USAA Ascent Scholars Program

Apply Once. Grow for Two Years. Earn Every Step of the Way.

As you progress through the USAA Ascent Scholars Program, scholarship support continues while you build research experience, leadership skills, and career readiness.

The USAA Ascent Scholars Program is a student success initiative that prepares high-potential undergraduate students in the College of AI, Cyber, and Computing (CAICC) for professional tech careers. Generously funded by USAA, this competitive, two-year progression-based experience strengthens student workforce readiness and builds a direct pipeline to the technology industry. Over the two-year journey, scholars receive scholarship funding while actively engaging in professional development, mandatory SSC coordinators events, peer coaching and faculty-guided undergraduate research in preparations for Undergraduate and CAICC research events.

Why Apply?
The USAA Ascent Scholarship Experience is your chance to fund your degree, do real research, and build a clear path into a technology career.
As a USAA Ascent Scholar, you will receive:

• Two years of scholarship funding as you progress and meet your requirements each semester
• Faculty guided undergraduate research in one of three tracks: AI Applications, Cyber Operations, or Data Analytics
• Personalized career and leadership coaching
• Peer mentoring support
• Professional development and monthly engagement events with the SSC Coordinators
• A showcase experience where you present your work at Undergraduate Research Week and CAICC research events
• Access to high impact professional experiences
• Opportunities to represent the College of AI, Cyber and Computing

Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must:
• Be an undergraduate student in a College of AI, Cyber and Computing major
• Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0
• Be enrolled in at least 12 semester credit hours
• Demonstrate engagement or planned engagement in career readiness activities

Priority Given To:

• Students from the TR Community.
• Transfer students settling into life at UTSA.
• Core complete in basic college-level Math and Writing requirements.

USAA Ascent Scholars Experience
Two-Year Progression Model- You only need apply once. Each semester you progress when you meet all the semester requirements.
Students are placed at the level matching their completed credit hours and progress as their hours increase and program expectations are met.

Year 1: Scholar Experience Semester Plan

Level 1: Foundation
9 to 40 credit hours, $1,500 per year
•     3 Workshops- Career Center and 3 CAICC Events
•     2 Friday Monthly in Person Career and Leadership Coaching Sessions
•     2 Peer Mentoring Coaching Meetings

• Active in 1 Student Organization
• Attend 1 Event- Stem or Hackathon Event

Level 2: Apply
41 to 75 credit hours, $2,500 per year
•     All Level 1 requirements
2 Workshops -Career Center and 2 CAICC
•     Identify a faculty advisor
•     Develop a project concept
•     Frame a research question
•     Present a proposal at Spring Undergraduate and CAICC Research Showcase

Level 3: Launch
76 or more credit hours, $3,000 per year
•     All Level 1-2 requirements
•     Identify a faculty advisor
•     Develop a project concept
•     Present a proposal at Spring Undergraduate and CAICC Research Showcase

Note on Program Progression:
Don’t worry about memorizing all of these milestones and credit tiers just yet! A full, detailed breakdown of the two-year progression experience will be explained step-by-step during our mandatory Scholar Onboarding Session
.Your immediate focus is simply completing your application profile and read the content below to be sure you can meet the Scholar Participation Expectations

Scholars Fall 2026- Spring 27
Program Participation
Attend all required Friday presentations from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Downtown Campus, San Pedro I Building.
Participate in all required program activities and engagement opportunities throughout the semester.
Coaching & Mentorship
Meet twice each semester with SSC Coordinators for career coaching, leadership development, and program support.
Meet twice each semester with your assigned Peer Coach.
Maintain regular contact with your assigned faculty research mentor and participate in research-related activities as required.
Campus & Professional Engagement
Maintain active membership in at least one student organization.
Represent the College of AI, Cyber, and Computing at one assigned campus showcase or presentation event each semester.
Serve as a student ambassador for the College at designated events, outreach activities, and professional engagement opportunities.
Scholar Expectations
Remain in good academic standing and continue making progress toward degree completion.
Fulfill all semester requirements associated with your assigned Scholar level to remain eligible for continued participation and scholarship funding.

The USAA Ascent Scholars Program is designed to help you build leadership skills, research experience, and professional readiness while preparing for success in the technology workforce.

• Represent the College of AI, Cyber and Computing at events as assigned