Lockheed Martin Stem Scholarship
Before you spend hours on this
Will this scholarship actually lower your cost?
Not always. Many colleges reduce your financial-aid package when you win an outside scholarship — sometimes dollar-for-dollar — so the money can end up saving the school instead of you. It's called scholarship displacement. Two free tools tell you where you actually stand:
General guidance, not financial advice — your school's financial aid office is the only authority on how they treat outside awards. Always confirm with them before deciding.
Best fit for
STEM-bound seniors interested in aerospace, defense, cybersecurity, or engineering. Particularly strong fit if you're considering Lockheed's preferred-partner universities (Texas A&M, Georgia Tech, Penn State, Purdue, Virginia Tech, etc.).
What they actually look for
Lockheed pays $10,000/yr renewable for 4 years ($40,000 total) + paid summer internship at Lockheed offers for selected scholars. This is genuinely one of the best STEM scholarships in the country — recipients enter Lockheed's hiring pipeline directly. About 200 winners/yr across the program (more accessible odds than Regeneron-level competitions). For kids interested in defense, aerospace, or cyber, the internship+ROI is exceptional.
What you'll need
- US citizen (Lockheed has citizenship requirements due to defense work pipeline)
- High school senior planning to study STEM (engineering, computer science, physics, math, cybersecurity, etc.)
- GPA 3.5+ + demonstrated leadership in STEM coursework / clubs / competitions
- Demonstrated financial need (Lockheed considers need + merit)
- Multiple essays on STEM journey, goals, leadership
- Two recommendations
When to start
Application opens October of senior year, closes mid-January. Award notifications in April-May. Summer internships at Lockheed begin June of college freshman year for selected scholars.
Watch out for
Lockheed requires US citizenship at application + for the summer internship pipeline — green card holders or DACA recipients are NOT eligible for the internship component (the scholarship-only portion may still apply but check current rules). Also: the renewal requires you to maintain 3.5+ GPA in college — Lockheed audits annually.