U.S. Department of Defense SMART Scholarship-for-Service Program

If you are a student passionate about STEM and want not just scholarships but also guaranteed work experience and career pathways after graduation, the SMART Scholarship-for-Service Program is now open. This opportunity from the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) offers full funding for STEM degrees, internships, mentorship, and a civilian employment commitment. Here’s everything you need to know.

🎓 Scholarship Summary

• Location: United States (DoD sponsoring facilities across the U.S.)

• Host Institution: Any regionally accredited U.S. college or university for the academic portion; work is carried out at DoD civilian facilities.

• Study Level: Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral levels; eligibility also expanded to incoming college freshmen / high school seniors.

• Target Group / Eligible Audience: Citizens of the United States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, or the United Kingdom.

• Award Value & Coverage:

  1. Full tuition and fees.

  2. Annual stipend of $30,000–$46,000 depending on degree level.

  3. Book and health allowances.

  4. Summer internships at DoD facilities.Experienced mentorship.

  5. Guaranteed civilian DoD employment after graduation.

• Award Duration: 1–5 years of degree funding, depending on academic program.

• Application Deadline: December 5, 2025 (3:00 PM CT).

• Start Date: Funding begins in August following the award year.

• Eligible To: Citizens of the U.S. and the other listed allied nations, meeting the academic, age, and clearance requirements.

📚 Fields of Study

The SMART Program supports a wide range of STEM disciplines critical to national defense and technological advancement, including:

• Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering

• Biomedical Engineering

• Biosciences

• Chemical Engineering

• Chemistry

• Civil Engineering

• Cognitive, Neural, and Behavioral Sciences

• Computer Science & Engineering

• Data Science & Analytics

• Electrical Engineering

• Geosciences

• Industrial & Systems Engineering

• Information Sciences

• Materials Science & Engineering

• Mathematics

• Mechanical Engineering

• Naval Architecture & Ocean Engineering

• Nuclear Engineering

• Oceanography

• Operations Research

• Physics

• Software Engineering

🌐 Scholarship Overview

The SMART-Scholarship-for-Service, run by the U.S. Department of Defense under its STEM portfolio, is both a scholarship and a workforce development pipeline. Scholars receive tuition, stipends, internship experience, mentoring, and upon degree completion transition into civilian employment at DoD sponsoring facilities. For each year of degree funding, a scholar commits to one year of DoD civilian service.

The application process opens August 1 each year and closes on the first Friday in December. Evaluation follows in January–March, award notifications in April, and orientations in summer before the academic year begins.

🎁 Benefits of the SMART Program

• Full financial support: tuition, stipends, book and health allowances.

• Paid summer internships at world-class DoD facilities.

• Mentorship from leading scientists and engineers.

• Exposure to cutting-edge research in AI, quantum science, biotechnology, advanced computing, and more.

• Guaranteed civilian DoD employment upon graduation.

✅ Eligibility Criteria

• Must be a citizen of the U.S., UK, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand.

• At least 18 years old by January 1 of the application year.

• GPA ≥ 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

• Enrolled or planning to enroll in one of the SMART-approved STEM disciplines.

• For multi-year awards: able to complete summer internships.

• Commit to one year of post-graduation DoD civilian service per year of funding received.

• Must obtain and maintain security clearance.

✍🏻 Application Procedure

1. When to Apply:

   • Application window: August 1 – first Friday in December (December 5, 2025 for the current cycle).

2. How to Apply:

   • Submit online through the SMART application portal after registration.

3. Documents Required:

   • Official academic transcripts.

   • Personal statements and essays outlining academic and career goals.

   • Letters of recommendation/references.

   • DoD employee supervisor letter (if applicable for retention scholars).

   • Proof of enrollment or admission.

   • Security clearance eligibility documents.

4. Selection Process:

   • Review of academic merit, STEM discipline alignment, and facility needs.

   • Interviews with potential sponsoring facilities.

   • Award notifications in spring.

🔗 Details & Apply

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