National Smart Grant

National Smart Grant also know as The National Science & Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant

This Grant is new is available during the third and fourth years of undergraduate study to full-time students who are eligible for the Federal Pell Grant and who are majoring in physical, life, or computer sciences, mathematics, technology, or engineering or in a foreign language determined critical to national security.

The student must also have maintained a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 in coursework required for the major.

The National SMART Grant award is in addition to the student's Pell Grant award.

How Much Can A Student Receive?

A National SMART Grant will provide up to $4,000 for each of the third and fourth years of under- graduate study to full-time students who are eligible for a Federal Pell Grant and who are majoring in physical, life, or computer sciences, mathematics, technology, or engineering or in a foreign language determined critical to national security.

Eligible Students

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. To be eligible for each academic year, a student must:

1. Be a U.S. citizen

2. Be a Federal Pell Grant recipient

3. Be enrolled full-time in a degree program

4. Be enrolled in a four-year degree-granting institution

5. Major in physical, life or computer science, engineering, mathematics, technology, or a critical foreign language

6. Have at least a cumulative 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale (as set forth in regulations to be promulgated soon).

Note that the amount of the SMART Grant, when combined with a Pell Grant, may not exceed the student's cost of attendance.

In addition, if the number of eligible students is large enough that payment of the full grant amounts would exceed the program appropriation in any fiscal year, then the amount of the grant to each eligible student may be ratably reduced.

There are a great number of Eligible Fields of Study that will qualify for this program so make sure you check with your high school counselor and the college you plan to attend to see if you may qualify for this program.

To make sure that you keep up to date on the latest information about this grant and other information that could affect your access to financial aid programs we suggest that you subscribe to The College Planner Digest.

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