The scholarships at a glance

Application status: OPEN.

Applications for the EPP/MSI and Hollings undergraduate scholarships are open September 1, 2024, through January 31, 2025!

The opportunities are open to undergraduate sophomores or third year students in a five year program and include paid NOAA internships and academic scholarships. Applications for the 2025 Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship and José E. Serrano Educational Partnership Program with Minority Serving Institutions (EPP/MSI) Undergraduate Scholarship are open annually September through January.

Apply to the EPP/MSI and Hollings scholarships

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EPP/MSI and Hollings undergraduate scholars complete 10-week summer internship projects that span NOAA's mission. (Image credit: NOAA Office of Education)
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The scholarships at a glance

Hollings Scholarship

Up to $40,000, including:
  • $9,500 stipend per year for junior and senior year
  • A 10-week paid NOAA internship
  • Funds for travel and conference participation

Eligibility:

  • U.S. citizen
  • 3.0 minimum GPA
  • Major in NOAA mission fields, including STEM and social science

EPP/MSI Undergraduate Scholarship

Up to $45,000, including:
  • $9,500 stipend per year for junior and senior year
  • Two 10-week paid NOAA internships
  • Funds for travel and conference participation

Eligibility

  • Attend a minority serving institution (MSI)
  • U.S. citizen or U.S. national
  • 3.2 minimum GPA
  • Major in NOAA mission fields, including STEM and social science

About the scholarships

These prestigious scholarships provide students with an academic award of $9,500 per year for two years of full-time study. The Hollings Scholarship provides a 10-week, full time, paid summer internship opportunity at any NOAA facility nationwide. The EPP/MSI Undergraduate Scholarship offers two paid summer internships, one in a NOAA office in the Silver Spring, Maryland, metro area, and one at any NOAA facility nationwide. All scholars also receive funding to present their summer internship research at two national scientific conferences.

Helpful links
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Webinar: EPP/MSI and Hollings undergraduate scholarships

Happening October 9, 2024, at 2 p.m. ET. Register today to learn more about the scholarships!

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So, you want to be a NOAA scholar? 15 tips for applicants

Advice from a few of reviewers on what makes a great application.

In April of 2024, the NOAA Office of Education selected 130 Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholars and 15 EPP/MSI Undergraduate Scholars, hailing from a total of 90 different campuses in 36 U.S. states, Puerto Rico, and Washington, D.C. Next year's class, the class of 2025, will be the 21st class of Hollings scholars and the 25th class of EPP/MSI undergraduate scholars. Many scholarship alumni have gone on to work full-time at NOAA, while others have worked in areas of the government, in academia, or in the private sector.

Eligibility

Both scholarships are available to undergraduate students studying engineering, meteorology, biological sciences, social sciences, physical science, and other NOAA mission-relevant disciplines. To apply to the Hollings scholarship, students must be attending an accredited college or university within the U.S. or U.S. territories. To apply to the EPP/MSI undergraduate scholarship, the institution must be a minority serving institution. Eligible students must be currently enrolled full time as either:

  • Second year students in a four-year academic program.
  • Students in a two-year academic program at a community college with plans to transfer to a four-year academic program.
  • Third year students in a five-year undergraduate program. 

For a full list of eligibility requirements, or for more information and to apply, please visit the frequently asked questions for the Hollings and EPP/MSI scholarship websites.

Apply to the EPP/MSI and Hollings scholarships

Read about present and past scholar experiences

Still wondering if these scholarships are for you? Take a look at the scholar blog to read scholars' posts about their internships, and the Hollings news and EPP/MSI news pages to find more stories that share the internship experience. 

Read updates from our alumni describing where they are now in our story catching up with NOAA scholars or read about EPP/MSI alumni working at NOAA today.