CDC Evaluation Fellowship Class of 2027
A two-year training and service-learning fellowship in which fellows develop evaluation skills through CDC public-health projects and are matched with a host program.
CDC Evaluation Fellowship Class of 2027
The CDC Evaluation Fellowship is a two-year, full-time training and service-learning program. Fellows develop evaluation skills through public-health projects with a host program, receive mentorship, and plan professional development around their goals and assignment. The Class of 2027 application is scheduled to open October 26, 2026, and close January 7, 2027, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. The fellowship begins August 9, 2027. The official CDC pages linked below provide the application and eligibility instructions.
At a glance
| Item | Class of 2027 information |
|---|---|
| Program | Two-year public-health evaluation training and service learning |
| Host setting | CDC host programs; most host sites are in Atlanta, Georgia |
| Commitment | Full time; live within 50 miles of the host site |
| Application opens | October 26, 2026 |
| Application deadline | January 7, 2027, 11:59 p.m. ET |
| Candidate decisions scheduled | February 25–26, 2027 |
| Fellowship begins | August 9, 2027 |
| Eligibility in brief | Relevant master’s or doctoral degree with public-health or behavioral-science focus; at least one year of applied evaluation experience; U.S. citizenship or qualifying permanent residency |
| Salary or stipend | Not stated in the supplied current application information; verify with CDC |
| Application route | Online CDC portal; incomplete, late, or portal-free submissions are not accepted |
For the current application window, materials, and process, see CDC’s participant application page. The eligibility and requirements page covers education, experience, residency, and location. CDC’s What Fellows Do page describes the training model.
What the fellowship offers
This is an applied learning experience: fellows take part in hands-on evaluations connected to public-health work at a host program. The two-year program combines project experience with mentorship and professional-development planning. CDC describes five competency areas: professional practice, methodology, context, planning and management, and leadership and facilitation. Together, these cover both evaluation methods and the work of planning, managing, and leading evaluation practice. CDC: What Fellows Do
Host programs provide professional-development funds for training or conferences. Fellows can tailor their training and experience with a mentor to their goals and assignment. The brief does not state a funding limit or promise a particular course, conference, or project, so applicants should treat these as opportunities shaped by the host assignment and mentor, not as a specified personal allowance. The available information also does not name the Class of 2027 host programs.
CDC reviews applications, interviews candidates with potential host programs, and makes matches by mutual interest. Applicants should therefore be ready to describe their evaluation interests and goals and to learn about a potential host program. The published information does not guarantee a specific placement or post-fellowship outcome. CDC application page
Who should apply and eligibility
Applicants need a relevant master’s or doctoral degree, with graduate work focused on public health or behavioral science. Upcoming or recent graduates can qualify if their highest degree is conferred by June 30, 2027. The degree must meet the stated focus as well as the conferral date. The supplied information does not provide a full list of qualifying degree titles; if your program’s relevance is unclear, check CDC’s eligibility page.
Applicants must have at least one year of applied program-evaluation experience and be able to document up to three projects that demonstrate its depth and breadth. The brief does not specify a required job title, employer, or evaluation framework. Describe your role and work accurately in the portal rather than relying on a title to establish experience. The project examples help show what you have done; they do not replace the one-year minimum. CDC: Fellow Eligibility and Requirements
Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Permanent residents need a green card valid for at least two years from the fellowship start. Fellows must live within 50 miles of their host site; remote work is not available, and relocation costs are not covered. Most host sites are in Atlanta, Georgia, though the specific 2027 placement is not identified in the supplied brief. Applicants should consider whether they can meet the location requirement wherever matched. The fellowship is a full-time, two-year commitment. CDC: Fellow Eligibility and Requirements
How to Apply
Apply through CDC’s online portal. The application asks about education, evaluation experience, interests, and goals. Applicants submit a detailed resume or CV, request two recommendation letters through the portal, and provide transcripts for all degrees at every academic level. The portal also collects work-history details, including positions, duties, locations, dates, and hours worked per week. Permanent-resident applicants upload a green-card copy. Follow the live portal for upload instructions and item-specific directions; file formats and length limits are not stated in the supplied information. CDC application page
Student-issued transcripts are acceptable at the application stage if they show the degree, courses, grades, and graduation date. Selected fellows must later arrange for official transcripts to be sent directly from their institutions. Check each transcript against those stated elements before uploading. If a document does not show a required item, use the current portal instructions or ask CDC how to handle it rather than assuming it qualifies.
Two recommendation letters must be requested through the portal. The brief does not specify who may serve as a recommender or set out letter content rules. Identify two people and allow them time to respond to the portal request; then check the application system to ensure required items are received. Do not assume that naming recommenders in another part of the application completes this step.
Timeline and deadlines
The application opens October 26, 2026, and closes January 7, 2027, at 11:59 p.m. ET. CDC says incomplete applications, late applications, and submissions outside the online portal are not accepted. Plan for the application and its requested materials to be complete by the deadline. The supplied information does not clarify whether letters can arrive after the deadline, so follow the live portal’s instructions and give recommenders adequate time. CDC application page
CDC reviews applications and interviews candidates with potential host programs. Matches depend on mutual interest. Candidate decisions are scheduled for February 25–26, 2027; this is a decision window, not a stated interview date. The two-year fellowship begins August 9, 2027. Check CDC’s page for any updates to the published schedule.
Preparation and common mistakes
The suggestions here are preparation advice, not extra CDC requirements. Before applying, gather accurate education and work-history details. For up to three evaluation projects, make concise notes about your role and what each project shows about the depth or breadth of your applied experience. Use these notes to answer portal questions clearly without overstating your contribution. CDC requires at least one year of applied experience and asks applicants to document projects; the precise format should follow the portal.
Prepare a detailed resume or CV and compare its dates, duties, locations, and hours with the work-history information requested in the application. Collect transcripts for every degree and academic level, and check that student-issued records include the degree, courses, grades, and graduation date. If selected, you will need official transcripts sent directly by your institutions, so learning their request process in advance may save time. These are organizational steps, not additional selection criteria.
Ask recommenders early and monitor the portal for their letters. Permanent residents should check the card’s validity against the fellowship start date and prepare a copy. Before submitting, review whether every requested field and item is complete. A late or incomplete application is not accepted under the published instructions. Do not count on an exception, grace period, or post-deadline letter arrangement; none is stated in the supplied information.
Also consider the full-time and location conditions before applying. Fellows must be within 50 miles of their host site, remote work is unavailable, and relocation costs are not covered. Since the 2027 host placement is not specified in the brief, avoid assuming the role will be in a particular location or that moving expenses will be reimbursed. If an individual circumstance makes eligibility or logistics unclear, consult the current official requirements and application pages for CDC’s contact route.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a salary or stipend?
The supplied current application information does not state a salary or stipend amount, and it does not establish other compensation terms. Verify compensation directly through current CDC program information or its official contact route before making financial plans. Professional-development funds for training or conferences are described separately and should not be read as a salary figure or relocation support.
Can I apply before graduation?
Yes, if you are an upcoming or recent graduate and your highest degree is conferred by June 30, 2027. The degree must be relevant and have the public-health or behavioral-science focus described by CDC. Consult the eligibility page if your degree program or timing is uncertain.
Can I work remotely or live outside the 50-mile area?
The published requirements say remote work is unavailable and fellows must live within 50 miles of their host site. Relocation costs are not covered. Most host sites are in Atlanta, but the specific match is not provided here; confirm placement information with CDC as it becomes available.
What happens after I submit?
CDC reviews applications, interviews candidates with potential host programs, and matches by mutual interest. Candidate decisions are scheduled for February 25–26, 2027, with the fellowship beginning August 9, 2027. The supplied brief does not provide selection odds, the number of places, or a detailed interview schedule.
Official sources
- Participants and Class of 2027 application: opening and closing dates, application steps and materials, selection sequence, decisions, and start date.
- Fellow eligibility and requirements: education, applied experience, citizenship or permanent-resident status, and location conditions.
- What Fellows Do: projects, mentorship, professional-development funds, and competency areas.
The salary or stipend amount, specific 2027 host programs, recommendation-letter rules beyond requesting two letters through the portal, and possible later changes are not established in the supplied information. Use the current official CDC pages and contact route to verify what remains unclear.