College Gets $6.75M NSF Grant for Cybersecurity

Whatcom Community College will use the five-year National Science Foundation award to strengthen its cybersecurity education programs.

Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Financial Aid

College Gets $6.75M NSF Grant for Cybersecurity

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Should the federal government fund community college cybersecurity training programs?

Whatcom Community College announced on November 3, 2026, that it received a $6.75 million grant from the National Science Foundation. The five-year award is intended to support strengthened cybersecurity education and preparation of students for emerging threats.

Why it matters

Cybersecurity needs continue to evolve, and community colleges play a critical role in preparing a skilled workforce. For Bellingham residents, the grant supports local training pathways in a growing field.

The award totals $6.75 million from the National Science Foundation over five years, with the grant running through September 2031. Whatcom Community College currently has 98 students pursuing cybersecurity this fall quarter, though the source gives no prior-year enrollment for comparison.

The players

Whatcom Community College

A public community college in Bellingham, Washington, which received the grant and is building new cybersecurity and AI-focused workforce programs.

National Science Foundation

The independent U.S. federal agency that funds research and education in science and engineering, and which awarded the grant.

The details

Whatcom Community College is creating a workforce advisory council to align its programs with industry needs and is developing new curriculum that incorporates AI. The college was one of the first community colleges in the U.S. designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance and Cyber Defense.

November 3, 2026: Whatcom Community College announces the $6.75 million grant.
Fall quarter 2026: 98 students are pursuing cybersecurity.
September 2031: The five-year grant term ends.

Financial Aid Context

Whatcom Community College's designation as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance and Cyber Defense, one of the first community colleges nationally to receive it, sets the foundation for this award. The $6.75 million NSF grant builds on that recognition by funding a five-year expansion of the college's cybersecurity education.

Bellingham students interested in cybersecurity now have a funded community college pathway, with 98 already enrolled this fall quarter. The grant may expand course options and workforce training available locally over the next five years.

The takeaway

Community college grants like this one show how federal funding can translate into local training for in-demand careers. Students weighing cybersecurity programs can look at schools that have federal recognition and active grant support.