SMART Scholarships

Scholarship Sponsored by Science, Mathematics and Research for Transformation

The Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship-for-Service Program, funded by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), is a unique education and workforce development opportunity for aspiring leaders in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The SMART Scholarship Program offers two scholarship opportunities, the SMART Scholarship and the Ronald V. Dellums Memorial SMART Scholarship (Dellums SMART Scholarship).

The SMART Scholarship is for students currently enrolled at a college or university or with previous college credit. Applicants should already possess a college transcript from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university or will have a college transcript by the end of the fall term. The SMART Scholarship is also open to those pursuing or who will be pursuing a graduate degree at a regionally accredited U.S. institution.

The Dellums SMART Scholarship is for students with no previous college credit who intend to pursue a bachelor's degree.

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

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, non-technical degrees, including management, arts, or humanities, are not approved or funded by SMART.

SMART Application Instructions

Applying for a STEM scholarship? You've come to the right place. This is everything you need to know about the Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship-For-Service Program Application Process.

The SMART Scholarship-for-Service Program offers two STEM scholarship opportunities for students – the SMART Scholarship and the Ronald V. Dellums Memorial SMART Scholarship (Dellums SMART Scholarship). Applicants who are currently enrolled in a college or university or can produce a college transcript may be eligible for the SMART Scholarship. High school and other applicants who cannot produce a college transcript may be eligible for the Dellums SMART Scholarship. To learn more about the eligibility and STEM discipline requirements, visit the Eligibility page. To learn more about the SMART Scholarship, visit About SMART, to learn more about the Dellums SMART Scholarship visit the About Dellums. Get started by exploring the SMART Videos page for application tips and overviews.

The SMART Program accepts applications annually from August to December. All applicants are required to submit applications online by 5:00 p.m. EST on the first Friday in December. Supporting materials, such as references forms, must be received by the application deadline. Late applications and references will not be accepted. Traditionally, applicants are notified of their award in the spring. Application materials are not returned to applicants. The following information may be useful in planning and preparing your application packet.