Established by Zafar Khizer and his wife in the early 1990s, the private, for-profit institute enrolls about 200 students in its nine- or 12-month programs offered both in person and online. Graduates earn six industry-recognized certifications and have the opportunity to transfer to Thomas Edison State University with 21 credits toward an associate degree in computer science. PC AGE's program, much like the field itself, offers a breadth of opportunities for different skill sets, even offering an “IT IQ” test to see where a potential student’s aptitude is highest.
“It’s no more than 10 to 15 percent female who come to take this training, No. 1, and they are also most likely to drop out in the first month,” Khizer said. “In 33 years, I have not figured out how to solve it.”
According to a 2023 study by the nonprofit ISC2, women are a significant minority in the cybersecurity workforce, though the trend is improving — women at that point made up 26 percent of those under 30, compared to 22 percent of cybersecurity workers aged 30 to 38 and 14 percent of those aged 39 to 49. Khizer, who is also president of PC AGE, said gendered perception of the IT field, poor marketing and cost barriers may be holding women back.
He said the new stipends are the school’s big swing. There is no cap on the number of stipends the school will issue, with the only limiting factor being Pell Grant eligibility.
“This year, a lot of our students are unable to afford really basic necessities for life,” he said.
In addition to the funding, the school will offer job placement support and women-hosted information sessions and career workshops. Khizer said the accelerated pace and workforce alignment of its certifications help students get the most bang for their buck. Tuition at PC AGE is about $25,000, he said.
Khizer hopes the new initiative will drive more enrollment and bring in hardworking students to the school. The stipends are contingent upon class attendance, either in person or online. He said he also hopes the program will drive a shift in the IT and cybersecurity workforce like the one he’s seen in his own field since he attended school for accounting.
“Seventy years ago, accounting was a male-dominated profession. Today it's majority female. There's no reason IT and cybersecurity can't follow the same path — but we need to remove the barriers,” Khizer said in a public statement. “This $200/month stipend is one way to make training accessible for women who are ready for a career change but can't afford to wait.”
