Franklin University Cybersecurity Teams Place in Top 10% Nationally at NCL Spring 2026 Competition

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Sherry Mercurio
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Franklin University Cybersecurity Teams Place in Top 10% Nationally at NCL Spring 2026 Competition

Perfect scores, national rankings and real-world readiness highlight Franklin's applied learning model.

FACT BOX: Franklin University at NCL Spring 2026
• Event: National Cyber League (NCL) Spring 2026 Team Game
• Total Teams: 3,638 nationwide
• Top Franklin Finish: 18th place nationally
• Perfect Score: 3,000/3,000 points
• Completion Rate: 100% across all 10 modules
• Accuracy: 90.6%
• Team Results: All three Franklin teams placed in the top 10%

Franklin University students are demonstrating that applied, real-world learning drives measurable outcomes, earning national recognition in the National Cyber League (NCL) Spring 2026 Team Game, one of the country's most rigorous collegiate cybersecurity competitions.

Competing against 3,638 teams from major universities, military academies, and nationally recognized cybersecurity programs, Franklin students delivered standout results:

• One Franklin team placed 18th nationally, earning a perfect score of 3,000 points across all ten competition modules
• The team achieved 100% completion and 90.6% accuracy, placing them among only 21 teams nationwide to reach a perfect score
• All three Franklin teams finished in the top 10% nationally, with additional team placements at 199th and 264th

These outcomes reflect more than competitive success. They demonstrate how Franklin's applied curriculum model equips students with the skills to solve complex, real-world cybersecurity challenges under pressure.

"This is exactly what happens when learning moves beyond theory," said Dr. Denise Bergstrom, Program Chair, Cybersecurity. "Our students are not just studying cybersecurity, they are practicing it in high-stakes, real-world scenarios that mirror today's workforce demands."

Real-World Learning That Delivers Results
The NCL competition is designed to simulate real cybersecurity environments, requiring students to apply skills in cryptography, network traffic analysis, log analysis, digital forensics, password cracking, web application exploitation, and open-source intelligence.

Franklin's performance underscores the strength of its applied learning approach:
• Students worked collaboratively in high-pressure, time-sensitive conditions
• Challenges were intentionally complex, requiring advanced problem-solving and adaptability
• Success depended on both technical knowledge and team-based execution

This alignment between academic preparation and real-world application is central to Franklin's approach to preparing modern learners for immediate workforce impact.

Student-Led Excellence and Momentum
The achievement also reflects a growing, student-driven ecosystem at Franklin, led by organizations such as the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) chapter, Programming Special Interest Group (SIG), and Cybersecurity SIG. Student leaders played a critical role in building a collaborative, high-performance culture that continues to gain momentum.

Competing-and Winning-on a National Stage
Franklin teams competed alongside institutions such as the United States Military Academy, SANS Institute, and the University of Arizona, programs often recognized for extensive cybersecurity infrastructure and resources.
Despite competing against larger and more established programs, Franklin students demonstrated that talent, discipline, and applied learning can outperform scale.

About Franklin University

Accredited, nonprofit, and dedicated to educating adults since 1902, Franklin provides onsite course options at our Main Campus in downtown Columbus, Ohio, and is an innovator in providing personalized online education. The University offers applied in-demand undergraduate, masters, and doctorate programs that enable adult learners to achieve their educational and professional goals. Through agreements with partner institutions, the University also offers international academic programs, including its top-ranked MBA.

Franklin University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and holds specialized accreditations for specific academic programs through the International Accreditation Council for Business Education, the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, and the Commission on Accreditation of Health Informatics and Information Management Education. The National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security have designated Franklin University as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (CAE-CDE).

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