2027 NOAA Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship: Up to $40,000 and a Paid NOAA

2027 NOAA Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship: Up to $40,000 and a Paid NOAA Internship

The Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship combines education funding with a structured NOAA internship. For the 2027 selection cycle, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is accepting applications through January 31, 2027, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Eligible students receive academic support for two years, complete a paid, full-time summer internship, and can receive support to present their work at professional conferences. NOAA describes the combined value as up to $40,000.

The program fits degree plans connected to NOAA’s work in weather, climate, oceans, coasts, environmental stewardship, science, policy, management, or education. Applicants should expect to graduate between December 2028 and August 2029. Essays carry most of the review score, and references must arrive by the deadline.

Key details

Detail	2027 cycle
Award	Up to $40,000 in combined academic support, internship, and related benefits
Academic scholarship	Up to $9,500 per academic year for two years of full-time study
Internship	Ten weeks, full time, at NOAA or a partner facility; $700 per week
Extra support	Conditional summer housing allowance, travel to program events, and conference travel to present internship work
Application deadline	January 31, 2027, 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time
Eligible graduation window	Anticipated bachelor’s degree between December 2028 and August 2029
Main applicant group	U.S. citizens in eligible undergraduate standing with a NOAA mission-related major and at least a 3.0 GPA
Application route	NOAA’s online undergraduate scholarship application
Official information	NOAA Hollings scholarship overview

The $40,000 figure is NOAA’s stated maximum combined value, not a single unrestricted cash grant. Individual components have their own timing and conditions. For instance, the academic award is disbursed while a scholar remains eligible and enrolled full time; the internship stipend is paid during the summer placement; and the housing allowance is for qualifying students who do not live at home during the internship. Read the program terms when budgeting rather than assuming that every component will be paid in the same way.

What the scholarship provides

The academic portion provides up to $9,500 for each of two academic years of full-time study. The 10-week, full-time internship at a NOAA or partner facility pays $700 per week and may involve research, technology, policy, management, or education.

NOAA also lists travel to mandatory orientation in Silver Spring, Maryland; round-trip travel to the internship site and final Science and Education Symposium; and support to attend up to two professional conferences to present internship results. The FAQ lists a $400-per-week housing allowance for scholars who do not reside at home during the internship. Confirm eligibility and reimbursement rules before making travel or housing commitments.

Past NOAA projects have included ice-forecast evaluation, satellite analysis, marine ecology, coastal groundwater, weather-warning methods, atmospheric measurements, climate communication, and science education. These illustrate the program’s range; they do not promise a particular future placement, which is selected after the scholarship award.

Who should consider applying

The strongest initial fit is a student who meets the graduation window and can explain a credible connection between their field of study and NOAA’s mission. NOAA names oceanic, environmental, biological, and atmospheric sciences; mathematics; engineering; remote sensing; computer and information science; physical and social sciences, including geography; physics; hydrology; geomatics; and teacher education that supports its programs. A major title that is not an exact match does not automatically rule an applicant out: reviewers consider coursework and statements of academic and career interests.

For 2027, the official graduation window is more useful than informal class-year labels. NOAA says eligible students must anticipate earning a bachelor’s degree between December 2028 and August 2029. Many will be second-year students in a four-year program, third-year students in a five-year program, or community college students applying to transfer into a four-year program. Advanced placement credits can make a student appear to be in a different year; NOAA’s FAQ says the anticipated graduation date is the determining factor in that situation.

The program can also suit students weighing research, public service, environmental education, or another mission-connected path. Applicants need not claim a fixed career plan, but should explain what they want to learn and how the award could help them test or develop that direction.

Eligibility to confirm before starting

Applicants must be U.S. citizens and enrolled or accepted at an accredited college or university in the United States or a U.S. territory. Standard routes are full-time second-year status in a four-year undergraduate program or full-time third-year status in a five-year undergraduate program. Community college and transfer students may apply while seeking a four-year placement, but NOAA requires proof of application to a four-year institution in the scholarship application and proof of acceptance by September 15 if selected.

The minimum cumulative GPA is 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, or an equivalent on another identified scale. The student must maintain full-time enrollment and the GPA requirement between applying and receiving the award. The major must support NOAA’s programs and mission; NOAA lists examples across natural science, engineering, computing, social science, and teacher education. If the exact degree name is not obvious, use the coursework and academic plans to show the connection rather than relying on the major label alone.

NOAA gives guidance for unusual enrollment cases. A student who was part time during a term may contact [email protected] with documentation of an extenuating circumstance. The FAQ gives examples such as a transfer-related lighter term or illness. Students in dual-degree programs can participate if the institution still classifies them as undergraduates; a transcript classification as a graduate student makes them ineligible. NOAA Pathways student interns are federal employees and cannot receive the Hollings award at the same time. When a situation is not covered clearly, ask the program office before spending time on an application.

What the application requires

NOAA’s current preparation page recommends gathering information before opening the online form. The complete application includes the scholarship application form, essay responses, a transcript from every college or university attended, an official document showing the anticipated graduation date, and two references. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable for the application, although selected scholars must later provide official transcripts. Transfer applicants should include records from each institution and the required proof that they have applied to a four-year institution.

References submit an online evaluation form through a link sent by NOAA after the applicant enters their details. At least one reference must be a professor, visiting professor, or lecturer who taught the applicant at undergraduate level; a graduate teaching assistant who taught the applicant may qualify, with the supervising professor’s contact information. The second reference may be another academic or someone who can speak directly to the applicant’s capabilities and interests, such as a relevant work, internship, volunteer, or competition mentor. Former high-school teachers or coaches, family members, friends, and family friends are not accepted.

The essay prompts are intended to help NOAA understand the applicant as an individual and their motivation. NOAA says applicants should be ready to address their interest in the agency’s mission, the reason for applying, creativity in addressing scientific or community challenges, overcoming difficulties related to academic goals, leadership potential, and the effect the opportunity could have on personal, academic, and career plans. The preparation page also lists awards, honors, research outside routine class laboratories, societies, service, campus roles, paid and unpaid activities, and entrepreneurship among the experiences applicants may report.

How review and selection work

NOAA first performs an administrative check for completeness and eligibility. Only complete eligible files move to scientific merit review. NOAA’s FAQ says three independent panelists review each application and that the Director of NOAA Education makes the final selection. The published scoring weights are specific and useful for planning: essay questions count for 60 points out of 100, references for 20, relevant coursework shown in transcripts for 15, and awards, honors, research, and other activities for 5.

Since essays and references account for 80% of the score, give them early attention. Transcripts still matter: make the relationship between coursework and your academic direction easy to see. Choose references who can describe specific examples of your motivation, creativity, teamwork, independence, leadership, and field knowledge.

NOAA says recipients are typically notified by email in the first week of April and can also check the online account. It reports that roughly 118 awards are made annually depending on congressional appropriations; the 2026 class included 128 scholars. These figures offer context, not a guarantee about the number selected in 2027. NOAA reserves the ability to consider program objectives and distribution across fields, institution types, and geographic locations in final selection.

Timeline and planning backward from the deadline

The live 2027 application is open and closes on January 31, 2027, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. The deadline applies to the application and its supporting materials. NOAA warns that a missing transcript or reference form makes an application incomplete and ineligible, and the program does not review late submissions. Do not treat entering a referee’s name as completion of that referee’s work; the reference must be submitted through the link they receive.

Request references early. NOAA recommends registering them by January 23; both forms must arrive by January 31. Gather transcripts and graduation-date proof, draft essays, and confirm that each reference has received NOAA’s email.

If selected, applicants are notified in April and attend mandatory orientation in Silver Spring near the end of May or beginning of June. Scholars plan their internship during the fall and winter. The 10-week placement takes place after the junior year and ends with a required symposium presentation. Follow the cohort’s instructions for exact dates.

A preparation strategy that makes the evidence easy to review

Start with a one-page eligibility check: citizenship, institution, anticipated bachelor’s completion date, enrollment status, GPA, and major. Compare each item with NOAA’s rules and resolve ambiguous cases with the program office. Transfer applicants should identify their proof of application and set a reminder to provide proof of acceptance by September 15 if selected.

Next, make a simple evidence map for the essay prompts. For each theme, choose one or two examples from a class project, research experience, job, community activity, leadership role, or personal challenge. Include your role, what you did, what changed or what you learned, and why the experience relates to NOAA’s mission. A concise specific example is easier for a reviewer to assess than a general claim such as being passionate, resilient, or a leader. Where your field connection is indirect, explain the bridge through coursework, methods, or the populations and systems you hope to serve.

Brief references with the program link, your resume or activity list, why you are applying, and examples they observed. Explain that NOAA uses a questionnaire and confirm they can provide a favorable, detailed reference before registering them. Give them a clear submission date and verify the form arrives.

Before submitting, check that transcripts cover every institution, names and dates match, graduation-date proof is official, and both reference forms show as submitted. Read the essays once for clarity and direct answers. Submit early enough to verify the portal marks the file complete, and keep copies of uploaded materials.

Common mistakes to avoid

Using class year instead of the graduation window. NOAA’s published 2027 criterion is the anticipated bachelor’s completion date, December 2028 through August 2029. Document it.
Waiting to involve references. Reference forms are separate submissions and late or missing materials can make the application ineligible. NOAA suggests setting them up by January 23.
Selecting a reference who cannot speak to your work. One must meet the undergraduate academic-reference rule, and the second must meet NOAA’s stated criteria. Generic or ineligible endorsements will not fix a missing required reference.
Treating the headline value as unrestricted cash. The maximum combines components with different terms, schedules, and eligibility rules. Budget using the component-specific rules.
Leaving the mission link implicit. Reviewers assess relevance, so connect your coursework and experience to a NOAA problem area in plain language.
Submitting at the last moment. A portal issue or a reference still in progress can jeopardize an otherwise strong file. Complete the components early and confirm their status.

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2027 application open now?

Yes. NOAA lists the 2027 Hollings application as open through January 31, 2027, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Check the official page and portal for updates before submitting.

How much can a scholar receive?

NOAA states a total value of up to $40,000. That includes up to $9,500 per academic year for two years, the 10-week paid internship at $700 per week, and eligible travel and related support. Additional housing allowance terms apply only in qualifying circumstances.

Can I apply from a community college?

Yes, if you meet the program’s other requirements and are applying to transfer to a qualifying four-year program. Include proof of the application with the scholarship file. If selected, you must provide proof of acceptance by September 15.

Does the scholarship guarantee a particular internship?

No. The award includes a NOAA or partner facility internship, but the internship is selected later through the program process. NOAA’s past project examples illustrate the breadth of possibilities rather than promising a specific placement.

Where should I ask questions?

Contact NOAA’s Hollings Scholarship Program staff at [email protected] or call (301) 628-2913. The official NOAA pages below provide the live deadline, application link, eligibility rules, and detailed applicant FAQ.

Official links

The overview page is the best starting point because it reflects the currently announced cycle. Recheck it and the portal as you prepare: deadlines and requirements belong to NOAA, and the official instructions control if they change.