2026 United States Government SMART Scholarship

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). SMART provides merit-based scholarships to bachelor's, master's, and doctoral students pursuing STEM degrees. In 2023, eligibility was expanded to include incoming college freshmen with no prior college credit, extending the opportunity to high school seniors.

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.

• Table of Content
• About United States Government Department of Defense
• Postgraduate and Undergraduate
• Aim and Benefits of Postgraduate and Undergraduate
• Postgraduate and Undergraduate Courses
• Requirements for Postgraduate and Undergraduate Qualification
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

Postgraduate and Undergraduate

Aim and Benefits of Postgraduate and Undergraduate

SMART Scholarship recipients receive full tuition, annual stipends, mentorship, health and book allowances, and conduct summer internships at a DoD facility before embarking on a DoD civilian career after graduation. The first step to a rewarding STEM career is reviewing the eligibility requirements, starting with the SMART STEM disciplines. These disciplines are general categories – specific majors or fields of study may fall under one or more disciplines on this list. All scholarship applicants should be pursuing, or intend to pursue, a degree in one of these 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

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

Postgraduate and Undergraduate Courses

• STEM

Requirements for Postgraduate and Undergraduate Qualification

• Be a citizen of the United States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, or United Kingdom
• Be 18 years of age or older by January 1, 2027
• 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

Application Deadline

How to Apply

For more information, kindly visit SMART scholarship webpage.