CIA Undergraduate Scholarship Program

Scholarship Sponsored by Central Intelligence Agency

The Stokes Undergraduate Scholarship Program is an internship and financial needs-based scholarship to help undergraduates acquire CIA mission-critical skills while completing their degree program.

• Internship
• Starting salary: $36,145 - $48,155
• At least 18 years of age by 15 September of this year

Agency-wide Requirements

All applicants must be:

• U.S. citizens (dual U.S. citizens also eligible)
• At least 18 years of age
• Willing to move to the Washington, DC area
• Able to complete security and medical evaluations
• Registered for the Selective Service

About the Job

As a Stokes Scholar for CIA, you will be exposed to real intelligence challenges while performing meaningful work that relates to your college major.

An IT major, for example, might be given increasingly complex projects involving sophisticated computer systems. An engineering major might help produce a piece of state-of-the-art equipment. A finance major could be involved in developing and analyzing budgets for a worldwide operation, while a foreign language major might be instrumental in translating documents for U.S. policymakers. An international relations major might brief a senior policymaker, and, as a final example, a human resources major could have the opportunity to develop and implement personnel policies and procedures.

Who You’ll Work With

At the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), we recognize our Nation’s strength comes from the diversity of its people. People from a broad range of backgrounds and viewpoints work at CIA, and our diverse teams are the reason we can keep our country safe.

Read more about diversity and inclusion

What You’ll Get

If selected as a scholarship recipient, you will receive a wide array of benefits, including:

• Tuition assistance up to $18,000 per calendar year for tuition, mandatory fees and books; STEM field positions receive tuition up to $25,000 per calendar year.
• Partial lodging reimbursement
• Daily allowance for meals and incidentals during summer tours
• Reimbursement for transportation costs between school and Washington, DC
• Annual salary
• Health insurance
• Federal retirement
• Paid time off, as well as sick and holiday leave
• Guaranteed employment post-graduation. After graduation, all scholarship recipients must work at the CIA for a period of 1.5 years per year of paid scholarship received.

As a CIA employee, you’ll also get the satisfaction of knowing your work is part of something bigger than yourself. Our work is driven by one mission: to keep our Nation safe. Every day is an opportunity to enhance U.S. national security.

Minimum Qualifications

• Financial need as demonstrated by the adjusted gross annual household income (AGI) ceiling up to $120,000
• If the applicant has not been listed as a dependent for the previous tax year, the gross annual income (AGI) ceiling is up to $50,000.
• Acceptance to an accredited 4-year college/university; or pursuing undergraduate degree as a full-time student and enrolled in or planning to take at least 12 credits per semester
• At least 18 years of age by September 15th of this year
• At least a 3.0 GPA on a 4-point scale
• Ability to work two 90-day tours is the preference; however, one 90-day tour is the minimum requirement
• After graduation, all scholarship recipients must work at the CIA for a period of 1.5 years per year of paid scholarship received.
• Ability to meet the minimum requirements for joining CIA, including U.S. citizenship and a background investigation

Desired Qualifications

• Academic excellence in core subjects relating to college major or desired major
• Relevant practical or job experience in your field of interest
• Demonstrated leadership qualities
• Genuine interest in contributing to CIA's mission
• Proficiency in a foreign language. Languages of interest are listed on our Foreign Language page.