About
As part of the DoD STEM portfolio, the SMART Scholarship Program provides STEM students with the tools needed to pursue higher education and begin a fulfilling civilian career with the DoD. SMART Scholarship recipients receive full tuition to any regionally accredited U.S. college or university, annual stipends that range from $30,000 to $46,000, impactful summer internships at DoD facilities, and civilian employment after graduation. The application period opens annually on August 1 and closes the first Friday in December.
SMART applicants should be pursuing a degree in one of the SMART STEM disciplines:
- Aerospace and Aeronautical Engineering
- Biomedical Engineering
- Biosciences
- Chemical Engineering
- Chemistry
- Civil Engineering
- Cognitive, Neural, and Behavioral Sciences
- Computer Science and Engineering
- Data Science and Analytics
- Electrical Engineering
- Geosciences
- Industrial and Systems Engineering
- Information Sciences
- Materials Science and Engineering
- Mathematics
- Mechanical Engineering
- Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering
- Nuclear Engineering
- Oceanography
- Operations Research
- Physics
- Software Engineering
Eligibility
SMART Scholarship applicants must:
- Be a citizen of the United States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, or United Kingdom
- Have and maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
- Be currently pursuing, or intend to pursue in fall 2026, a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree in a SMART STEM discipline*
- Planning to attend, or enrolled in, a regionally accredited U.S. college or university
- Able to obtain and maintain a security clearance**
- Be requesting between 1-5 years of degree funding. Degree funding will start in August 2026
- Complete summer internships for awards greater than 1.5 years
- Accept a one-for-one post-graduation service commitment as a civilian employee of the Department of Defense
*High school seniors and incoming college freshmen who will be pursuing a bachelor’s degree in fall 2026 are eligible to apply.
**Security clearances are initiated by a scholar’s Sponsoring Facility after award.
Awards
Full tuition, annual stipends, internships, and guaranteed civilian employment with the Department of Defense after graduation.