NSA Stokes Educational Scholarship Program
The NSA Stokes Educational Scholarship Program pays for tuition and fees and gives you NSA work experience while you're in school, for students majoring in Artificial Intelligence, Computer Science, Computer/Electrical Engineering, Cybersecurity, Data Science, Mathematics, or Chinese Language Analysis. This round is for Summer 2027.
Last verified Sep 23, 2026 · Not affiliated with National Security Agency
The quick version
- When
- Summer 2027 program
- Where
- Nationwide (U.S. citizens)
- Cost
- Free to apply
- Who it's for
- U.S. citizens who are high school seniors or current students in one of the eligible majors, able to obtain a security clearance.
The fine print worth knowing before you go
- 1
There's a real service commitment attached
NSA's own program page says it directly: "By participating in the Stokes Educational Scholarship Program, you agree to work for NSA for at least one-and-one-half times the length of study upon graduation." That means multiple years of required NSA employment after you finish school — plan around that before you apply, not after you're accepted.
- 2
You'll need to be eligible for a security clearance
This isn't just a background check formality. Financial history, past drug use, foreign contacts and other factors can affect clearance eligibility. If you have real concerns here, it's worth researching the clearance process before investing time in the application.
- 3
Citizenship is required, not just residency
NSA's page states plainly: "You must be a U.S. citizen." This program isn't open to permanent residents or other non-citizens.
What to bring
- Proof of U.S. citizenship
- Transcripts and standardized test scores
- A declared or intended major in one of the eligible fields
A paid scholarship-and-employment program for students in STEM and language-analysis majors. It comes with a real catch worth knowing before you apply: a required period of NSA employment after graduation.
The Fine Print is not affiliated with National Security Agency. This page is research to help you prepare, not legal or financial advice. Details can change, so confirm everything with the official source before you rely on it.
Sources
Last verified Sep 23, 2026. See something out of date? Tell us.