Applications are now open for the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency’s Summer 2027 College Internship in the Contracts Career Field, a paid federal opportunity for eligible U.S. college and university students. The internship places selected students inside NGA’s contracting environment, where they can gain exposure to how the agency plans acquisitions, evaluates proposals, negotiates agreements, and administers contracts.
Key facts
- The application window opened Aug. 31, 2026, and closes Sept. 30, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. EDT.
- Vacancies are listed in Springfield, Virginia, and St. Louis, Missouri.
- The role is not telework eligible and relocation expenses are not reimbursed.
- Applicants must be U.S. citizens, at least 18, enrolled part-time or more at an accredited college or university, and have an anticipated graduation date of October 2027 or later.
- NGA requires a minimum 3.0 GPA, proof of current enrollment, and use of the NGA resume builder with a two-page resume.
What does this internship mean for students?
For students interested in procurement, supply chain management, finance, business administration, public administration, law, or related fields, this internship offers direct exposure to federal acquisition work inside a national-security agency. The program is aimed at students who want practical experience with the full lifecycle of U.S. government buying and contract management.
Applicants should also plan around the program’s security and location requirements. NGA says selected candidates must be able to obtain and retain Top Secret/SCI access, may be subject to a Counterintelligence Polygraph and drug testing, and must work at the assigned NGA location rather than remotely. Because relocation costs are not reimbursed, students outside the listed areas may need to account for housing and transportation expenses.
- Who can apply: U.S. citizens age 18 or older who are currently enrolled part-time or more in an accredited two-year, four-year, graduate, or postgraduate program.
- Academic threshold: Applicants need at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA.
- Timing: The expected graduation date must be October 2027 or later.
- Documents: Applicants must submit proof of current enrollment and a recent transcript, or an enrollment letter for some freshmen cases.
- Application format: NGA requires its resume builder and a two-page resume.
What work would interns do?
The Contracts Career Field is designed to expose interns to how NGA acquires the supplies and services it needs to carry out its mission. That can include acquisition planning, development of acquisition strategies, vendor proposal evaluation, contract negotiation and award, and post-award contract administration.
NGA says the experience is relevant to students who want to understand government procurement from the inside. The posting also points to experience explaining basic artificial intelligence concepts or technologies used for routine tasks as one of the qualifications, suggesting that applicants who can clearly describe AI-related coursework or tools may have an advantage in showing fit.
Where are the internships located?
The vacancies are listed in two places: Springfield, Virginia, and St. Louis, Missouri. The announcement says there is one vacancy in each location, and the work is not telework eligible.
Because the internship is tied to a physical NGA site, students should think through commuting or temporary living arrangements before applying. NGA also lists relocation expenses as not reimbursed, which makes location planning especially important for applicants who do not already live nearby.
How should applicants prepare?
NGA says applicants need to demonstrate clear verbal communication and experience identifying and gathering information to solve routine problems. The announcement advises candidates to use concrete examples from classes, projects, jobs, volunteer work, internships, or student organizations rather than broad claims about skills.
Students should also make sure their application materials match the vacancy instructions. The posting says proof of current enrollment must be uploaded, and the resume must be created with NGA’s resume builder and limited to two pages. For candidates who qualify, the most important practical step is to complete the application before the Sept. 30, 2026 deadline.
What security conditions apply?
Yes. The internship is tied to work in a sensitive national-security setting, so selected students must be able to obtain and retain Top Secret/SCI access. The posting also says designated or random drug testing is required and that selected candidates may face a Counterintelligence Polygraph.
Those conditions mean the internship is more than a typical summer placement. Students who apply should be prepared for a federal hiring process that includes security screening and continued eligibility requirements during service.
