NASA Internships 2024: Salary, Acceptance Rate & Career Guide

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) was founded in 1958 by President Eisenhower to take over from the NACA and work on space science, aeronautics and exploration.

Working at NASA is about more than becoming an astronaut, and with access to some of the best research and innovation in the world, students and researchers are invited to apply to work in one of the ten NASA locations as an intern or as part of a research fellowship.

In this article, we will discuss the internships that are available at NASA, how you can apply for one, and what the NASA internship requirements are.

We will also look into whether you can expect a salary as an intern with NASA and what your career might look like (depending on the type of internship that you apply for).

What NASA Internships Are Available?

There are currently four types of internships and a fellowship available at NASA, and they each have slightly different requirements and aims.

The OSTEM Internship

The Office of STEM Engagement offers the NASA STEM gateway internship to high school or college-level students who want to access an internship that contributes to actual NASA projects while working under the guidance of a NASA mentor.

Opportunities exist across all NASA facilities, and there are three intake periods:

• Spring
• Summer
• Fall

Paid opportunities are available; certain internships are offered with a stipend payment, depending on academic level and session length.

While most internships are offered to high school and undergraduate students, applications are also welcomed from recent graduates and educators.

Pathways Internship

The Pathways internship is offered to undergraduates and recent graduates who are considering a career with NASA as a stepping stone to paid full-time employment in the future.

Pathways internships are paid opportunities, and they are offered on a work-study basis, combining professional development with work experience to provide a direct pipeline to future career options.

Fellowship

Aimed at graduate-level students, a fellowship is an opportunity to pursue research projects that align with the current Agency research priorities, giving student researchers the opportunity to be exposed to the innovative facilities and culture at NASA.

Fellows have the opportunity to work alongside top-class NASA scientists and attend prestigious conferences, getting enhanced learning and development opportunities.

JPL Internship

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is the leading center for robotic exploration of our solar system, and specific internships are available for STEM-oriented students from high school level through to post-doctorate students and even faculty members.

International Internship

The International Internship (known as I2) offers internship opportunities for non-US citizens, preparing them to work in a global environment and access multicultural international missions.

Access to the I2 is open to students who are looking for a future career in science, engineering and other professions, and applications are open for spring, summer, and fall sessions.

Who Is Eligible for NASA Internship?

As mentioned, NASA internships are not just for scientists, engineers, or technology students.

Internships are available across the whole of this federal agency, from physicists to accounts and HR, even in the legal teams.

Applications are open to any student, graduate, or faculty member who meets the relevant criteria.

For the OSTEM internship, you need to be a US citizen with a 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale to be considered. You must be 16 or over at the time of application and either a high school student or an undergraduate or recent graduate who is enrolled in a full-time program from an accredited college or university.

The Pathways internship is open to US citizens who have a 2.9 GPA, while the International Internship is open to non-US citizens from partner countries.

What Is the Salary for NASA Interns?

NASA internships are paid opportunities for the most part, and while you will not receive a salary, there is a stipend available depending on academic level and length of session.

If you are an undergraduate student taking a Fall or Spring internship, the stipend is about $12,000 (for a graduate, it is about $14,500).

For the shorter summer internship, it is around $8,000 for an undergrad and $9,000 for a graduate.

There are other benefits of working for NASA, aside from the usual job-related extras like access to health insurance, paid leave and support. Internships at NASA offer:

• Access to a community of diverse professionals
• A rewarding experience that is a brilliant start to a career, even outside of NASA
• Learning from the best in the industry, using the most innovative technology

NASA has been consistently nominated as the ‘Best Place to Work in the Federal Government,’ which is part of the reason that there is such a competitive process to get a role there.

The NASA Internship Summer 2024

There are three opportunities each year to apply for an internship.

When you apply for an OSTEM Internship, you only need to make one application, and it will be viewed across every department and area, but you can apply for more than one of the advertised opportunities should you wish to.

NASA Internships: Summer 2024 Application Dates

For the Summer session, applications must be received by February.

If you’re wondering when do NASA summer internship applications open, the internship schedule usually follows the below pattern:

• Spring Session (runs for 16 weeks from mid-January to early May) – Apply by early November
• Summer Session (runs for 10 weeks from late May until early August) – Apply by early February
• Fall Session (runs for 16 weeks from August until mid-December) – Apply by early July

The type of internship that you apply for will determine what the application process will look like for you.

In all cases, you will not need any letters of recommendation from your current school, college or university.

What Is the NASA Internship Acceptance Rate?

NASA accepts around 2,000 students into the OSTEM internship program every single year, but there are often tens of thousands of applicants. The acceptance rate sits at about 5% for each session.

While there are hundreds of opportunities available, it is a really competitive process, so you need to be as prepared as you can be to ace it and get accepted.

You can find out more and get additional support from the faculty at your school or university; they will be able to help you prepare your application to meet the required standards.

Make sure that you highlight your academic achievements related to the area that you want to intern in, and demonstrate that you have skills, knowledge and abilities to apply to the projects in the business.

With so many other applicants, you need to stand out.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts

NASA internships are hard to get but offer an opportunity for STEM students (and others) to work with some of the world’s leading scientists, engineers and mechanics.

NASA interns have the opportunity to take part in meaningful work in a variety of disciplines, working in a culture that values safety, integrity and curiosity.

Interns will have access to networking opportunities that will include managers, mentors, other employees and interns, all while learning and working for the arm of the federal government that is responsible for space exploration and aeronautics.

Getting into the NASA internship program is challenging. It is a highly competitive process where you will have to be better than tens of thousands of other applicants, but you can make the most of it if you are more prepared.