The SMART Scholarship 2027 in the USA is a merit-based STEM scholarship-for-service program that supports undergraduate and graduate students pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
The Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship provides full tuition, an annual stipend, summer internship opportunities, mentoring, and a pathway to civilian employment with the U.S. Department of War after graduation.
The program allows eligible students to receive between one and five years of degree funding, depending on their degree program and approved award length. Funding for the 2027 award cycle begins in August 2027.
In return for the scholarship support, recipients agree to complete a civilian service commitment after graduation, generally at a rate of one year of service for each year of SMART-funded education.
The SMART Scholarship is designed to connect STEM education with research, technology development, internships, and long-term careers within participating Department of War facilities.
Degree Level
The SMART Scholarship 2027 is available for:
- Bachelor’s degree
- Master’s degree
- Doctoral degree
High school seniors and incoming college freshmen planning to begin an eligible bachelor’s degree in Fall 2027 may also apply if they meet the program requirements.
Available Subjects
Applicants must pursue a degree in an approved SMART STEM discipline. The current disciplines include:
- 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
Specific majors may fall under one or more of these broader SMART STEM disciplines, so applicants should verify that their intended degree is eligible before applying.
Benefits
Successful SMART Scholars can receive a comprehensive financial and professional support package, including:
- Full tuition at a regionally accredited U.S. college or university.
- Annual stipend ranging from approximately $30,000 to $46,000, depending on the applicable award and degree level.
- Book allowance.
- Health allowance.
- Paid summer internships for applicable multi-year awards.
- Mentorship from experienced STEM professionals.
- Access to participating Department of War sponsoring facilities.
- Opportunities for research, innovation, and professional development.
- Civilian employment with the Department of War after graduation.
The official SMART materials state that awards may provide between one and five years of degree funding. The exact award length is determined as part of the scholar’s award agreement.
Is the SMART Scholarship Fully Funded?
- The SMART Scholarship provides full tuition and a substantial annual stipend, along with additional educational and professional benefits. It is therefore commonly described as a fully funded STEM scholarship.
- However, SMART is a scholarship-for-service program rather than a conventional no-obligation scholarship. Recipients must accept a civilian employment commitment after graduation based on the length of SMART-sponsored degree funding.
Eligible Nationalities
The current 2027 eligibility information lists citizens of the following countries as eligible:
- United States
- Australia
- Canada
- New Zealand
- United Kingdom
Applicants must meet the applicable citizenship requirement at the time of application.
Therefore, the SMART Scholarship is not an open scholarship for applicants from all countries. For example, Pakistani citizens who do not also hold citizenship of an eligible country should not consider this program an eligible scholarship opportunity.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants for the SMART Scholarship 2027 must generally meet the following requirements:
- Be a citizen of the United States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, or the United Kingdom.
- Be at least 18 years old by January 1 following the award.
- Have and maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
- Be currently pursuing, or intend to pursue in Fall 2027, an eligible bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral STEM degree.
- Plan to attend, or already be enrolled in, a regionally accredited U.S. college or university.
- Be able to obtain and maintain the security clearance required by the sponsoring facility.
- Request between one and five years of degree funding.
- Complete required summer internships for applicable awards.
- Accept the required post-graduation civilian employment commitment.
High school seniors and incoming college freshmen pursuing an eligible bachelor’s degree in Fall 2027 can also apply.
Security Clearance Requirement:
- SMART Scholars must be able to obtain and maintain the security clearance required by their sponsoring facility. The sponsoring facility initiates the security-clearance process after the scholar receives the award.
- Applicants should understand that maintaining the required security eligibility is an important condition of participation. Failure to obtain or maintain the required clearance can affect continued participation in the SMART Program.
Service Commitment:
- The SMART Scholarship is a scholarship-for-service program. Recipients agree to work as civilian employees of the Department of War after completing their SMART-funded education.
- The service commitment generally corresponds to the length of SMART-sponsored degree funding. For example, one academic year of funded education creates a one-year civilian service commitment. Award lengths can range from one to five years depending on the degree and approved funding period.
- Students should carefully consider this requirement before accepting the scholarship.
Application Procedure
Applicants can apply online through the official SMART Scholarship application system.
Step 1: Check Eligibility
- Review the citizenship, GPA, age, degree, STEM discipline, university, security clearance, and service requirements before beginning the application.
Step 2: Register for the Application
- The SMART application cycle opens annually on August 1.
- Applicants should create their account through the official SMART application portal and complete the eligibility process.
Step 3: Complete the Application
- Applicants should provide their personal, academic, educational, and career information through the online application.
Step 4: Upload Required Materials
- Applicants should prepare the required academic records, résumé, and other information requested through the application system.
Step 5: Provide References
- Applicants should ensure that required reference forms are submitted through the application system before the deadline.
Step 6: Review and Submit
- Review every section carefully and submit the completed application before the official deadline. Applicants should also make sure that any required references or supporting materials have been received by SMART.
Required Documents:
Applicants should be prepared to provide information and materials such as:
- Academic transcripts
- Current GPA
- Résumé
- Educational history
- Degree and university information
- STEM field information
- References
- Personal statement and application responses
- Citizenship information
- Academic and career information
- Other supporting information requested through the official application portal
Applicants should follow the current application portal instructions because required materials can vary according to applicant circumstances.
Application Deadline:
The deadline for the SMART Scholarship 2027 is December 4, 2026, at 5:00 PM Eastern Time. The application cycle opened on August 1, 2026, and funding for successful applicants begins in August 2027.
Applicants should submit all required application components before the deadline rather than waiting until the final hours.
Scholarship Duration:
SMART funding can range from 1 to 5 years, depending on the degree level and approved award length.
The current program procedures specify:
- Bachelor’s: up to 5 years
- Master’s: up to 3 years
- Dual BS/MS: up to 5 years
- PhD: up to 5 years
A follow-on SMART award requires a new application and selection and is not automatically guaranteed.
Summer Internships:
- Summer internships are an important part of the SMART Scholarship experience. Scholars with applicable multi-year awards complete internships at participating Department of War sponsoring facilities.
- These internships allow students to gain practical experience while working alongside STEM professionals and learning about research and technology projects.
- The internship requirement is connected to the scholarship-for-service structure and should be considered before accepting an award.
Career Opportunities:
- SMART connects scholarship recipients with participating Department of War facilities and provides a pathway from STEM education into civilian federal employment.
- Scholars can gain experience in areas such as engineering, computer science, data science, materials science, physics, mathematics, and other approved STEM fields. The program also provides mentoring and professional development opportunities during the scholarship period.
Important Points:
The SMART Scholarship is different from an ordinary university scholarship because it includes a post-graduation employment commitment.
Applicants should also remember that:
- The scholarship is restricted to citizens of eligible countries.
- A minimum 3.0 GPA is required.
- Applicants must pursue an approved SMART STEM discipline.
- The degree must be pursued at a qualifying U.S. institution.
- Applicants must be able to obtain and maintain the required security clearance.
- Awards can cover one to five years depending on the degree and approved funding.
- Applicable scholars must complete required summer internships.
- Recipients must fulfill the required civilian service commitment after graduation.
