Air Force Research Laboratory Scholars ProgramAFRL Scholars

AFRL Scholars at a Glance

Host

Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), administered by the Universities Space Research Association (USRA)

Field

Research areas across the Air Force Research Laboratory; applicants apply to specific topics

Grades and age

Upper-level high school students and college students; at least 16 by the session application deadline, or 18 for California locations; enrolled at least half time in the semester before the internship. A GPA of 3.0 or higher is highly encouraged, but a lower GPA does not disqualify an applicant.

Citizenship and residency

US citizens only; permanent residents and non-citizens cannot apply. Applicants must pass a background check, potentially resulting in a Secret security clearance or higher.

Cost

Paid: high school students generally receive $506.80 a week (GS-1). At Edwards Air Force Base in California, rates follow Los Angeles locality pay: $874.62 a week for high school students, plus $269 a week for living costs and a one-time $1,129 travel payment.

Dates and format

Full time over the summer, 40 hours a week, for at least eight weeks, with up to one week of leave; scholars must be willing to relocate temporarily and arrange their own daily transportation to the base. Sites are in many states, including Edwards Air Force Base and SSC-CGN in San Diego in California. At the end, scholars write a technical report and present their research at the mentor's discretion.

Application dates

Applications for summer 2027 open October 12, 2026 and close January 11, 2027 at 23:59:59 Central; deadlines for some sites or topics may differ. Selections are made within four to six weeks after the application closes.

Application materials

Online application in AFRL Connect, choosing up to three topics per site; a resume; and unofficial transcripts from all schools attended. A recommendation letter is not required, but AFRL recommends at least one to be competitive. Uploaded documents must have personally identifiable information blacked out.

Size and selectivity

AFRL does not publish the number of applicants, the number selected or an acceptance rate. Mentors rank applicants on STEM experience, STEM courses, GPA, resume and recommendation letters, and offers also depend on available funding.

Verified against official pages on 2026-10-06 · afrlscholars.usra.edu/scholarsprogram

How to Apply to AFRL Scholars

• California sites require applicants to be 18 by the application deadline. High school students under 18 can apply only to sites in other states and must be able to relocate there temporarily.
• A recommendation letter is optional, but AFRL says including one improves your chances during ranking. Ask at least one science teacher and confirm the letter is in before the deadline.
• Choose up to three topics per site, only at your own education level. Black out your date of birth and other personal information on transcripts before uploading them.