intertwined disciplines. The expanded program adds AI-focused coursework requirements and new placement opportunities at agencies like CISA.

NIST Invests $3 Million in Workforce Development

NIST's National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE) program invested $3 million in grants to boost cybersecurity workforce development and education, as the national cybersecurity jobs shortfall approached 500,000 unfilled positions. San Bernardino Community College District — located in California's Inland Empire, adjacent to Riverside County — received $200,000 in NIST workforce development funding, directly benefiting cybersecurity education in the Southern California region.

SLCGP FY 2025 Funding Allocated

The State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program distributed $91.75 million for FY 2025, continuing its mission to improve cybersecurity at state and local government levels. While this represents a decrease from FY 2024's $279 million, the program remains the primary federal funding mechanism for local government cybersecurity improvements. California's allocation includes workforce development components that can fund cybersecurity training for county and city employees in Orange and Riverside counties.

BLS Reports Strong Cybersecurity Job Growth

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that information security analysts earned a median annual wage of $124,910 as of May 2024, with projected employment growth of 29% from 2024 to 2034 — far exceeding the average for all occupations. This data reinforces the value of investing in cybersecurity education and helps justify continued expansion of scholarship and grant programs.

California's Cybersecurity Education Pipeline

California's Cybersecurity Task Force has been working to implement the California Cybersecurity Workforce Development and Education Strategy, which aims to prepare 50,000 cybersecurity professionals for statewide employment. The strategy emphasizes both traditional academic pathways (university degrees) and non-traditional skills-based pathways (certifications, boot camps, apprenticeships) to build a diverse cyber workforce.

For Southern California specifically, key pipeline developments include:

  • Community College Expansion: Several community colleges in Orange County and Riverside County have expanded their cybersecurity certificate offerings, adding courses in cloud security, incident response, and security operations
  • Apprenticeship Programs: California's apprenticeship model for cybersecurity continues to grow, with employers in the region partnering with community colleges for earn-and-learn programs
  • Transfer Pathways: Improved articulation agreements between community colleges and four-year universities — including UC Irvine, Cal State Fullerton, and Cal Poly Pomona — make it easier for students to continue cybersecurity education after earning a two-year certificate

Upcoming Scholarship Deadlines

If you're looking for cybersecurity scholarship funding, keep these key deadlines in mind. Scholarship dates change annually, so always verify directly with the administering organization:

  • ISC2 Center for Cyber Safety and Education Scholarships: Applications typically due in March. Check ISC2.org for current deadlines
  • CyberAICorps SFS (Institutional Applications): NSF target dates in April and July 2026. Students apply through their university's SFS program
  • Microsoft Cybersecurity Scholarship: Rolling applications through the Last Mile Education Fund. Offers $500 for basic needs and up to $375 for certification exam costs. Open to students at community colleges and technical schools
  • FS-ISAC Cybersecurity Scholarships: Check the FS-ISAC website for current application periods
  • Coursera Financial Aid: Available year-round on a rolling basis. Apply directly through Coursera for any cybersecurity course or professional certificate

Where to Stay Informed

To keep up with cybersecurity education and funding developments, bookmark these resources:

Note: News items on this page are provided for informational purposes and reflect developments as of early 2026. Program details, deadlines, and funding levels may have changed since publication. Always verify current information directly with the administering organization.