Spartanburg Community College has cemented its position as one of the premier cybersecurity training institutions in South Carolina, earning a landmark national designation in 2025 while expanding its technology curriculum for 2025-2026.
NSA National Center of Academic Excellence Designation
In July 2025, SCC became one of only seven institutions in South Carolina to receive the National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD) designation from the National Security Agency. This prestigious federal recognition affirms that SCC cybersecurity curriculum meets the rigorous standards used to identify top-tier programs for developing the next generation of cybersecurity professionals.
The designation opens new doors for SCC students, including access to competitive NSA-sponsored scholarships and internship pathways that were previously unavailable at the two-year college level.
What the Cybersecurity Program Covers
The networking and cybersecurity certificate program equips students with hands-on skills to design, build, and maintain secure networks for small to medium-sized organizations. Coursework covers network architecture, threat detection, vulnerability assessment, and incident response — skills that directly match what Upstate employers need.
SCC also runs the CyberPatriot program, which prepares high school students to compete in national cyber-defense competitions. Local winners advance to the state level and can earn national recognition and scholarships, creating a direct pipeline from Spartanburg County high schools into SCC certificate and degree programs.
Instructor Kenneth Gardner leads the networking and cybersecurity instruction and can be reached at 864-592-4673.
AI Integration in the Classroom
In December 2024, SCC announced a partnership with AIBODY, becoming only the second institution in the United States to adopt that AI-powered educational platform. Integration began with the Spring 2025 semester, positioning SCC among the most forward-looking community colleges in the country for AI-assisted learning.
Enrollment and Tuition
SCC serves more than 10,000 students annually across five campuses and offers an accessible, cost-effective route to enter the cybersecurity field. Technology programs at SCC qualify for the South Carolina WINS scholarship, which can cover tuition for qualifying residents. Many students complete cybersecurity credentials at little or no out-of-pocket cost.
How to Get Started
Applications are free at sccsc.edu. For program-specific questions, contact the Computer Technologies department at 864-592-4839.