Partnership will create new pathways through early college coursework,
industry credentials and career-connected learning
BRIDGEPORT, Conn., Oct. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- University of Bridgeport (UB) is expanding early college opportunities through a new national partnership with CYBER.ORG designed to help high school students earn college credit and industry-recognized credentials while exploring pathways to cybersecurity careers.
This initiative brings together UB's established expertise in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and early college education with CYBER.ORG's K-12 cybersecurity curriculum and workforce expertise. Together, UB and CYBER.ORG will develop an early college model that connects cybersecurity education in high school with college credit, industry-recognized credentials and pathways into higher education and the workforce.
Through this partnership, UB faculty and academic leaders will work with CYBER.ORG to adapt existing cybersecurity curricula into college-level coursework and create the academic framework. The program builds on UB's established expertise in technology-focused education through its Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET)-accredited School of Engineering, including programs in cybersecurity and artificial intelligence (AI), as well as hands-on learning through the Interdisciplinary Emerging Technologies (IET) Lab.
"Early college should be about more than collecting credits. It should help students begin to see where those credits can take them," said Danielle Wilken, Ed.D., president of University of Bridgeport. "UB has been preparing students for careers in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and emerging technologies for years, including launching Connecticut's first master's degree in artificial intelligence. This partnership allows us to bring that academic experience to students earlier while pairing it with CYBER.ORG's K-12 expertise. Together, we can create a pathway that begins in high school and can continue into college, additional credentials and ultimately a career."
This partnership marks the first time CYBER.ORG's curriculum will be paired with a university partner to create an early college pathway. While many concurrent enrollment programs focus on general education coursework, this program is centered on career-connected learning. Students will be able to build cybersecurity skills, and work toward industry credentials and begin building an academic record that can support their next step after high school.
The model is designed to serve public, private and charter schools, including those that may not currently have access to an early college partnership with a college or university.
"Students should not have to wait until college to recognize that cybersecurity is a career they can see themselves pursuing," said Charlene Cooper, director of CYBER.ORG. "At CYBER.ORG, it has always been our primary goal to plant those seeds early by empowering the future cybersecurity workforce with the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed. This partnership with University of Bridgeport furthers that goal by giving students an earlier opportunity to build relevant skills, earn credentials and college credit and better understand the different paths available to them after high school."
Building on CYBER.ORG's "Cyber Interstate" vision, which recognizes that there is no single route into cybersecurity careers, this partnership gives students an earlier on ramp to those opportunities. The program allows students to pursue a two-year or four-year degree, industry credentials or another related path.
As the partnership develops, UB and CYBER.ORG will also explore additional ways for students to build on their early college experience, including future certificate programs and opportunities to continue their education at UB.
To learn more about UB's college cybersecurity pathway with CYBER.ORG, visit bridgeport.edu/cyber.
About University of Bridgeport
University of Bridgeport offers career-oriented undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees and programs for people seeking personal and professional growth. The University promotes academic excellence, personal responsibility and commitment to service. Distinctive curricula in an international, culturally diverse and supportive learning environment prepare graduates for life and leadership in an increasingly interconnected world. The University is independent and non-sectarian. www.bridgeport.edu
About CYBER.ORG
CYBER.ORG, the academic and workforce initiative of the Cyber Innovation Center, is dedicated to advancing cybersecurity education and workforce development across K–12 and higher education. Supported in part by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), CYBER.ORG provides curriculum written to industry certification objectives, professional development, and hands-on resources to teach cybersecurity education to K-12 students nationwide. With content used in over 10,000 schools in all 50 states by over 48,000 educators, CYBER.ORG empowers students with real-world skills and career-connected learning pathways. By 2029, CYBER.ORG aims to support over 50,000 educators and impact six million students, helping shape a future-ready cybersecurity workforce. For more information, please visit CYBER.ORG.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Abby Levandoski
Assistant Director of Communications and Content Strategy
University of Bridgeport
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 203-576-4151
SOURCE University of Bridgeport
Share this article