Stokes Educational Scholarship Program

Responsibilities

As a participant in the Stokes Educational Scholarship Program ' Language, you will attend college full-time at an accredited institution of your choice within the United States and work at NSA for a minimum of 12 weeks each summer in assignments related to your course of study in Chinese or Farsi language. In return, selected participants are required to work at NSA after college graduation in a foreign language position related to Chinese or Farsi for a period equal to one and one-half times the length of their scholarship support. Participants who leave NSA employment before fulfilling this service commitment will be required to repay the government for tuition and mandatory educational fees received through the program. Students accepted into the program must maintain: ' A minimum 2.75 GPA on a 4.0 scale during the freshman year ' A minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale each semester/quarter after the freshman year

Location

Fort George G. Meade Complex, MD

Compensation & Benefits

Pay Plan: GG, Grade: 02/1 to 02/10

Open: 2026-09-01, Close: 2026-09-30

$35,749 annually (GG 2, Step 1)

Students whose school is located more than 75 miles from NSA may also be eligible for housing and travel benefits during summer employment at NSA.

Job Summary

The National Security Agency (NSA) is currently accepting applications nationwide for the Stokes Educational Scholarship Program ' Language. This tuition assistance program is designed for high school seniors who plan to pursue Chinese or Farsi language studies as part of their college degree program. This program offers an exceptional opportunity to gain valuable experience in foreign language-related work across the Agency while earning an annual salary. Selected participants may receive up to $30,000 per academic year toward tuition and mandatory educational fees. Students whose school is located more than 75 miles from NSA may also be eligible for housing and travel benefits during summer employment at NSA. As a participant in the Stokes Educational Scholarship Program ' Language, you will attend college full-time at an accredited institution of your choice within the United States and work at NSA for a minimum of 12 weeks each summer in assignments related to your course of study in Chinese or Farsi language.

Qualifications

• Applicants who have a full college scholarship are not eligible for the Stokes Program.
• Students who are dually enrolled and will earn an AA degree are also not eligible for this program. Those students are encouraged to apply to the Cooperative Ad or the Summer Internship Ad instead.
• 'U.S. citizenship'
• 'Preferred GPA of 3.0 or above on a 4.0 scale'
• 'Demonstrated aptitude for learning foreign languages'
• 'High school transcripts must reflect a minimum of three years of coursework in a world language (Chinese or Farsi)'
• 'Seal of Biliteracy, as recognized by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL)'
• 'Scores from ACTFL'
• 'Scores from the National Examinations in World Languages (NEWL)'
• 'Results from other relevant language assessments'

Basic Requirements for High School Seniors Applicants must meet the following criteria:

Disclaimer and Equal Opportunity

NSA is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable employment laws and regulations. All applicants and employees are subject to random drug testing in accordance with Executive Order 12564. Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a security background investigation and polygraph. NSA is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants with disabilities during the application and hiring process.

DCIPS Disclaimer

• VETERANS AND TRANSITIONING SERVICE MEMBERS** Thank you for your service The National Security Agency (NSA) is part of the Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS). All positions at NSA are in the Excepted Service under Title 10, United States Codes (U.S.C.), Section 1601 appointment authority. Veterans' Preference In accordance with the procedures provided in DoD Instruction 1400.25, Volume 2005, "DoD Civilian Personnel Management System: Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System Employment and Placement," NSA applies veterans' preference, as defined by Section 2108 of Title 5, U.S.C., to eligible candidates. If you are claiming veterans' preference, you are required to provide acceptable documentation of your preference eligibility upon application. Acceptable documentation includes: - DD-214: "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty," which shows dates of service and discharge under honorable conditions (Copy 4); OR - Certification of Service: A written document on letterhead from the appropriate branch of the armed forces that certifies