LISLE, Ill. – May 28, 2026 – DeVry University has earned the No. 12 Power Rank in the Spring 2026 National Cyber League (NCL) competition. The biannual event, powered by Cyber Skyline, is one of the nation’s premier cybersecurity competitions, where students test their skills through real-world challenges including digital forensics, penetration testing, cryptography, vulnerability auditing and ransomware recovery.
This season, DeVry students competed against more than 7,000 students from colleges and universities nationwide and delivered strong results across multiple categories.
“These rankings reflect our commitment to equipping learners with real-world, workforce-ready capabilities so they can help secure and defend the digital infrastructures that power our economy, government and communities,” said Elise Awwad, president and CEO of DeVry University.
The university was also recognized among the top performing teams, with students Diane Story, Kenneth Kiracofe, Cody Kyser, Charles Lewis, Matthew McCloskey, Daniel Rios and Seth Sikora showcasing exceptional cybersecurity skills in areas such as cryptography, password cracking, and forensic challenges. McCloskey also earned individual distinctions, finishing No.12 out of 7,010 competitors nationally and DeVry placed seventh when power-ranked among participating schools.
“This recognition reflects the dedication, hard work and passion of our students and faculty coaches,” added William Phillips, Ph.D., dean of colleges and curriculum at DeVry University. “Our learners continue proving they can compete successfully at the national level.”
The results underscore the impact of DeVry’s Cybersecurity Center of Excellence, faculty mentorship model, Cyber Range experiences and hands-on learning opportunities that help students build practical cybersecurity skills employers value.
For more information, visit DeVry University’s Cybersecurity Center of Excellence .
