St. Cloud State University has been re-designated a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD) through the academic year 2027.
The National Security Agency (NSA) launched the Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education (CAE-IAE) program in 1999 to recognize institutions that pass rigorous curriculum and program requirements.
The CAE-CD designation indicates an institution is helping to reduce threats to the U.S. infrastructure by promoting higher education and research in cyber defense and by providing the nation with a pipeline of qualified cybersecurity professionals.
St. Cloud State offers bachelor’s degrees in Information Systems and Cybersecurity and a master’s degree in Information Assurance.
St. Cloud State has been designated a CAE-CD since 2009. The designation has led to many grants, a new forensics lab and dozens of student scholarships.
NSA Center of Academic Excellence designation makes St. Cloud State eligible to apply for the Cyber Security Program, which provides scholarships and stipends. Thanks to the designation, St. Cloud State has earned 12 grants related to cybersecurity from the NSA, Department of Defense and the National Science Foundation totaling more than $4.7 million since 2009.
St. Cloud State operates the Center for Information Assurance Studies that brings together experts in business and computing to teach, support and challenge students in all areas of information assurance. The University launched a new Digital Forensics Lab in 2021 featuring six high-end Phantym-A forensic workstations fitted with Tableau write blockers to give students a chance to practice their computing skills.
Today, more than 300 institutions in the United States hold designations in Cyber Defense, Cyber Research and Cyber Operations. St. Cloud State is just one of six institutions in Minnesota to earn a Center of Academic Excellence designation, along with Minnesota State institutions Metro State University, Lake Superior College and Century College.
