Jumpstart A Career In Intelligence

Student Programs

Our student programs allow you to learn more about NSA and deepen your career field
knowledge while earning a paycheck. We offer internships, scholarships, cooperative
education programs and other opportunities for students in high school up through doctoral
candidates. Salary is based on your education level.

Applications for summer internships will be accepted beginning August 15. Applications for the
Co-op Program, Stokes Scholarship and High School Work Study will be accepted starting on
September 1. Please see our job board to apply. 

For details on our hiring requirements, including our policy on drug usage,
please see our FAQ page.

2027 Summer Internships

 

All of our paid internship programs span 12 weeks during the summer months, and include
benefits such as paid time off, holiday and sick leave. Interns also may be eligible for subsidized
housing assistance and travel reimbursement. College students may apply for programs starting
August 15. The majority of these opportunities are offered at our headquarters in Maryland, and
some internships are available at our field sites in Colorado, Georgia, Texas, Hawaii and Utah.
Depending on your major and skill set, students will be assigned to a specific program. 
 
For details on each program, please download our internship guide. 

 

DOWNLOAD GUIDE


Focus areas include:

STEM

Technical expertise is the cornerstone of our strategy to solve hard mission problems. We offer internships in:

  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Computer Science
  • Cybersecurity
  • Engineering
  • Mathematics

Language and Intelligence Analysis

The ability to gather, analyze and synthesize raw information to provide intelligence to national decision-makers is a critical component of NSA’s mission. We offer internships in:

  • Foreign Language Analysis
  • Intelligence Analysis


Mission Support

NSA relies on people with skill sets who support the agency’s workforce, operations, logistics, finance and other functions. We offer internships in:

  • Civil liberties, privacy and transparency
  • Security and counterintelligence
  • Reasonable accommodations and accessibility
  • Strategic communications
  • Industrial and organizational psychology
  • Human capital
  • Business management and acquisitions
  • Logistics and supply chain management
  • Auditing programs for NSA’s Office of the Inspector General

Cooperative Education Program (Co-Op Program)

In this program, students alternate semesters of full-time work with full-time study, completing
a minimum of 52 weeks of Co-op work experience prior to graduation. Students must apply for
the program as a sophomore or a freshman in their second semester of college. The paid
program accepts applications twice a year — beginning in September and February. Co-op is
offered at NSA headquarters and in Hawaii.

Focus areas include:

STEM Track

Students will play a meaningful role in the development of the nation’s secure communications in the production of foreign intelligence. The following majors are eligible: computer science, computer/electrical engineering, cybersecurity (technical track), data science or mathematics.

Language Track

Students who are majoring in Chinese language-focused studies will work with original written or spoken foreign language, determine the relevance of the intelligence collected, research it, analyze it, and put it into context for dissemination to national-level policy makers, military commanders and other customers.

Stokes Educational Scholarship Program

High school seniors who plan to study artificial intelligence, computer science, computer/electrical
engineering, cybersecurity, data science, math or language analysis can apply for this program starting on
September 1. Stokes gives you valuable work experience while you earn your college degree. After you
graduate, we will hire you for a position in your field. By participating, you will agree to work for NSA for at
least 1.5 times the length of your study after graduation.

This scholarship covers tuition and mandatory fees up to $30,000 per year, a salary, and housing and travel
costs during your summer employment if the school is more than 75 miles from headquarters.
 

LEARN MORE

High School Work Study

This part-time program is for high school juniors who plan to participate in a school-sponsored work
experience program during their senior year and live close to NSA headquarters, located in Maryland, or
our field sites (Colorado, Georgia, Texas, Hawaii, Utah, Alaska or West Virginia).

Students can apply for this program beginning on September 1. These paid positions vary by site, but they
can include jobs in office administration, computer/engineering technology, Chinese language and
intelligence analysis. Benefits include paid time off, holiday and sick leave.

Join the Mission

NSA offers challenging career opportunities in a variety of career fields to protect national security.

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