EPP/MSI Undergraduate Scholarship
Scholarship Sponsored by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Status and key dates
- Application status: OPEN.
- Applications for the Hollings undergraduate scholarships will close on January 31, 2026.
- Applications for the 2026 Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship will open on October 1.
- There will not be a 2026 class of the José E. Serrano Educational Partnership Program with Minority Serving Institutions (EPP) Undergraduate Scholarship due to current budget uncertainty.
Important notice about the federal closure
The federal government is currently closed. The Undergraduate Scholarship Programs Application (USPA) online portal remains accessible, so applicants may continue preparing and submitting materials. NOAA staff cannot answer emails or other inquiries until the government reopens. If a prolonged federal shutdown occurs, NOAA may consider extending the application deadline.
What the Hollings Scholarship provides (up to $40,000), including:
- $9,500 annual academic stipend for two years (applied during junior and senior years)
- A paid, full-time 10-week NOAA summer internship
- Support for travel and for presenting internship research at scientific conferences
About the program
The Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship awards $9,500 per year for two years of full-time undergraduate study and places recipients in a paid, 10-week summer internship at any NOAA facility in the United States. The award also covers travel and conference expenses so scholars can present their summer research at up to two national scientific meetings. Many Hollings alumni have later taken full-time positions at NOAA or pursued careers in government, academia, and the private sector.
In April 2025, the NOAA Office of Education selected 130 Hollings scholars representing 85 campuses across 33 states, Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, and Washington, D.C. There was no EPP undergraduate scholar class in 2025.
Who is eligible
Applicants must:
- Be a U.S. citizen.
- Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
- Be majoring in fields aligned with NOAA’s mission (examples include engineering, meteorology, biological sciences, physical sciences, social sciences, and other NOAA-relevant disciplines).
- Be enrolled full-time in one of the following categories:
- A second-year student in a four-year undergraduate program,
- A student in a two-year community college program who intends to transfer to a four-year program,
- A third-year student in a five-year undergraduate program.
Where to find more details and how to apply
For the complete list of eligibility requirements, application instructions, deadlines, and answers to common questions, please consult the Hollings and EPP scholarship FAQ pages on the NOAA Office of Education website.