Undergraduates, don't miss your chance to apply to NOAA undergraduate scholarship programs, which include paid NOAA internships and academic scholarships. Applications for the NOAA Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship and Educational Partnership Program with Minority Serving Institutions (EPP/MSI) Undergraduate Scholarship are open from September 1, 2021, through January 31, 2022.
Quinn Girasek, a 2020 NOAA Hollings scholar during her 2021 summer internship with NOAA Ocean Exploration. Here, Quinn is annotating organisms in the water column that were seen during Dive 20 of the 2021 North Atlantic Stepping Stones expedition. (Image credit: Image courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, 2021 North Atlantic Stepping Stones: New England and Corner Rise Seamounts. )
The scholarships at a glance
Hollings Scholarship
- $9,500 stipend per year for junior and senior year
- A 10-week paid NOAA internship
- Funds for travel and conference participation
Eligibility:
- U.S. citizen
- 3.0 minimum GPA
- Major in NOAA mission fields, including STEM and social science
EPP/MSI Undergraduate Scholarship
- $9,500 stipend per year for junior and senior year
- Two 10-week paid NOAA internships
- Funds for travel and conference participation
Eligibility
- Attend a minority-serving institution (MSI)
- U.S. citizen or U.S. national
- 3.2 minimum GPA
- Major in NOAA mission fields, including STEM and social science
About the scholarships
These prestigious scholarships provide students with an academic award of $9,500 per year for two years of full-time study. The Hollings Scholarship provides a 10-week, full time, paid summer internship opportunity at any NOAA facility nationwide. The EPP/MSI Undergraduate Scholarship offers two paid summer internships, one in a NOAA office in the Silver Spring, Maryland, metro area, and one at any NOAA facility nationwide. All scholars also receive funding to present their summer internship research at two national scientific conferences. Note that, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, internships may be held virtually. The Office of Education will review precautionary guidelines provided by the CDC in advance of the internships and will notify selected 2022 scholars when a decision is made whether to hold internships virtually or in person. Read about the past virtual summer internships here.
In April of 2021, the NOAA Office of Education selected 125 Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholars and 18 EPP/MSI Undergraduate Scholars, hailing from a total of 88 different campuses in 39 U.S. states, as well as Puerto Rico. Next year's class, the class of 2022, will be the 18th class of Hollings scholars and the 22nd class of EPP/MSI undergraduate scholars. Many scholarship alumni have gone on to work full-time at NOAA, while others have worked in areas of the government, in academia, or in the private sector.
Read about present and past scholar experiences
Eligibility
Both scholarships are available to undergraduate students studying engineering, meteorology, biological sciences, social sciences, physical science, and other NOAA mission-relevant fields. Students who are currently enrolled or accepted as a full-time 2nd year student in a four-year academic program or as a full-time 3rd year student in a five-year undergraduate program at an accredited college or university within the United States or U.S. territories can apply for the Hollings scholarship. Students who meet these requirements and attend a minority serving institution may apply for the EPP/MSI Undergraduate Scholarship program. For a full list of eligibility requirements, please visit the frequently asked questions for the Hollings and EPP/MSI scholarships.
How to apply
Still wondering if these scholarships are for you? Take a look at a previous year's #TakeoverTuesday campaign and the 2020 virtual internship story to see the experience through the eyes of past scholars. Read updates from our alumni describing where they are now in our story catching up with NOAA scholars. Follow NOAA Education on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn offsite link to stay up to date with new scholar stories and news!
For more information and to apply, please visit the Hollings and EPP/MSI Undergraduate Scholarship websites. Don't miss our tips on developing a strong application!
