National Security Agency

Stokes Educational Scholarship Program

ListedScholarship

Award: Up to $30,000 per academic year tuition/mandatory fees; starting annual salary $35,749, benefits, summer housing/travel for eligible students over 75 miles away. Maintain 2.75 GPA freshman year and 3.0 each later semester/quarter; summer work at least 12 weeks.
Deadline: Both current STEM and Language online postings close October 23, 2026. STEM supporting documents must be emailed by end of day October 28, 2026. Postings may close early.
How to apply: Submit the appropriate NSA online job application and complete email packet to StokesHiring@uwe.nsa.gov. STEM packet: resume, two recommendations, one-page NSA-career essay, official/unofficial high-school transcript with GPA/class rank, SAT/ACT results; email by October 28 after online submission by October 23. Language packet: resume, two recommendations including a language teacher, official transcript, AP/IB or biliteracy proof if awarded, one-page world-language-career essay. Optional federal narrative responses require applicant-authored words and no AI/consultant assistance.
What you'll need: A separate scholarship application
Who can apply: U.S. citizens who are high-school seniors eligible for NSA security clearance; full-college-scholarship recipients and dual-enrolled students who will earn an AA degree are excluded. STEM: leadership, SAT 1200 with 600 Reading/Writing and 600 Math or ACT 25; 3.0 GPA preferred. CS/data/computer/electrical engineering require physics or calculus plus two technical courses; mathematics requires physics and calculus plus two technical courses; cybersecurity requires three years of cybersecurity/CS. Language posting mentions Chinese/Farsi but application instructions specify three years of Chinese, requiring sponsor confirmation for Farsi.
Good to know: Current postings recovered in rendered browser. After graduation, NSA service equals 1.5 times supported study length; leaving before completion requires repayment of tuition and mandatory fees. Year-specific requirements supersede the generic overview. Language scope conflict remains; STEM terms are readable. Additional optional federal narratives forbid AI-generated drafting.
Details: U.S. citizens onlySTEMMath

Official sources

Partly verified

Last checked Oct 1, 2026. Confirm current dates and rules on the official page before applying.

Current official STEM and Language job postings loaded in browser, linked by NSA. Current postings confirm up to $30,000/year, $35,749 starting annual salary, 12-week summer employment, 2.75 freshman/3.0 later continuation GPA and service/repayment terms. Both current postings explicitly open Sept 1, 2026 and close Oct 23, 2026. STEM supporting documents due end of day Oct 28. Two-part online plus email packets now readable; STEM and language essay and recommendation requirements differ. New full-scholarship and dual-enrolled AA exclusions and STEM course prerequisites verified. Language posting conflicts internally: responsibilities/qualifications include Chinese or Farsi, but application instructions require Chinese coursework and planned Chinese.

Language posting is internally inconsistent about Farsi eligibility: responsibilities/qualifications include Chinese or Farsi, but application instructions require Chinese study and three years of Chinese. Confirm language track before applying.

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