Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Defense, the Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarships for Service Program provide support to outstanding undergraduate, master’s degree, and doctoral students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields.
Each SMART scholarship provides full tuition and related educational expenses at the recipient’s institution, a stipend of between $25,000 and $41,000 per year, depending on the recipient’s previous educational experience, health insurance, a book allowance, summer internships, and post-graduate career opportunities.
Upon graduation, SMART scholars are placed in civilian jobs at Department of Defense laboratories and agencies—this post-degree service commitment is commensurate with the length of an individual’s scholarship award period.
Eligibility
All candidates must be:
- a citizen of the United States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, or United Kingdom at time of application,
- 18 years of age or older as of August 1
- able to complete at least one summer internships at a DoD facility,
- willing to accept post-graduate employment with the DoD,
- a student in good standing with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
- requesting at least 1.5 years of degree funding prior to graduation (which starts at the program start date)
- pursuing a technical undergraduate or graduate degree in one of the disciplines listed on the About SMART page.
In addition:
Scholarships are awarded for a minimum of 1.5 years and a maximum of 5 years of funding.
Undergraduate applicants must be currently enrolled in a regionally accredited U.S. college or university and have a high school diploma/GED. Current high school students are not eligible to apply.
Graduate applicants can be either currently enrolled in a regionally accredited U.S. college or university or awaiting notification of admission to such. If awaiting admission, you must be accepted for entrance in the fall term.
*Students who are currently freshman or enrolled in a First Year Associate’s Program must report an ACT or SAT Reasoning Test Score. Subject tests are not required. In addition, individuals who apply during their Freshman/First Year must obtain a minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale during the fall academic term of their Freshman/First Year. Freshman/First Year Associate's Program applicants will be required to submit an official transcript reflecting their fall academic term grades to establish compliance with this requirement.
Graduate applicants must have taken the GRE and test scores must be reportable by ETS. Subject tests are not required.
Applicants MUST be pursuing a technical degree in one of the 21 STEM disciplines. SMART will not fund any management or non-technical degrees.