Federal SMART Grant

The U.S. Department of Education offers SMART grants to Pell-eligible students enrolled in the third and fourth years of bachelor’s degree programs who are pursuing majors in mathematics, science, technology, engineering or a critical foreign language.

Eligible students receive $4,000 per year. SMART grants do not count against other state or federal grants for which students are eligible. The SMART grant (Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent) was created to encourage more students to pursue degrees in high-demand areas.

How do students apply?

First, students must complete and submit the FAFSA. Colleges will identify students who may qualify based on their grade point average, program of study and their eligibility for a Pell grant. The college will notify potentially eligible students. There is no separate application for the SMART grant.

Must a student be admitted to an eligible program or school within a university in order to be eligible? In nearly all cases, yes.

How will this grant be awarded?

The grant will be sent directly to the college by the U.S. Department of Education and the college will disburse the funds to the student.

Where can students find more information and answers about the SMART grants offered by the U.S. Department of Education?

The financial aid staff at the college where the student is enrolled will be able to answer questions about the grants. Information is also available online at www.studentaid.ed.gov.

What are the eligibility requirements?

To receive a SMART grant, students must:

• be eligible to receive a Pell Grant;
• be enrolled in their third or fourth academic year of a four-year degree program;
• maintain a 3.0 grade point average in college;
• be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen;
• pursue a degree in mathematics, science, technology, engineering or a critical foreign language (see list below).