T·02 — For Academic Institutions
Become a Center of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity
CAEO supports institutions at every stage — from first designation to advanced research partnerships with DoW.
Get Designated
NCAE-C designation. Apply, align curriculum, join 490+ institutions.
NCAE-C
NSA-managed program designating colleges and universities as CAE-CD, CAE-CO, CAE-R, or CAE-CAI — setting national standards for cybersecurity curriculum and competency development.
CAE Community
National center supporting and empowering 490+ CAE-designated institutions through centralized resources, technical support, and strategic workforce development initiatives.
CLARK Resources
Cybersecurity Labs and Resource Knowledge Base — developing and compiling CAE Knowledge Unit-aligned curriculum and lab resources for 2-year and 4-year institutions.
Build Capability
Develop faculty, strengthen curriculum, expand cyber research capacity.
Early Faculty Seminars
CAEO-sponsored seminars giving new and transitioning faculty hands-on exposure to Department of War cyber priorities, building educators who understand national security requirements.
Faculty Augmentation & Exchange
Exchange program placing Department of War cyber professionals in academic environments and sending faculty into Department of War organizations to bridge the gap between academia and operational cyber missions.
NCTC
NCTC providing structured, Department of War-aligned professional development for faculty and institutional cyber leads across the CAE network.
Access Funding
Institutional grants and research funding aligned to DoW priorities.
NCAE-C Grants
Institutional grants available to all CAE-designated schools to develop curriculum, build lab capacity, hire cyber faculty, and expand programs aligned to CAE Knowledge Units.
GenCyber Grants
Grants enabling colleges, universities, and K-12 organizations to host free summer cyber camps, expanding nationwide access to hands-on cybersecurity education.
UC2
UC2 aligns university research, education, and innovation with national defense priorities through research challenges, workshops, and Department partnerships.
INSuRE
Information Security Research and Education Network connecting college and graduate students with real-world research problems from government agencies, FFRDCs, and national labs.
Connect & Collaborate
Join a national network of CAE schools and DoW partners.
CCNC
Entry point for colleges seeking Academic Validation or NCAE-C Designation — providing mentoring, resources, and application support to improve cybersecurity education nationwide.
UC2
UC2 aligns university research, education, and innovation with national defense priorities through research challenges, workshops, and Department partnerships.
USCYBERCOM Academic Engagement Network
Direct communication network between USCYBERCOM and CAE-designated institutions, providing academia visibility into operational cyber priorities and Department of War workforce needs.
Is your institution ready to become a CAE school?
The National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity program is the DoW's gold standard for institutional recognition.
- 1Review criteria at the NCAE-C website
- 2Align your curriculum to the CAE Knowledge Units
- 3Submit your application (rolling admissions)
- 4Join a community of 490+ designated institutions