Fund TalentScholarshipsscholarship

SMART

DoD STEM scholarship program supporting students pursuing STEM degrees with full scholarships and guaranteed post-graduation employment at DoD research facilities.

·KEY FACTS
TypeScholarship
AudienceFor Students
Sub-serviceScholarships
CycleAnnual · Spring cycle
Next deadlineJan 15, 2027
Office of recordCAEO · Fund Talent
·01 — What is SMART?

Tuition + stipend in exchange for service.

SMART covers full college costs in exchange for service in a federal cyber position. Expanded across the DoW, the program has placed thousands of scholars into mission-critical roles.
·01

Tuition + stipend

Full tuition, fees, books, and a monthly stipend through completion of your program.

·02

Summer internship

Paid summer placements at DoW components, labs, and operational commands.

·03

Service commitment

Year-for-year service commitment in a qualifying federal cyber role after graduation.

·02 — Who it's for

Are you a fit?

·ELIGIBILITY
  • U.S. citizen
  • Enrolled or admitted at a CAE-CD designated institution
  • Pursuing a cyber-related degree
  • Background investigation eligibility
·WHAT YOU GET
  • +Full tuition and required fees
  • +Monthly stipend ($25K–$37K)
  • +Paid summer internship at a federal cyber component
  • +Guaranteed placement to a qualifying federal cyber role
·03 — HOW TO APPLYEST. 20 MIN

Four steps. Rolling review.

  1. 01

    Confirm eligibility

    Review the current solicitation and verify you or your institution qualify.

  2. 02

    Prepare materials

    Gather transcripts, statements, and institutional endorsements.

  3. 03

    Submit in portal

    File through the CAEO common applicant portal before the deadline.

  4. 04

    Service placement

    CAEO works with hiring components to match scholars to roles before graduation.

Open application portal
·04 — Impact

What this program produced last cycle.

Outcomes from FY25 reporting via CAMS. Updated quarterly.
·01
1,820
Scholars supported FY25
·02
168
Partner institutions
·03
97%
Placement to qualifying role
·04
$62M
Scholarship outlay
·APPLY

Ready to start an application?

Most CAEO programs use a common applicant portal. You'll need a .edu or DoW email, a CV, and your institution's CAGE code if applicable.