NASA internships for high school students is one of the most-searched phrases that leads to a disappointing discovery: NASA's actual internship program requires college enrollment, not a high school ID. This guide covers what's genuinely open to high schoolers, the two real NASA-affiliated programs worth knowing about, and why the main pipeline doesn't apply to you yet.
Does NASA Actually Offer Internships to High Schoolers?
Not through the program most searches assume. NASA's main internship pipeline, OSTEM, officially requires current college enrollment. Two separate, NASA-affiliated programs exist specifically for high schoolers instead.
| Program | Who's Eligible | Reach |
|---|---|---|
| NASA OSTEM Internships | Current college students only | National, but not for high schoolers |
| NASA SEES | Rising HS juniors and seniors, 16+ by July 1, US citizens | National |
| Texas High School Aerospace Scholars | Texas high school juniors, Texas residents | Texas only |
If you're not eligible for either SEES or the Texas program, that doesn't mean NASA-adjacent research is closed off. It means the path runs through a self-directed project instead of a formal internship title.
NASA SEES: The Real National High School Option
NASA SEES program, STEM Enhancement in Earth Science, is run by the University of Texas at Austin's Center for Space Research in partnership with NASA. It's open nationally, not restricted to Texas, to current high school sophomores and juniors who will be rising juniors or seniors, are 16 by July 1, and are US citizens.
NASA sees acceptance rate: in 2024, SEES received roughly 2,000 applications and accepted 215, a rate around 11 percent for that specific cycle. Interns work directly with NASA and academic mission data across fields including aerospace, astronomy, planetary science, and remote sensing, and receive a joint NASA and UT Center for Space Research certificate on completion.
Texas High School Aerospace Scholars (HAS)
NASA High School Aerospace Scholars is a separate, official NASA program built specifically for Texas high school juniors. Any Texas-based school counts, public, private, charter, or homeschool, but the residency requirement is strict: students outside Texas aren't eligible.
The program runs a full year, including a virtual summer experience, and covers space exploration topics spanning Earth science through aeronautics. If you're a Texas junior, this is worth applying to alongside SEES rather than instead of it, since the two aren't mutually exclusive.
Why NASA's Main Internship Program (OSTEM) Isn't Open to High Schoolers
NASA OSTEM internship eligibility is built around the federal Pathways internship structure, which specifically requires being a full-time or part-time college student. This is why a search for "NASA internships for high school students" often leads to third-party guide articles claiming broad grades 9-12 eligibility that doesn't match NASA's own published requirements.
This isn't a loophole or a technicality. It's a structural fact about how NASA's main internship pipeline is built, and it's worth knowing before spending time preparing an application for a program you're not currently eligible for.
How to Apply to NASA SEES
- Confirm your grade and age eligibility first. You need to be a current sophomore or junior, 16 by July 1.
- Review the specific application components, which include academic records, a written application, an introduction video, and a recommendation form.
- Start early. With roughly 2,000 applicants competing for around 215 spots, a rushed application is a real disadvantage.
- Be specific about your STEM interest in the application materials, rather than general enthusiasm for space.
- Apply to Texas HAS as well if you're Texas-based, since the two programs don't overlap in eligibility or format.
If SEES or HAS don't fit your situation, our guide to high school STEM internship programs covers a broader set of technical paths.
Common Mistakes Students Make
Applying to NASA's general internship portal expecting high school eligibility. OSTEM requires college enrollment, so this application effort is wasted before it starts.
Assuming SEES is Texas-only because it's run through a Texas university. SEES is nationally open, unlike Texas HAS, which genuinely is restricted to Texas residents.
Treating a rejection from SEES as the end of a space-science interest. A self-directed research project in a related field is a real alternative. Our guide to how to start a research project in high school covers that process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does NASA offer internships to high school students?
Not through its main internship pipeline, OSTEM, which officially requires current college enrollment. What's actually open to high schoolers is NASA SEES, a nationally available program run through the University of Texas at Austin, and Texas High School Aerospace Scholars, a Texas-residents-only program.
What is NASA SEES?
SEES, STEM Enhancement in Earth Science, is a nationally competitive summer program for high school sophomores and juniors, run by UT Austin's Center for Space Research in partnership with NASA. Interns work with NASA and academic mission data across fields like aerospace, astronomy, and remote sensing.
How selective is NASA SEES?
Very. In 2024, SEES received approximately 2,000 applications and accepted 215, a roughly 11 percent acceptance rate for that specific year. Treat that figure as historical, not a guarantee, since it can shift year to year.
What is Texas High School Aerospace Scholars?
A NASA-affiliated, year-long program specifically for Texas high school juniors, including a virtual summer experience, focused on space exploration, Earth science, technology, and aeronautics. It's open only to Texas residents attending a Texas-based school, including homeschool.
Why doesn't NASA's main internship program accept high schoolers?
NASA's OSTEM internship program, applied to through intern.nasa.gov, officially requires being a full-time or part-time college student. It's built around the Pathways federal internship structure, which targets current college students and recent graduates, not current high schoolers.
Is NASA SEES the same as a NASA internship?
It's NASA-affiliated but run through the University of Texas at Austin's Center for Space Research, not directly through NASA's OSTEM pipeline. Interns work with real NASA and academic mission data and receive a certificate from NASA and UT Center for Space Research jointly.
Can high schoolers work at NASA in any capacity?
Not through a paid, direct NASA internship, since that requires college enrollment. SEES and Texas HAS are the two verified NASA-affiliated pathways for current high schoolers, along with occasional NASA-run outreach programs that shift year to year.
What should you do if you don't qualify for SEES or live outside Texas?
A self-directed research project in a space-adjacent field, like astronomy data analysis or remote sensing, is a real alternative that doesn't depend on either program's specific eligibility window.
The Bottom Line
NASA internships for high school students don't run through NASA's main internship program, whatever a search result might suggest. NASA SEES and Texas High School Aerospace Scholars are the two real, verified NASA-affiliated options, and knowing that upfront saves you from preparing an application for a program you were never eligible for.
If neither program fits your grade, location, or timeline, the Aspire Research Fellowship pairs you with a PhD-level mentor and a recent ISEF champion over 12 weeks to build an original research project on your own terms. Over 20,000 students have gone through the program, with an acceptance rate of roughly 10%, open to grades 8 through 11.
Apply to the Aspire Research Fellowship →
For another selective, research-focused program worth comparing, see our guide to Stanford medical school research opportunities for high schoolers.