NASA Internship Programs

Overview

NASA offers paid OSTEM and Pathways internships for U.S. citizen students and recent graduates, with opportunities in STEM and non-STEM fields.

Eligibility

Benefits

Application Process

NASA Internship Programs provide college-level students and recent graduates with paid, hands-on opportunities to contribute to real NASA projects and develop technical and professional skills.

Opportunity

NASA Internship Programs

Type

Internship

Organizer

NASA

Country

United States

Study Level

Undergraduate and graduate

Who Can Apply

To be eligible, applicants must:

• U.S. citizens who are at least 16 years old may apply for OSTEM or Pathways internships, subject to the specific program requirements.
• OSTEM applicants must be full-time or part-time students enrolled in a certificate or degree-granting program at a U.S.-accredited technical school, college, or university, or may apply during the three sessions immediately following graduation.
• OSTEM applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
• Pathways applicants must be degree- or certificate-seeking students enrolled or accepted for enrollment at least half time in an accredited educational institution.
• Pathways applicants must have completed at least 15 semester hours or 23 quarter hours, maintain a minimum GPA of 2.9 on a 4.0 scale, and be able to work at least 480 hours before completing their degree or certificate requirements.

Fields of Study

STEM and non-STEM fields for OSTEM internships; Pathways opportunities are available in majors aligned with NASA workforce needs.

Value

• The majority of interns receive a paid stipend award based on academic level and session duration.
• Interns receive mentoring from NASA experts and work on agency projects connected to NASA’s mission.
• Pathways internships can provide a direct pipeline to full-time federal civil service employment after successful completion.
• OSTEM sessions provide short-term, hands-on project experience and professional development.

Selection Criteria

Applicants are assessed on:

• OSTEM applicants are evaluated against the requirements of the specific project and must meet the stated age, citizenship, enrollment, and GPA requirements.
• Pathways applicants must meet the program’s enrollment, coursework, GPA, citizenship, age, and work-hour requirements.
• Internship opportunities may consider academic background and alignment with the project or NASA workforce needs.

How to Apply

OSTEM applications are submitted through the NASA STEM Gateway. Pathways applications are submitted through USAJOBS. Applicants can create a profile and apply for multiple opportunities across NASA centers and areas of interest.

Application Deadline

OSTEM applications are offered in three annual sessions. The Spring 2027 deadline was September 14, 2026, while the upcoming Summer 2027 deadline is February 26, 2027, and the Fall 2027 deadline is May 21, 2027. All stated times are 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.

Apply via the official page: https://www.nasa.gov/learning-resources/internship-programs

See more Internship opportunities on CoachScholar.