# NASA Internship Acceptance Rate: Under 10%

**Author:** Zero G Talent
**Published:** 2026-02-28
**Category:** career-guides
**Tags:** nasa, space, internship, entry-level, education

[Read on Zero G Talent](https://zerogtalent.com/blog/nasa-internship-acceptance-rate-2026)

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# NASA internship acceptance rate in 2026

<div class="blog-stats">
  <div class="blog-stat">
    <div class="blog-stat-value"><10%</div>
    <div class="blog-stat-label">Acceptance Rate</div>
  </div>
  <div class="blog-stat">
    <div class="blog-stat-value">2,000+</div>
    <div class="blog-stat-label">Slots Per Year</div>
  </div>
  <div class="blog-stat">
    <div class="blog-stat-value">Tens of Thousands</div>
    <div class="blog-stat-label">Applicants</div>
  </div>
</div>

NASA's internship acceptance rate is broadly estimated at below 10%. The agency's Office of STEM Engagement places over 2,000 interns annually across all 10 centers, but tens of thousands apply.

## What we know

| Metric | Number |
|--------|--------|
| Intern slots per year | 2,000+ |
| Estimated applicants | 20,000+ |
| Acceptance rate estimate | 5–10% |
| High school acceptance rate | ~7% |
| SEES program (on-site) | ~4–5% |

NASA does not publish an official acceptance rate statistic. These figures are compiled from reporting by various sources.

## What improves your chances

1. **Apply to less popular centers** — JPL and JSC are the most competitive. Langley, Glenn, Stennis, and MSFC have fewer applicants
2. **Apply early** — Sessions fill on a rolling basis. Fall and spring terms are less competitive than summer
3. **Strong GPA** — 3.0 minimum is typical; 3.5+ is competitive
4. **Research experience** — Publications, lab work, or conference presentations
5. **STEM major alignment** — Engineering, physics, computer science, math
6. **Multiple applications** — You can apply to multiple centers and mentors per session

## Sessions

| Session | Duration | Competitiveness |
|---------|---------|----------------|
| Summer | 10–16 weeks (May–Aug) | Most competitive |
| Fall | 16 weeks (Aug–Dec) | Moderate |
| Spring | 16 weeks (Jan–May) | Least competitive |

<div class="blog-callout blog-callout-warning">
  <div class="blog-callout-title">2026 hiring freeze impact</div>
  <p>NASA is under a significant budget cut and hiring freeze in FY2026 (24% budget reduction proposed). Intern slots may be reduced compared to prior years. Check intern.nasa.gov for the latest availability.</p>
</div>

See our [NASA careers guide](/blog/nasa-careers-2026) and [NASA internship guide](/blog/nasa-internships-2026). Browse [NASA positions on Zero G Talent](/space-jobs-at-nasa).


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*Source: [Zero G Talent](https://zerogtalent.com), the job board for space, defense, AI, robotics and frontier-tech companies.*