All You Need to Know about the DoD SMART Scholarship Program

Are you passionate about a college education and a future career in STEM? Would you love to use your knowledge, experience, and talent to serve your country? The SMART-Scholarship-for-Service from the Department of Defense may just be the opportunity you are looking for. This prestigious scholarship program not only provides a full-ride scholarship to a participating university, but it also guarantees a civilian job with the Department of Defense (DoD) upon graduation. For every year that SMART Scholars receive education funding, they must complete one year of service at a DoD facility after graduation. Upon graduation, SMART Scholars receive competitive pay and benefits. Once their service requirement is up, SMART Scholars have the option to pursue a career elsewhere or remain with the DoD. According to the SMART Scholarship Program, an astonishing 77% of Scholars remain with the DoD.

Eligibility for the SMART Scholarship Program

To be considered for the SMART Scholarship Program, applicants must meet the following requirements: • Citizen of the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Canada or the United Kingdom. • 18 years of age or older as of program start date (August 1, 2025). • Committed to at least one summer internship at a DoD facility. • Committed to employment with DoD after graduation. • Minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale with good standing at their institution. • Requesting at least 1.5 years of degree funding prior to graduation (which starts at the program start date). Additionally, undergraduate applicants must be currently enrolled in an accredited U.S. college or university as well as hold a high school diploma/GED. Current high school students must wait until they are enrolled in college to apply. Graduate students must also be currently enrolled in an accredited U.S. college or university, or be awaiting notification of admission. Those who are waiting for an admission decision must be making plans to attend graduate school during the fall 2026 term. Finally, students must be studying one of the STEM-specified disciplines. Majors applicable for the DoD SMART Scholarship program include: • Aeronautical and Astronautical 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

How to Apply for a SMART Scholarship

Applying for a SMART Scholarship is just like applying for any other opportunity, although the application itself is quite extensive. The deadline for applications is 5 p.m. on the first Friday of December. The SMART Scholarship application requires that students complete the following forms: • Privacy Act Statement • Application Instructions • Program Materials • About Me • Proposed Award Details • Personal Statement • My Experiences The application can be completed over the course of multiple sessions, and a progress tracker will be available once you begin. Completed sections will be identified with a check mark on the home page. Additionally, students must submit two references. Those will be input by your references directly. Once they have been submitted, your entire application will be reviewed. Note that you can submit your portion of the application before the references have been completed; however, your references need to submit their letters before the time and date listed as the deadline. Applications are reviewed and ranked within each STEM discipline. In February, applicants receive a notification of whether or not they are a semi-finalist. Again, applications are reviewed to determine all of the finalists for that particular year. In April, students are notified if they have been selected for the SMART Scholarship Program.

SMART Scholarship

Deadline: 12/5/25 Available to: College and Graduate Students Award Amount: Full tuition + stipend The SMART Scholarship is available to currently enrolled college and graduate students. You must be pursuing a technical degree in one of the 24 STEM disciplines, have a minimum GPA of 3.0, and be able to participate in summer internships and be willing to accept post-graduate employment at the DoD to be considered for this award. Applicants must also be at least 18 years of age and be a resident of the United States, Canada, New Zealand, or the United Kingdom.

Planning for a SMART Scholarship

Students can use the SMART Scholarship at regionally accredited schools across the country. They must attend school full-time; however, there are a few caveats. If a student wishes to participate in an internship or research fieldwork opportunity that takes place off campus, they must obtain written approval from the SMART Program. They must also remain officially enrolled in their institution, earn academic credit toward their degree through the internship or fieldwork, and not be paid. In the event that a student wishes to study abroad, they must also obtain written approval from the SMART program. To study abroad, the program must meet the following requirements: • Curriculum must directly contribute to completion of degree requirements. • Participation must not interfere with graduation end time and post-graduate employment start time. • Must not interfere with the participant’s ability to complete the DoD internship as well as post-graduation employment. • Must maintain full-time enrollment status throughout the study abroad term. • Tuition for study abroad must be paid directly to the U.S. institution at which the scholar is already receiving funds. • Must not affect the scholar’s eligibility to maintain the security clearance required for the DoD internship in addition to post-graduation service requirements. Students hoping to pay for college with a SMART Scholarship must dedicate time and effort to researching and planning for their future. In addition to selecting their career path, students must also plan for outside internships or study abroad opportunities – or be willing to be flexible and work around some of the restrictions of the SMART Scholarship Program.

Benefits for SMART Scholarship Program Winners

The SMART Scholarship Program is one of the most prestigious in the country. Recipients of this award are taken care of during their undergraduate or graduate years. Here are just a few of the benefits: • Full tuition in addition to room and board. • Stipend of $30,000 – 46,000 a year, depending on degree level. • Summer internship experiences for 8 – 12 weeks. • Health insurance of up to $2,500 per year. • Miscellaneous allowance of up to $1,000 per year. • Experienced mentor at one of the Sponsoring Facilities. • Employment at a DoD facility upon graduation. The SMART Scholarship isn’t just a full ride scholarship to help students pay for school, it gives them a start toward an unparalleled experience as soon as they graduate. SMART Scholars engage in groundbreaking discoveries and explorations as civilian employees within the DoD. If this sounds like the perfect opportunity for you, apply now.