Navigating the UMSA Foundation Scholarship: A Comprehensive Guide

For students in the Midwest pursuing higher education in security and risk-related fields, the UMSA Foundation Scholarship offers significant financial assistance. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the scholarship, its requirements, and the application process, drawing directly from the UMSA Foundation's stated goals and criteria.

Introduction: Investing in Future Leaders

The UMSA Foundation launched its scholarship program to support its continued efforts in interdisciplinary collaboration and education. Committed to supporting organizations and professionals in security and risk-related industries, the foundation extends its support to education. Through this scholarship program, UMSA aims to provide financial assistance as a way to build the leaders of our future and sustain our industries.

Scholarship Overview

The UMSA Foundation Scholarship program offers financial assistance to undergraduate and graduate students pursuing degrees in specific fields. The program awards four (4) $3,000 scholarships and eight (8) $1,000 scholarships annually.

Eligible Fields of Study

Applicants can apply in more than one field. The scholarship program offers scholarships for undergraduate, graduate or continuing education programs in any of the following fields:

Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery
Cybersecurity
Governance, Risk and Compliance
Physical Security

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for the UMSA Foundation Scholarship, applicants must meet specific criteria:

Residency: Applicants must be residents of Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, or Wisconsin.
Enrollment: Applicants must be enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program.

Selection Process

Winners will be selected based on their ability to align with UMSA’s goals and their skills, achievements, and experiences.

The UMSA Foundation Scholarship Program is Judged.

Notification and Recognition

The recipients of the UMSA scholarships will be notified in April and invited to receive recognition during the May Secure360 Conference. The recipients of the 2026 UMSA scholarships will be notified in April 2026 and invited to receive recognition during the May 13-14, 2026 Secure360 Conference, at which time they will receive their scholarship dollars. Recipients may also be recognized at additional Secure360 events during the year as schedules permit.

How to Apply

To maximize your chances of success, consider the following recommendations:

Start the application process right away: You should start the application process as soon as possible. This will allow you enough time to acquire all necessary research, time, and preparations to write your essay and acquire any other necessary documents. Have everything organized and planned to avoid any last-minute complications.
Essay objective & review: Your essay is your voice and the complete picture of your character, ambitions, and abilities. Make it concise, and interesting - capture your pursuit of your degree of choice and to the specified prompt requested. Stay focused and get a second or third eye review from your mentor or instructor.
Give complete information: Follow the instructions carefully and answer the application questions truthfully. Incomplete applications will be disqualified therefore revise your application before submitting it.
Extracurriculars are essential: Extracurricular activities are crucial in most scholarship applications. So engage in one or more programs at school or in your community.

Key Dates

All applications must be received online using the submission button above. The deadline to submit applications for 2026 is February 28, 2026.

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Online Application

All applications must be received online.

UMSA Foundation's Values

The UMSA Foundation scholarship program reflects the organization's core values:

No discrimination: The program is open to all students in the Midwest region as long as they meet the scholarship requirements. The foundation supports equality and has no discrimination against gender, race, ethnicity, religion, etc.
Fairness: The program is open to all eligible students and is evaluated fairly. Members of the board, foundation, and relatives are not eligible to apply.
Values higher education: The foundation supports students and values higher education by awarding 12 undergraduate and graduate students every year, allowing more people access to higher education.

Additional Scholarship Resources

While the UMSA Foundation Scholarship is a valuable resource, students should also explore other scholarship opportunities.

Scholarships.com: Scholarships.com is a free resource that matches students to scholarship and grant opportunities based on personal profiles, academic focus, and eligibility criteria.
Scholarship Search Tool: ScholarshipOwl is your source of relief from the dreaded application process. We put students on the fast-track to success by providing direct access to the scholarships they need the most. Take the hassle out of financial aid and maximize your chance at a free ride in college.
Scholarships360 $10,000 “No Essay” Scholarship: The Scholarships360 $10,000 “No Essay” Scholarship is open to all students who want some extra help paying for their education.
Niche: Niche can help with every step of the college search including paying for it.
The Christian Connector: The Christian Connector offers various scholarship drawings for Christian/Faith Based colleges and universities. Since 1995, our mission has been to help connect students with the right schools for them.
CollegeXpress: Carnegie Dartlet, the organization that houses CollegeXpress, is an educational publisher and higher education marketing agency.
StudentScholarships.org: This scholarship is provided by StudentScholarships.org.
"Be Bold" Scholarship: The "Be Bold" Scholarship is a no-essay scholarship that will be awarded to the applicant with the boldest profile. It takes less than 2 minutes to apply. To us, boldest does not mean "best", or "most accomplished".
LeverEdge Association Scholarship Program: The Scholarship is open to all residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia, age 17 or older at the time of entry. Employees and contractors of LeverEdge Association are ineligible to participate in the Scholarship Program.

External Scholarships for Cybersecurity Education

Discover External Scholarships for Cybersecurity Education At the SANS Technology Institute, the premier college for cybersecurity, we’re committed to helping students identify financial resources that can support their cybersecurity education. Below, you'll find a curated list of scholarship opportunities offered by external organizations. Each opportunity has its own eligibility criteria and application process -review the details to find your best fit.These scholarships are administered by the sponsoring organizations, so students must apply directly to each organization. SANS.edu does not participate in evaluating or awarding these scholarships.

Citizen SCARLETT FAMILY FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP: TN Residents OnlyAmount: varies based on financial need Demonstrate financial need via a 1040 tax return, must be a graduate from a high school in Middle Tennessee Open to students pursuing Business or STEM degrees Scholarship amounts vary based on financial need Must be a sophomore or junior Applications open from September 15 to December 15 annually
JAY HOLSTINE SCHOLARSHIP: Amount: $1,000 Demonstrate economic need in the effort to complete education. Submit an original essay (700-850 words).
WOMEN IN DEFENSE SCHOLARSHIP: Amount: $5,000 Women enrolled either full-time or part-time, at least an incoming junior undergraduate and demonstrate interest in pursuing a career related to national security or defense. CitizenMust belong to a historically underrepresented group in cybersecurity - including but not limited to women, Black, Native American, Asian American & Pacific Islander, Hispanic, LGBTQ+, persons with disabilitiesMay be male, female, or nonbinary: women applicants are not required to belong to an ethnic or racial minority groupMay be an undergraduate or graduate studentGPA of 3.30 or higherNeed Help or Have Questions?

Personal Impact

Being selected for this award means a lot to me on a personal level. As an international student, the journey has had its challenges, from adjusting to a new environment to balancing academic and financial pressures. This award is more than just financial support; it’s a sign that I’m on the right path and that there are people who believe in my potential and future in this field.

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“Because of this scholarship, I can now pay for important exams and update my computer equipment without worrying about the cost, and help pay for tuition. This is tremendously helpful because it means I don’t have to go deeper into debt while I’m still studying. “This scholarship allows me to focus more on my education and professional development without the added financial stress.

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