Financial Assistance
Several unique opportunties are available to INI students, as described in the scholarship and fellowship information below.
The INI also awards both partial and full tuition scholarships as a form of financial assistance. Students receiving assistance through the INI must remain in good academic standing. Good academic standing is defined as maintaining a grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 in core GPA (average of all core required courses) and cumulative GPA (average of all units taken), excluding the project, and having no administrative violations on your record.
U.S. Government Scholarship Programs
The INI offers several scholarships allocated by U.S. governmental departments and programs. These scholarships typically include internships or employment exchange as part of their package.
The Scholarship for Service Program (SFS)
Incoming U.S. students in the INI's Master of Science in Information Security Technology and Management (MSISTM) or the Pittsburgh-Silicon Valley Master of Science in Information Technology - Information Security (MSIT-IS) program may be eligible to participate in the Scholarship for Service program, which provides full financial assistance to a few highly qualified applicants each year who express an interest and who satisfy all the requirements. See our Scholarship for Service section for more information.
The Department of Defense Information Assurance Scholarship Program (IASP)
The Department of Defense (DOD) provides a full-scholarship opportunity to highly qualified U.S. students interested in information security through the Information Assurance Scholarship Program (IASP). IASP scholars gain exciting internships and job leads through the DOD. Find more details on the DOD IASP website.
The Science, Mathematics And Research for Transformation Program (SMART)
Incoming U.S. students in any of the INI's graduate programs may be eligible for the DOD's SMART scholarship for service program, which provides tuition and a stipend to support students pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. The program aims to increase the number of civilian scientists and engineers working at DoD laboratories. See the DOD SMART website for information.
Corporate Scholarship Programs
Boeing Scholarship
Boeing, the world’s leading aerospace company, is dedicated to working with universities across the country to enhance curricula and recruit exceptional talent for employment. in the past, the Boeing Scholarship has awarded $5,000 to an INI student and granted $2,500 to the INI for curriculum enrichment. Students must be U.S. citizens.
Cisco Scholarship
Cisco Systems is the worldwide leader in Internet networking technology and services and continues to show interest in INI students for their unique skill sets. Through the Cisco Scholarship, one INI student (U.S. citizen or international) receives a $5,000 award.
Lockheed Martin Cyber Security Assistanceship
As part of its talent management strategy to recruit and train qualified cybersecurity specialists, Lockheed Martin grants $17,000 to first-year students, with strong possibility of an additional $17,000 award applied toward their second year. Recipients are assigned a mentor from Lockheed Martin and are expected to complete a 10-week summer research internship with Lockheed Martin to explore information security hands-on in an industry setting.
Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs nearly 140,000 people worldwide. In addition to provided financial assistance, these fellowships help students explore information security in an industry setting. Carnegie Mellon is one of the few universities in the country that receives these scholarships from Lockheed Martin.
Applicants must complete an application that is first reviewed by the INI before Lockheed Martin determines the final recipients. Applicants must be U.S. citizens and must maintain a cumulative graduate GPA of 3.0 or higher. Throughout the duration of their financial support, recipients must remain in good academic standing. Additionally, students are ineligible to apply if they have commitments to a co-op program or study abroad that would prevent them from attending school full-time or participating in an approximate 10-week summer internship.
Read more about the Lockheed Martin partnership with the INI (Carnegie Mellon press release).
Fellowships
Executive Women's Forum INI Fellowship
The Information Networking Institute (INI) partners with the Executive Women's Forum (EWF), sponsored by Alta Associates, to offer a full scholarship to an incoming INI student.
Alta Associates is a premier executive recruitment firm specializing in Information Security, IT Audit, Risk Management and Privacy. In 2003, Alta Associates organized the first ever Executive Women's Forum on Information Security for leaders in information security, privacy and risk management, and they have been holding annual forums since that time. The EWF is a group of over 200 of the most senior executive women in information security, risk management and privacy who meet yearly to share experiences and build trust-based relationships.
This scholarship was first offered in the Fall 2007 to support a student from a historically underrepresented population in the area of information networking and security, including women. Awardees, known as EWF Fellows, receive a full scholarship and are mentored by an EWF participant who is a woman at a senior level in the information security field.
Recipients of the EWF scholarship must meet the following criteria:
• Meet all criteria for admission to an INI program
• Have an accumulated GPA of at least 3.25 prior to entering Carnegie Mellon and maintain a minimum 3.25 GPA while at the INI
• Have no outstanding employment contract or obligation while attending Carnegie Mellon
• Show exemplary promise and potential
• Demonstrate exceptional leadership skills
Read more about the EWF partnership with the INI (Carnegie Mellon press release).
The Google Anita Borg Memorial Scholarship
In memory of the co-founder of the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing, Google offers the Google Anita Borg Scholarship to women who exhibit a strong academic background and demonstrate leadership. The recipients of the scholarship receive a monetary award for the subsequent academic year, and a group of finalists from the applicant pool are selected to join the recipients for the Annual Google Scholars' Retreat at Googleplex in California. In recent years, two INI students have been selected as finalists. Read more from Google.
The Prabhu and Poonam Goel Graduate Fellowship
The Prabhu and Poonam Goel Graduate Fellowship is awarded to two incoming students each year--one student in the MSIN program and one student in the MSISTM program. Scholarship for Service students and government/company-sponsored students are not eligible.
Conference Funding for Graduate Students
Graduate Student Conference Funding
G.S.A. Graduate Student Conference Funding is financed by the Graduate Student Assembly, in collaboration with the Graduate Support Programs Office and the Provost's Office. The goal of the funding is to enable more Carnegie Mellon graduate students to 1) make presentations at key conferences/exhibitions in their fields or 2) simply attend conferences and learn about the broader field of study to which they belong. This award amount can be up to $500 per student. Read more.
Women@INI Conference Scholarships
The Women@INI scholarship program will award scholarships each year to students who show academic merit and proven leadership in Women@INI and other academic programs. These scholarships will allow recipients to attend conferences focusing on women in technology, such as the annual Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing.
Awards
The Pradeep K. Khosla Leadership Award
This award honors a graduating INI student who has most noticeably demonstrated initiative, motivation, academic excellence and overall outstanding leadership qualities. The student should also have demonstrated the ability to balance his or her scholarship with his or her leadership and involvement. The award recipient receives an engraved award and a monetary honorarium.
The Frank J. Marshall Graduate Fellowship
The Frank J. Marshall Graduate Fellowship award of $14,500 is awarded annually to one incoming MSISTM student.
Frank J. Marshall graduated from the Electrical and Computer Engineering program at Carnegie Mellon in 1969. He established the Frank J. Marshall Graduate Fellowship to provide support to outstanding students in the form of scholarships and awards.
Outstanding Student Services Award: Research Assistant
This award is intended to recognize a graduating INI student who has demonstrated exemplary performance and contribution as a Research Assistant. The award recipient receives an engraved award and a monetary honorarium. Honorable mentions receive letters of commendation.
Outstanding Student Services Award: Teaching Assistant
This award is intended to recognize a graduating INI student who has demonstrated exemplary performance and contribution as a Teaching Assistant. The award recipient receives an engraved award and a monetary honorarium. Honorable mentions receive letters of commendation.
See the INI's previous award recipients.
Other Financial Assistance
For additional information on other forms of financial support and how to apply for federal and/or alternative education loans, please visit the Carnegie Mellon Financial Aid department.