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The Naval Research Enterprise Internship Program (NREIP) is a 10-week, paid summer research internship for undergraduate and graduate students, run by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) and hosted at participating Navy laboratories. Stipends are fixed by tier: $7,500 for new undergraduates, $9,000 for returning undergraduates and $11,500 for graduate students. This guide sets out what the two official pages say, where their wording differs, and how NREIP sits beside other Department of Defense student programs. Everything below is as described on the official pages on 2026-10-29; programs change, so confirm current terms on the application site.
What it is and who runs it
NREIP is a research internship in which students work under a research mentor at a participating Navy laboratory. ONR’s program page describes it as a 10-week internship for undergraduate and graduate students. The Naval STEM interns site, where students apply, adds that an internship can be extended by up to four additional weeks. Stipends are paid bi-weekly (by direct deposit, per the application site), and the ONR page places payment between May and August.
It is best understood as a funded research-training mechanism: the Navy pays the student directly, the student is placed with a lab mentor, and the host lab decides who receives an offer. That makes it closer to a summer research fellowship than to a general job posting. For the wider landscape of summer research placements, see our guide to summer undergraduate research experiences.
Eligibility (summary, with the official source)
The ONR program page and the Naval STEM interns NREIP page both state eligibility, and they are not worded identically.
| Criterion | ONR program page | Naval STEM interns NREIP page |
|---|---|---|
| Citizenship | U.S. citizen; permanent residents considered at some labs | U.S. citizenship required; some labs make exceptions for permanent residents and dual citizens |
| Class level | Sophomore, junior, senior or graduate students | Rising sophomores or equivalent; must be on track to complete freshman year by the start of the internship |
| Enrollment | Enrolled at a participating university | Enrolled full-time at an accredited four-year college or university |
| Graduation timing | Not stated | Students graduating the spring semester before the internship or later; winter graduates are not eligible |
| Majors | All majors relevant to the research interests of the laboratories | Interest in subjects relevant to at least one participating lab’s research |
| GPA | No minimum stated | No minimum stated |
The one real discrepancy is class level. The ONR page begins at sophomore, while the application site admits rising sophomores, meaning first-year students who will finish freshman year before the internship starts. Because the application site is where students actually submit, treat its wording as the operative one and check it again before applying.
Selection, according to ONR, is based on academic achievement, personal statements, recommendations, and career and research interests.
What it funds or requires
NREIP funds a stipend for the 10 weeks, not tuition. Both official pages give the same three tiers, and the tier definitions matter because they decide which number applies to you.
| Tier | Total stipend | Condition stated on the official pages |
|---|---|---|
| New undergraduate | $7,500 | ONR: a minimum of 31 credits by the end of the spring semester |
| Returning undergraduate | $9,000 | Must have completed a full 10-week program in a prior year |
| Graduate student | $11,500 | Currently in graduate school and taking graduate school courses |
In plain terms, the returning tier is earned by finishing a previous NREIP summer, not by being a later-year undergraduate. A graduate-tier stipend depends on being enrolled in graduate coursework, not merely on holding a bachelor’s degree. The official pages do not state a service obligation for NREIP.
Application or compliance steps
The application site lays out five steps:
- Students research and choose their preferred labs.
- Apply by the deadline, through the online application at navalsteminterns.us/internships.
- Labs review applications and make their decisions.
- Award and non-award letters are sent out.
- Interns get ready for the internship.
Step 1 is the one that shapes everything after it. Applications go to individual laboratories, so the lab choices you make are part of the application, and the labs, not a central committee, make the decisions in step 3. The official pages do not list required application documents beyond the personal statements and recommendations that ONR names among its selection criteria.
Typical timeline phases
The phases run in sequence: an autumn application window, a lab review period, award or non-award letters in winter, and an internship the following summer. For the summer 2027 cycle, the application site describes enrollment opening on September 15, 2026 and closing November 30, and states that award and non-award letters go out between January and March. ONR’s page likewise describes applications as open through November 30 for the summer 2027 program. Dates move from year to year, so read them from the application site rather than from this guide.
Common mistakes
- Applying without reading class-level wording on the application site, then assuming the ONR page’s “sophomore” floor excludes first-year students (or the reverse).
- Assuming the returning-undergraduate stipend applies to any continuing student; the official condition is a completed full 10-week program in a prior year.
- Treating the program as a single central selection; labs review applications and decide.
- Assuming winter graduation is allowed; the application site says winter graduates are not eligible.
- Stacking assumptions from a different program (see the table below) onto NREIP.
Related programs
NREIP is one of several Navy and Department of Defense student programs. The table below states only what each official page says.
| Program | Level | What the official page says |
|---|---|---|
| NREIP | Undergraduate and graduate | 10-week paid internship at a participating Navy lab; stipend tiers $7,500, $9,000 and $11,500 |
| SMART Scholarship-for-Service | Undergraduate and graduate STEM | DoD program to grow the civilian scientist and engineer workforce at DoD labs; U.S. citizen, 18 or older, GPA of at least 3.0; participants must be willing to accept post-graduate DoD employment; no simultaneous major award, defined as other scholarships, fellowships or grants over $5,000 per academic year |
| NDSEG Fellowship | Doctoral, at or near the start of graduate study | Joint Army, Navy and Air Force fellowship; 36 months; full tuition and required fees paid; U.S. citizens or nationals; full-time Ph.D. enrollment |
The contrast is the point. NREIP is a short placement with no stated service obligation, SMART trades funding for a DoD employment commitment, and NDSEG is a multi-year doctoral fellowship. Our guide to the NDSEG Fellowship covers that award in depth, and undergraduate research award programs compares funding routes outside the Navy. For a campus-run equivalent, see the dictionary entry for SURF (Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship).
FAQ
Is NREIP paid?
Yes. Both official pages list a stipend by tier: $7,500 for new undergraduates, $9,000 for returning undergraduates and $11,500 for graduate students, paid bi-weekly.
How long is the internship?
Ten weeks, with a possible extension of up to four additional weeks according to the application site.
Who can apply?
U.S. citizens enrolled at a participating or accredited four-year institution, from rising sophomore (per the application site) or sophomore (per ONR) through graduate level, in a major relevant to a lab’s research. Some labs consider permanent residents.
Is there a GPA requirement?
Neither official page states a minimum GPA. ONR says selection weighs academic achievement, personal statements, recommendations, and career and research interests.
What counts as a returning undergraduate?
A student who completed a full 10-week program in a prior year.
Is NREIP the same as SMART or NDSEG?
No. They are separate DoD-linked programs with different levels, funding and obligations; see the related programs table above.
Sources
- Office of Naval Research, NREIP program page: onr.navy.mil, NREIP Naval Internship (checked 2026-10-29).
- Naval STEM interns, NREIP page: navalsteminterns.us/internships/nreip (checked 2026-10-29).
- Office of Naval Research, SMART page: onr.navy.mil, SMART (checked 2026-10-29).
- Office of Naval Research, NDSEG page: onr.navy.mil, NDSEG Graduate Fellowship (checked 2026-10-29).
