SMART Bachelor STEM Scholarship 2026 – Full Tuition + $30,000 Stipend

Scholarship Description

The Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship-for-Service Program is a prestigious, fully funded scholarship funded by the U.S. Department of War (DoW). It 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. Eligibility was recently expanded to include incoming college freshmen with no prior college credit, extending the opportunity to high school seniors. SMART Scholarship recipients receive full tuition, annual stipends, mentorship, health and book allowances, and conduct summer internships at a DoW facility before embarking on a DoW civilian career after graduation.

Scholarship Location

The scholarship is tenable at regionally accredited U.S. colleges and universities. Summer internships are conducted at Department of War facilities across the United States.

Scholarship Deadline

The SMART Scholarship application opens annually on August 1 and closes on the first Friday in December. For the 2026 cycle (funding begins August 2027), the deadline is December 4, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. EST.

Host Institution

U.S. Department of War (DoW) – The SMART Scholarship-for-Service Program is funded by the Department of War and administered in partnership with colleges and universities across the United States. Scholars complete internships at DoW facilities and transition into civilian careers with the Department after graduation.

Level and Fields of Study

Level: Bachelor's degree (also available for master's and doctoral students).

Eligible STEM Disciplines: All applicants must be pursuing, or intend to pursue, a degree in one of the SMART STEM disciplines. Specific majors may fall under one or more 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

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

Target Group

The scholarship is open to citizens of the United States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, or the United Kingdom. It targets incoming college freshmen, current college students, and high school seniors who are pursuing a bachelor's degree in a STEM field.

Scholarship Duration & Amount

Duration: Between 1 and 5 years of degree funding, depending on the length of the degree program.

Scholarship benefits include:

• Full tuition – full tuition coverage for a minimum of one year and up to five years at any regionally accredited U.S. college or university. There is no cap on tuition assistance.
• Annual stipend – $30,000 per year for bachelor's degree students.
• Book allowance – $1,000 per year to cover miscellaneous school expenses such as books, technology, or other school supplies.
• Health allowance – $2,500 per year to offset health-related costs.
• Paid summer internships – 8 to 12-week internships at a DoW Sponsoring Facility, providing hands-on, real-world experience.
• Experienced mentor – paired with experienced scientists, engineers, or researchers at Sponsoring Facilities who provide educational and professional mentorship.
• Guaranteed DoW civilian employment – after graduation, SMART scholars begin meaningful civilian careers with the Department of War.

Scholarship Eligibility

Essential criteria for 2026:

• Citizenship: Must be a citizen of the United States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, or United Kingdom.
• Age: Must be 18 years of age or older by January 1, 2028.
• GPA: Must have and maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
• Enrollment: Must be currently pursuing, or intend to pursue, education in Fall 2027.
• Institution: Must be planning to attend, or enrolled in, a regionally accredited U.S. college or university.
• Security clearance: Must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance (initiated by the Sponsoring Facility after award).
• Funding duration: Must be requesting between 1–5 years of degree funding (funding begins August 2027).
• Internships: Must complete summer internships for awards greater than 1.5 years.
• Service commitment: Must accept a one-for-one post-graduation service commitment as a civilian employee of the Department of War.

Application Procedure

1. Review eligibility – Confirm you meet all citizenship, age, GPA, and enrollment requirements. Explore the SMART STEM disciplines to ensure your major is eligible.
2. Register on the SMART portal – Complete the registration page to confirm your eligibility and receive access to the Application Portal. After registering, you'll receive an email with instructions for setting up your account.
3. Prepare required materials – Gather supporting documents, including transcripts, reference forms, and any other required materials. Supporting materials, such as reference forms, must also be submitted by the deadline.
4. Complete the online application – Every part of the application must be completed for the Submit Application button to appear. Track your progress using the progress bar and checklist.
5. Submit before the deadline – Submit your application by 5:00 p.m. EST on the first Friday in December (December 4, 2026). Late applications or reference submissions will not be accepted.
6. Await notification – Applicants are typically notified of award decisions in the spring. Selected students will start their cohort in May or June 2027.

Important notes: You can save an in-progress application and return later to update it. If you've already submitted and need to make changes, you can reopen it,but make sure to re-submit it before the deadline.

Official Website & Application Link

SMART Scholarship – Official Application Page

SMART Scholarship Website: https://www.smartscholarship.org