Navy Nuclear Surface Officer
$30,000 signing bonus + $5,782/month starting now. No military duties during school.
Most Triangle-area engineering students are juggling part-time jobs, stressing about loans, and wondering what comes after graduation. If that's you, and/or you want to start building wealth right now just to go to class, then keep reading.
The Navy Nuclear Propulsion Officer Candidate (NUPOC) Program pays you like a professional before you even have your degree. From the moment you're accepted, you earn $5,782+ per month plus a $30,000 signing bonus while you're still in school. No weekend shifts at the library. No summer scrambling for rent money. No ROTC duties cutting into your schedule.
You'll focus on your classes, take that competitive internship, lead student organizations, and actually enjoy college. Your future's already secured.
Interested in graduate school? We'll keep paying you through your master's - same $5,782/month, no additional commitment beyond the standard 5 years after graduation. Your peers are taking on more debt for their MS. You're getting paid to earn yours.
Your college years count as military service. You enlist as an E-6 and earn time-based pay raises (annually on January 1 and based on how long you have been in the program) while taking exams.
Every month builds toward your retirement, and you get 5% matching on your TSP (military 401k). Full medical and dental coverage included—no premiums, no student health plan fees. Your classmates are accumulating debt. You're accumulating service credit and retirement savings.
Spots for this year's juniors and seniors are filled. That's exactly why smart freshmen and sophomores are securing their position now. The earlier you join, the more you earn—a freshman who signs now can bank over $300,000 by graduation.
After graduation, you'll commission as a Navy officer leading one of the most technically elite teams in the military.
As a SWO-Nuke you will start on destroyers learning tactics and navigation, then move to aircraft carriers overseeing nuclear propulsion systems. You're powering floating cities.
At 23 years old you'll have responsibilities most people never touch. Managing nuclear reactors. Commanding warships. Leading sailors in high-stakes missions. You'll graduate debt-free with money in the bank and step into a role starting over $100K annually.
After your 5-year commitment, companies like McKinsey, Google, and SpaceX actively recruit former navy nuclear officers.
Who we're looking for:
- U.S. citizen
- will be 19-31 years old when you graduate from college
- STEM major (engineering, physics, math, chemistry, CS, etc.). Taking or will take Calculus I & II and Physics I & II (calculus-based).
- 3.1+ GPA.
- Motivated to lead and serve America
If you're a freshman or sophomore, this is your window. Study hard and make good grades. Once you are at least enrolled in the last required course (typically calculus-based physics 2) you can start your application, maximize your earnings through college (the earlier you join the sooner you start getting paid), and secure your post-graduation career before your peers even start thinking about it.
Next step: Take a no-obligation, all-expenses-paid trip to San Diego. Tour a submarine, destroyer, and aircraft carrier. See what this life actually looks like. Most students come back more excited. Some realize it's not for them. Either way, you'll know.