Rhode Island College Cybersecurity Program: A National Model of Excellence

Rhode Island College Earns NSA Cyber Defense Designation

At a glance

• Recognition: Rhode Island College (RIC) has been designated a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD) by the National Security Agency.
• Curriculum: The program emphasizes hands-on training and meets the federal CAE program’s standards.
• Employment Opportunities: Industry partnerships help graduates find jobs in a fast-growing field.
• Innovation: The program uses up-to-date tools and teaching methods.
• Community Impact: It also supports local workforce development.

What the designation means

Federal recognition carries weight for any college, especially in a field as important as cybersecurity. In April 2025, Rhode Island College was designated a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense by the National Security Agency (NSA), which runs the CAE program with federal partners including the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). The program the NSA validated is RIC’s BA in Computer Science with a Cybersecurity Minor. The designation puts RIC among a select group of schools and can open the door to additional federal grants.

What students learn

RIC’s curriculum is built for current standards and future needs. It meets the CAE criteria and stresses practical, hands-on learning. Students work through realistic scenarios with current technology, which prepares them for professional work.

Theory and practice, together.

From classroom to job

RIC has built partnerships with industry so that its graduates are well educated and employable, and those ties create a pipeline of security professionals with the skills employers say they need, at a time when attacks keep rising and many organizations struggle to fill their open security jobs with qualified people.

Those connections give students access to internships and job opportunities they might not otherwise find.

Teaching methods

The program uses simulation technology and teaching methods that build creative problem-solving and adaptability. It updates its tools and techniques to keep up with industry standards and new threats.

Value to Rhode Island

The program’s impact reaches beyond campus. By training skilled workers, it supports the regional economy and plays a part in local workforce development plans.

What comes next for RIC

The designation sets a benchmark for other schools. As threats change, programs like RIC’s train the next generation of security professionals, and the recognition commits the college to keep improving.

Rhode Island College’s program shows what education, up-to-date teaching and industry partnerships can achieve together. Its influence is likely to grow, benefiting students, the local community and the nation’s security.

John King, CISSP, PMP, CISM

John King currently works in the greater Los Angeles area as a ISSO (Information Systems Security Officer). John has a passion for learning and developing his cyber security skills through education, hands on work, and studying for IT certifications.