The NOAA Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship, run by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, pays up to $9,500 a year for two years plus a paid 10-week summer internship at a NOAA facility. It is for U.S. citizens in their second year of a four-year degree who are interested in ocean, atmospheric and environmental science. Applications for the 2027 award close January 31, 2027, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.
The facts below come from NOAA’s Hollings Scholarship page and its applicant FAQ.
Who is eligible for the Hollings Scholarship
NOAA’s FAQ lists these requirements:
- Citizenship: “Be a U.S. citizen.” Permanent residents are not included.
- Year: “a full-time 2nd year student in a four-year undergraduate program” or “a full-time 3rd year student in a five-year undergraduate program.”
- School: an accredited college or university in the U.S. or U.S. territories. Community college students who plan to transfer must show proof of application to a four-year school.
- GPA: “Earn and maintain a minimum cumulative 3.0 grade point average (GPA) on a 4.0 scale.”
- Major: a declared major in a field related to NOAA’s mission. NOAA’s list is not limited to the sciences it names.
- Graduation date: for the 2027 cycle, your expected bachelor’s graduation must fall between December 2028 and August 2029.
Part-time students with an extenuating circumstance can write to [email protected] before applying.
What the award pays
| Part of the award | Detail |
|---|---|
| Academic assistance | Up to $9,500 per year for two years of full-time study |
| Summer internship | 10 weeks, full-time, at a NOAA facility, between the first and second award years |
| Internship pay | $700 per week |
| Housing | Subsidy for scholars who do not live at home during the internship |
| Travel | Funds for the mandatory orientation and the annual Science and Education Symposium |
NOAA says more than 120 undergraduates a year receive the award. At the symposium, scholars present the research they did in their internship. Across two years plus the internship, the published maximums add up to $19,000 in academic assistance and $7,000 in internship pay.
How selection works
A complete application has five parts, according to the FAQ:
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- The scholarship application form.
- Answers to the essay questions.
- College transcripts from every school you attended. Unofficial transcripts are accepted.
- An official document showing your expected graduation date.
- Two references. The first must be academic. The second may be academic or someone who can speak to your abilities and interests related to the scholarship.
Without an academic reference and a second qualifying reference, NOAA treats the application as ineligible. Reviewers score the file, and NOAA posts reviewer comments in your online account in early April.
Deadlines and timeline
| Step | 2027 award |
|---|---|
| Application and supporting materials due | January 31, 2027, 11:59 p.m. ET |
| Recipients notified by email | First week of April 2027 |
| Reviewer comments available | First week of April 2027 |
| Internship | Summer between the first and second award years |
How to make a strong Hollings application
- Confirm your graduation window first. The December 2028 to August 2029 range is the most common reason a sophomore is or is not eligible this cycle. Get the official document from your registrar early.
- Line up an academic reference. One academic reference is required, and missing it makes the application ineligible. A professor who taught you in a science course is the safest choice.
- Connect your interests to NOAA’s work. The internship is at a NOAA facility, so show which part of the agency’s ocean, weather, climate or coastal work you want to learn.
- Plan for the summer. The internship is full-time for 10 weeks. Make sure other summer plans will not conflict.
- Read your reviewer comments if you miss. NOAA posts them in April, which helps if you are a five-year student with a second chance.
Similar programs to consider
Sophomores aiming at research careers can apply to the Goldwater Scholarship in the same year. Environmental students should compare the Udall Scholarship, and later the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship for graduate school. See merit vs need-based aid for how awards like this fit your aid package, and search our scholarship finder.
Hollings Scholarship questions
Can permanent residents apply?
No. NOAA’s FAQ requires U.S. citizenship.
Do I have to be a science major?
You need a declared major in a discipline related to NOAA’s mission. NOAA says its list of majors is “not limited to” the fields it names.
Is the internship paid?
Yes. It pays $700 a week for 10 weeks, with a housing subsidy if you live away from home.
When will I find out?
NOAA emails selected recipients in the first week of April.