Deadline:
December 01, 2024
Location(s)
United States of America
Overview
The Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship-for-Service Program, funded by the Department of Defense (DoD), is a combined educational and workforce development opportunity for STEM students. The SMART Scholarship-for-Service Program enhances the DoD civilian workforce with innovative scientists, engineers and researchers across the United States.
Details
The SMART Program, part of the Department of Defense (DoD) science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) portfolio, provides STEM students with the tools needed to pursue higher education and begin a rewarding career with the DoD. With a full scholarship, students pursuing STEM degrees will be able to focus on complex research to further the DoD's mission and create a lasting impact. Summer internships are performed at DoD facilities alongside scientists and engineers; these experiences prepare scholars for full-time employment and get them accustomed to working with the DoD. SMART is a one-for-one commitment; for every year of degree funding, the scholar commits to working for a year with the DoD as a civilian employee.
The DoD civilian workforce is responsible for solving our Nation's most complex challenges by developing the next generation of defense technologies. Click the flyer for more information about the DoD civilian employee benefits.
The DoD employs a comprehensive approach to develop STEM talent with K-12, postsecondary, and workforce STEM education and talent development efforts, known as DoD STEM. The DoD is committed to developing the Nation's STEM talent and is the largest employer of federal scientists and engineers with nearly 150,000 civilian STEM employees working across the Department. DoD STEM activities support this mission by providing authentic learning experiences through a variety of education and outreach initiatives, such as the SMART Scholarship-for-Service Program.
- Mission: Inspire, cultivate, and develop exceptional STEM talent through a continuum of opportunities to enrich our current and future DoD workforce poised to tackle evolving defense technological challenges.
- Vision: A diverse and sustainable STEM talent pool ready to serve our Nation and extend the DoD's competitive edge.
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.
The SMART scholarship application window opens August through December every year. All applicants are required to submit applications online by December 1 at 5:00 PM EST. Supporting materials, such as references letters, must be received by December 1 at 5:00 PM EST. 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.
Important Information to Know Before Applying
Applicants need to complete the registration page to ensure eligibility and receive access to the Application Portal. Upon registration, applicants will be sent an email with information on how to login and start the application. Once an account is created, applicants will be directed to the SMART Application Portal. Before logging in, please carefully read the Account Authentication Set Up instructions.
Every task in the portal must be complete for the submit button to appear; you can track your progress with the progress bar at the top of the page. The portal contains materials to assist you in completing the application and is a way for you to monitor the status of your application.
Opportunity is About
Eligibility
Candidates should be from:
Description of Ideal Candidate
Who can apply?
The SMART application is open August through December of every year, with awards being granted the following spring.
All applicants 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, 2024
- requesting at least 1 year of degree funding prior to graduation (which starts at the program start date),
- able to complete at least one summer internship (multi-year scholars only)
- willing to accept post-graduation employment with the DoD,
- a student in good standing with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale,
- pursuing a technical undergraduate or graduate degree in one of the 21 STEM disciplines listed below,
- able to produce a fall 2024 college transcript from a regionally accredited US college or university, OR be pursuing a graduate degree at a regionally accredited US college or university.
Active duty military members who wish to apply for the SMART Scholarship must be separated or on terminal leave on or before August 1, 2024 to be eligible. Reserve and National Guard members are eligible to apply. Current ROTC participants with a future service commitment are not eligible to apply.
What kind of STEM?
The program focuses on students pursuing disciplines that are critical to national security functions of the Department of Defense (DoD). The following is a list of SMART’s 21 approved STEM disciplines. These disciplines are general umbrella disciplines – specific applicant majors or fields of study may fall under one or more discipline on this list.
Please note, non-technical degrees, including management, arts, or humanities, are not approved or funded by SMART.
- Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering
- Biosciences
- Biomedical Engineering
- Chemical Engineering
- Chemistry
- Civil Engineering
- Cognitive, Neural, and Behavioral Sciences
- Computer and Computational Sciences and Computer Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- Environmental Sciences
- 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
What you need to know:
Scholarships are awarded for a minimum of 1 year and a maximum of 5 years of funding, depending on degree requirements. SMART is a one-for-one commitment; for every year of degree funding, the scholar commits to working for a year with the DoD as a civilian employee.
Undergraduate applicants
- Must be currently enrolled at a regionally accredited U.S. college or university
- Must be able to produce a fall 2024 (or earlier) college transcript at the end of the term
- AP coursework is not considered college credit
Graduate applicants
- Can be either currently enrolled in a regionally accredited U.S. college or university or awaiting notification of admission
- If awaiting admission, you must be accepted for entrance in the fall 2024 term
Dates
Deadline: December 01, 2024
Cost/funding for participants
AWARD DETAILS
How much are the cash stipends?
- Cash stipends are paid at a rate of $25,000 - $38,000 per year depending on degree level.
Is there a cap on tuition funded through SMART?
- No. If awarded, SMART will fund the total cost of full-time tuition at any regionally accredited U.S. college or university.
How will the stipend funding be paid?
- Recruitment scholars: receive payments as a direct deposit every month through Scholarship America.
- Retention scholars: receive stipend payments through their employing facility’s payroll systems. Payment logistics are coordinated by SMART Program and Sponsoring Facility in accordance with program requirements.
How is tuition paid?
- Tuition and related educational fees will be paid directly to your university by Scholarship America. Upon acceptance of the award, scholars are provided with a sponsor letter to send to their university bursar’s office with information about tuition payments and invoicing.
Taxation of Awards
- Scholarship America must report all stipend, internship support, health insurance and book allowance payments made to recruitment scholars under the SMART Scholarship Program. At year end, Scholarship America will provide scholars and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) with the informational Form 1099-MISC recording the amount paid to the scholar during the tax year. Scholarship America does not withhold taxes from scholar payments. Under current laws and regulations, scholars are responsible for submitting quarterly estimates of income taxes to the IRS and paying the amounts due. Scholars may have a similar liability with respect to state and/or local taxes depending upon the state and/or locality where the scholar resides.
- You are considered an independent contractor, and not self-employed, and are not employed by either the United States Government or Scholarship America. If you have further tax questions, please contact the IRS, as Scholarship America is prohibited from giving tax advice.
Un-save Opportunity
Internships, scholarships, student conferences and competitions.
