SMART Scholarships

Scholarship Sponsored by Science, Mathematics and Research for Transformation

The Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship-for-Service Program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Defense, is a distinctive educational and career development initiative designed for budding leaders in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The program offers two distinct scholarships: the SMART Scholarship and the Ronald V. Dellums Memorial SMART Scholarship (Dellums SMART Scholarship).

The SMART Scholarship is tailored for students who are currently enrolled in a college or university or have previously earned college credit. Applicants should have a college transcript from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university or will have one by the end of the fall term. This scholarship is also available to those who are pursuing or plan to pursue a graduate degree at a regionally accredited U.S. institution.

On the other hand, the Dellums SMART Scholarship is designed for students who have not yet earned any college credit but plan to pursue a bachelor's degree.

To be eligible for these scholarships, applicants must meet the following criteria:

- Be a citizen of the United States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, or the United Kingdom
- Be 18 years of age or older by January 1, 2027
- Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
- Be currently pursuing, or plan to pursue in fall 2026, a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree in a SMART STEM discipline
- Plan to attend, or be enrolled in, a regionally accredited U.S. college or university
- Be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance
- Request between 1-5 years of degree funding, which will commence in August 2026
- Complete summer internships for awards greater than 1.5 years
- Agree to a one-for-one post-graduation service commitment as a civilian employee of the Department of Defense

Recipients of either scholarship will receive full tuition, annual stipends, health and book allowances, mentorship, and the opportunity to conduct internships at a DoD facility. The first step towards a rewarding civilian career with the DoD is to review the eligibility requirements for both opportunities, starting with the 23 SMART STEM disciplines. These disciplines are broad categories, and specific majors or fields of study may fall under one or more disciplines on this list. All applicants should be pursuing a degree in one of SMART’s 23 STEM disciplines, which include:

- Aerospace and Aeronautical Engineering
- Biomedical Engineering
- Biosciences
- Chemical Engineering
- Chemistry
- Civil Engineering
- Cognitive, Neural, and Behavioral Sciences
- Computer Science and Engineering
- Cybersecurity
- 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

Please note that non-technical degrees, such as those in management, arts, or humanities, are not approved or funded by the SMART program.