Kean Leads Study of Cybersecurity Program Value
New Jersey students weighing cybersecurity degrees will see a federally funded effort to measure what those programs deliver.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Financial Aid
Kean University in Union, N.J., was selected to lead the Mid-Atlantic hub of a two-year, $1.5 million national cybersecurity education initiative funded by the National Security Agency. The initiative will assess contributions of NSA-designated National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity.
Why it matters
The initiative aims to help institutions and federal stakeholders understand the return on investment in cyber education, which matters for New Jersey students weighing whether specialized cybersecurity programs justify their cost. Clearer evaluation could shape how funding and programs are directed in the years ahead.
The initiative totals $1.5 million over two years and is funded by the National Security Agency through the NCAE-C program. Kean will work with roughly 85 institutions across the Mid-Atlantic region, which includes New Jersey.
The players
Kean University
A public university in Union, N.J., serving New Jersey students with a cybersecurity center and a designated NSA National Center of Academic Excellence.
Coastline College
A California community college that leads the national Economic Assessment National Center for the initiative.
National Security Agency
The federal intelligence agency that funds the initiative through its NCAE-C program.
The details
Coastline College in California leads the national Economic Assessment National Center, while six regional hubs gather perspectives from designated institutions within their areas. Kean's Mid-Atlantic hub will coordinate with those institutions to gather regional data. The initiative will develop a common framework for evaluating the results of cybersecurity education, with the goal of reducing reporting burdens and making better use of existing data.
Timeline
The two-year initiative establishes the national center and six regional hubs over its duration.
Education Landscape
The NSA's NCAE-C designation program has recognized institutions for cybersecurity education, and this initiative shifts focus to measuring what those institutions deliver. It reflects a broader policy interest in whether federally backed education spending produces measurable returns for students and employers.
Students considering cybersecurity programs at Kean or other Mid-Atlantic institutions may see clearer data on program outcomes as the initiative develops. Families can ask a school's financial-aid office which cybersecurity programs are covered by federal or state grant funding.
The takeaway
Understanding what a cybersecurity program delivers can help families weigh its cost against expected outcomes. Ask a financial-aid office which grants or scholarships apply to the specific program you are considering.
Further reading
For more on how students pay for specialized programs like these, explore Financial Aid to see the grants and scholarships available in New Jersey.
