NASA Internships 2026–2027: Paid Opportunities for Students in STEM and Non-STEM Fields

Overview

NASA offers paid internships to college-level students across science, technology, aeronautics and space exploration, and also in non-STEM fields. Placements are at NASA centers and facilities across the United States. Through the OSTEM Internship Program, students take on short-term, hands-on work on real NASA projects with professional mentors. The Pathways Internship Program provides federal internships designed to prepare students for agency careers.

Fields can include aerospace and mechanical engineering, computer science, artificial intelligence, data science, physical, biological, space and Earth sciences, communications, public affairs, business, finance, writing, design, human resources, and education and outreach. Available projects change from one recruitment cycle to the next.

What you get

Both OSTEM and Pathways internships are paid. Interns work on actual projects, develop technical and workplace skills, and gain research or engineering experience. Pathways participants can rotate through several assignments and, after completing the programme and meeting the requirements, may be converted directly into full-time civil service positions.

Who can apply

Eligibility depends on the programme and the individual vacancy. OSTEM is aimed at college-level students, while Pathways offers structured federal internships for students. Each position lists its own academic, citizenship, skills and location requirements.

How to apply

Applications are submitted online. Students should review each project's description, location and requirements, then prepare a resume covering relevant coursework, projects, research, technical skills, volunteering and prior employment.

Key dates

Spring 2027 applications close on 14 September 2026, Summer 2027 on 26 February 2027 and Fall 2027 on 21 May 2027, all at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.