The National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant (National SMART Grant) is for third, fourth and fifth-year (for programs requiring five years) undergraduate students who are eligible to receive up to $4,000 each year.

Type of Award

Federal Grant

Application Form

Completion of FAFSA

Residency and Citizenship

• Original Guidelines: U.S. citizens only. Eligible non-citizens ineligible for the National SMART Grant
• New Guidelines as of 7/209: U.S. citizens and eligible non-citizens may receive the National SMART Grant

Award Amounts

An eligible student may receive a National SMART Grant of up to $4,000 for each of the third and fourth academic years of study. All annual award amounts for an academic year may be reduced if sufficient funds are not available for all eligible students in an award year.

A student may not receive more than one National SMART Grant award in each academic year for which the student is eligible.

The amount of the grant, in combination with the Federal Pell Grant, other resources and estimated financial assistance, may not exceed financial need (cost of attendance minus EFC).

Qualifying Programs and GPA

• Federal Pell Grant recipient for the same payment period
• Enrollment requirements
  
  • Originally: Must be enrolled full-time in a degree program
  • As of 7/2009: Be enrolled for at least 6 credits

• Be enrolled in a four-year degree-granting institution
• Major in physical, life or computer science, engineering, mathematics, technology or critical foreign language

• Have at least a cumulative 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale in the coursework required for the student’s major
• GPA is verified every semester
• No rigorous high school program is required.
  

Under the National SMART Grant Program, the college will identify Pell-eligible federal student aid recipients who are majoring in physical, life or computer science, engineering, mathematics, technology or a critical foreign language. The college will be able to tell you which of their academic programs are designated by the Department of Education as eligible for the SMART Grants.

Additional Information on SMART Grants

• Institutions are responsible for reviewing records to identify all eligible students.
• The Office of Financial Aid will award the grant to eligible students.
• There is no need for students to provide any information beyond what was submitted with their FAFSA.