The National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C) Program’s History
More details on the website
In 1999, the National Security Agency (NSA) launched the Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education (CAE-IAE) program. Under this program, an institution could receive the CAE-IAE designation if it passed rigorous curriculum and program requirements.
By May 1999, seven schools became designated as a CAE-IAE, and soon, many more institutions joined the ranks of CAE-IAE designated institutions. While the CAE-IAE program was initially formed to address the shortage of intelligence community professionals, the program later expanded to address the lack of qualified cybersecurity professionals in the workforce.
In 2004, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) became a co-sponsor of the CAE-IAE program.
In 2008, the program added a cyber research designation (CAE-R).
In 2017, the CAE-IAE designation name was changed to the CAE in Cyber Defense Education (CAE-CDE).
In 2019, a designation for two-year colleges (CAE-2Y) was added.
In 2020, the CAE-2Y designation was merged with the CAE-CDE designation and changed to the CAE in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD) designation.
Today, the NCAE-C program has over 400 institutions all over the Nation with designations in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD), Cyber Research (CAE-R), and Cyber Operations (CAE-CO).
What is a Center of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (CAE-C)
Institutions that receive a CAE-C designation have met the rigorous requirements set forth by the sponsor of the program, the National Security Agency (NSA). The NSA awards CAE-C designations to institutions that commit to producing cybersecurity professionals that will reduce vulnerabilities in our national infrastructure.
There are three types of designations schools can pursue Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD), Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Research (CAE-R), and Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Operations (CAE-CO). While the NSA does not provide funding to CAE-C designated institutions, once a school obtains one of these designations, it can compete for grants like the Department of Defense Cybersecurity Scholarship Program (DoD CySP) and can apply for the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Scholarship for Service program. Schools are not limited to a single designation and are encouraged to pursue more than one.
All regionally accredited two-year, four-year, and graduate-level institutions in the United States are eligible to apply to become a CAE-C designated institution. An institution or program must apply for re-designation every five academic years.