The intial university application window will be open from July 1, 2026 through August 17, 2026.
University Benefits
- Enhanced Recruiting and Retention: Partnering with a high-profile federal agency like NOAA helps institutions attract prospective students who are interested in unique and impactful career paths. By providing a clear and prestigious career pipeline into the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps, universities can see a measurable increase in both program enrollment and graduation retention rates.
- College Credit for Summer Internship: This program will provide for an opportunity for selected students to participate in a summer internship at the NOAA Aircraft Operations Center that can culminate in credit earned towards a degree.
- Access to Expertise: The partnership grants the university access to NOAA’s cadre of experts, facilitating a deeper collaboration between the university and the agency. NOAA will provide personnel and aircraft support for university events, to include career fairs, recruiting events and participation in guest-speaking roles for aviation-related activities.
University Eligibility
- Certifications and Licensing: Institutions must be accredited by the Aviation Accreditation Board International and operate FAA-certified flight training programs.
- STEM Integration: Institutions should provide students opportunities to earn at least 48 semester credit hours (or 72 quarter) hours in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) coursework, with a preferred major related to NOAA's scientific or technical missions.
- Avionics Training: Institutions should provide flight training on aircraft with advanced avionics, such as Electronic Flight Instrument Systems and Flight Management Systems.
- Student Body Size and Performance Metrics: To ensure a continuous pipeline of high-caliber candidates, universities will be evaluated on the size and composition of their aviation student body, alongside established performance metrics for program graduation. Institutions must demonstrate a strong track record of student success, high graduation rates, and a robust enrollment pool that ensures access to top-tier aviation talent capable of meeting the rigorous demands of NOAA Corps flight operations.
- Simulator Access: Institutions should demonstrate current or planned future access to advanced flight simulators and avionics systems replicating the NOAA Corps operational platforms (including Beechcraft King Air 350CER, De Havilland Twin Otter, Gulfstream IV, or Lockheed P-3 Orion), or the ability to modify existing simulators to replicate NOAA Corps operational platforms.
- NOAA Partnership: Institutions should share evidence of existing or past collaborations with NOAA or NOAA-affiliated organizations to demonstrate alignment with NOAA’s mission and values.
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Geographic Location: Institutions should be located in a geographic area that experiences a wide variation in climate-related activity, including frequent high winds, convective activity, periods of low visibility, heat, and snow and ice episodes, to provide opportunities for pilots to demonstrate skill in all weather conditions compatible with future encounters during their service in the commissioned officer in the NOAA Corps.
To learn more about this program, please view our NOAA Cooperative Aviation Center Manual and visit our frequently asked questions page.
United States