NASA Internships for High Schoolers in 2026
Most high school students assume NASA internships are only for college engineering majors, but the agency runs multiple programs specifically designed for high school students, placing teenagers in research labs, mission control rooms, and engineering workshops alongside working scientists and engineers.
NASA OSTEM High School Internship Program
The primary pathway for high school students to intern at NASA is through the Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM) internship program at intern.nasa.gov. This program offers structured internship opportunities at all ten NASA field centers during the summer session, and in some cases during spring and fall sessions as well.
High school interns through OSTEM are matched with NASA mentors who design projects appropriate for the student's skill level while providing genuine exposure to the center's work. Projects span a wide range of disciplines including engineering, science, computer programming, data analysis, communications, and education outreach.
The program is designed to be more than a shadowing experience. While the complexity of work is calibrated for a high school level, interns are expected to contribute to real projects, produce deliverables, and present their work at the end of the session. Past high school intern projects have included designing components for small satellite missions, analyzing planetary science data, developing educational materials, supporting robotics competitions, and assisting with environmental monitoring research.
Sessions typically follow the school calendar. The summer session is the most popular, running approximately eight to ten weeks from late May or early June through early August. Some centers offer shorter spring and fall sessions that accommodate the school year, though availability for high schoolers during the academic year is more limited.
Eligibility Requirements
The eligibility requirements for NASA's high school internship program are straightforward but important to verify before applying.
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Age | Must be at least 16 years old at the start of the internship |
| Education | Must be currently enrolled in high school (rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors) |
| Citizenship | U.S. citizenship required |
| GPA | Minimum 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (competitive applicants are typically higher) |
| Other | Must be able to pass a background check appropriate for age |
Students must be currently enrolled in a U.S. high school and must be at least 16 years old. Rising sophomores (completing freshman year), juniors, and seniors are all eligible. Some positions may have additional requirements related to specific coursework or skills.
U.S. citizenship is a non-negotiable requirement for NASA internships, including high school positions. U.S. permanent residents and international students are not eligible for the OSTEM program, regardless of their qualifications.
Students do not need to have decided on a specific career path or college major. The internship is explicitly designed to help young people explore STEM fields and discover where their interests and abilities lie. Curiosity and willingness to learn are valued as much as existing expertise.
How to Apply Step by Step
The application process for NASA's high school internship is managed through the OSTEM portal at intern.nasa.gov. Here is the step-by-step process.
Step 1: Create an account. Visit intern.nasa.gov and create a profile. You will need to provide personal information, educational details, and contact information. Start this process well before the application deadline.
Step 2: Build your profile. Upload your resume (or build one through the portal), enter your GPA and coursework information, and list your extracurricular activities and any STEM-related experiences. If you have research experience, science fair awards, or relevant projects, include them.
Step 3: Write your personal statement. The application includes a personal essay or statement where you explain your interest in NASA, your STEM goals, and what you hope to gain from the internship. This is your most important differentiator. Write about specific interests, not generic enthusiasm.
Step 4: Select projects. Browse available internship projects and select up to 15 that interest you. Each project listing describes the work, the required skills, and the NASA center where it is located. Read each description carefully and prioritize projects that align with your genuine interests and skills.
Step 5: Secure recommendations. You will need at least one recommendation from a teacher, counselor, or other adult who can speak to your academic abilities and character. Choose someone who knows your work well and give them plenty of time to submit their recommendation.
Step 6: Submit before the deadline. Application deadlines vary by session. For summer internships, the deadline is typically in early March. However, checking the portal well in advance is essential as deadlines can shift.
| Application Period | Session | Deadline (Approximate) |
|---|---|---|
| October - March | Summer (June - August) | Early March |
| February - May | Fall (August - December) | Late May |
| June - September | Spring (January - May) | Late September |
Stipend and Financial Details
NASA provides stipends to high school interns to help cover expenses during the internship. The stipend is not an hourly wage but rather a lump sum intended to support the student during the program.
Stipend amounts for high school interns are lower than those for college and graduate student interns, reflecting the shorter duration and the students' educational level. Based on recent program information, high school summer intern stipends typically fall in the range of $1,800 to $3,200 for the full session, though the exact amount can vary by center and session length.
| Stipend Component | Details |
|---|---|
| Base stipend | $1,800 - $3,200 for summer session (estimated) |
| Housing | Not provided; student must arrange |
| Transportation | Not provided; student is responsible |
| Meals | Not provided |
| Travel to center | Not typically covered for high school interns |
Housing is not typically provided for high school interns, unlike some college-level internship programs that offer housing stipends. This means that proximity to a NASA center is a practical advantage for high school applicants. Students who live within commuting distance of a center can participate without the additional expense and logistical complexity of finding temporary housing.
What Happens During the Internship
A typical week for a high school intern at NASA includes a mix of project work with your mentor, educational activities organized for the intern cohort, and exposure to the broader center environment.
Project work occupies the majority of your time. You will work directly with your assigned NASA mentor, who is a scientist, engineer, or other professional at the center. Mentors design projects that contribute to their work while being accessible to a high school student. This might mean conducting literature reviews, performing data analysis, building prototypes, writing code, or creating presentations.
Centers organize activities specifically for high school and college interns, including tours of facilities that are not open to the general public, lectures by NASA scientists and astronauts, workshops on college preparation and STEM careers, and social events where interns meet peers from across the country.
At the end of the session, interns present their work at a poster session or oral presentation event. This is a valuable experience in scientific communication and often serves as the first time many high school students present technical work to a professional audience.
The experience also includes significant informal learning. Being immersed in a professional scientific and engineering environment, observing how teams collaborate, and seeing the scale and complexity of NASA's missions provides context that is impossible to replicate in a classroom.
NASA Centers That Host High School Interns
While all NASA centers can potentially host high school interns, the availability of projects varies by center and by session. Some centers have more robust high school programs than others due to their location, size, and the nature of their work.
Kennedy Space Center in Florida is popular with high school interns due to its visibility as NASA's primary launch site. Interns here may support education outreach, visitor center activities, or engineering projects related to launch infrastructure.
Johnson Space Center in Houston offers exposure to human spaceflight, including mission operations, astronaut training, and life sciences. The center has a large intern cohort and organized activities.
Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland provides opportunities in Earth science, astrophysics, and engineering. Its proximity to the D.C. area means a large pool of local high school applicants.
Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville offers projects related to propulsion, engineering, and space science. The center's smaller size can mean more personalized mentoring.
Jet Propulsion Laboratory operates its own high school internship program through Caltech, separate from the OSTEM portal. JPL's program focuses on STEM research and provides exposure to planetary science and robotic exploration.
Other centers including Glenn, Langley, Ames, Stennis, and Armstrong also host high school interns depending on available projects and mentor availability.
Making the Most of the Experience
Securing the internship is only the beginning. How you approach the experience determines how much value you extract from it and how it shapes your future path.
Arrive with specific questions about the field you are exploring. If you are interested in planetary science, ask your mentor about the daily reality of a research career, what they wish they had known in high school, and what coursework prepared them best. If you are considering engineering, ask about the difference between academic engineering and applied engineering at NASA.
Take initiative on your project. Mentors value interns who ask thoughtful questions, propose ideas, and work independently when given direction. You do not need to wait for detailed instructions for every task. If you finish assigned work, ask what else you can contribute.
Network beyond your immediate team. Introduce yourself to other professionals at the center, attend every lecture and tour offered, and connect with other interns. The relationships you build during the internship can provide mentorship, recommendation letters, and career guidance for years to come.
Document everything. Keep a journal of what you learn, save your project deliverables, and take notes on career conversations. This documentation will be invaluable when you apply to colleges, write scholarship essays, or apply for future internships.
Explore more early-career and internship opportunities in the space industry on Zero G Talent or search for NASA-related positions.
FAQ
Can a freshman apply for a NASA high school internship?
Rising sophomores (students who have completed freshman year) are typically eligible if they meet the age requirement of 16. Students who are still 15 at the start of the internship are generally not eligible. Check the specific program requirements for the year you plan to apply.
How competitive are NASA high school internships?
They are competitive. NASA receives significantly more applications than it has positions for high school students. However, the odds are better than many students assume, particularly at less well-known centers or for projects in disciplines that attract fewer applicants. A strong application with a compelling personal statement can succeed.
Do I need to know what I want to study in college to apply?
No. The program is designed for exploration. You should have a general interest in STEM, but you do not need to have chosen a college major or specific career direction. Expressing genuine curiosity and a desire to learn is more important than having a defined career plan.
Will a NASA high school internship help with college applications?
Yes, significantly. A NASA internship demonstrates initiative, academic capability, and genuine STEM interest. It also provides material for college application essays and a unique reference from a NASA professional. Many former high school interns cite the experience as a distinguishing element of their college applications.
Can I do the internship remotely?
Some positions may offer virtual options, particularly during spring and fall sessions. However, the majority of summer positions are expected to be on-site at the NASA center. The on-site experience is substantially richer than a virtual alternative, so prioritize in-person participation if possible.
What if I do not live near a NASA center?
This is a genuine challenge for high school interns since housing is not provided. Options include staying with relatives or family friends near a center, looking into local host family arrangements, or focusing on centers where you have connections. Some students apply to centers in cities where they have family, even if it is not their first-choice center, for practical reasons.
