Government
DoD SMART Scholarship
November 12, 2023To learn more about the Ronald V. Dellums Memorial SMART Scholarship (Dellums SMART Scholarship) and to review eligibility requirements of the Dellums SMART Scholarship, visit the About Dellums page.
Eligibility Requirements
Review the below scholarship requirements to ensure you are eligible to apply for this life-changing opportunity.
Who can apply?
The SMART application is open August through December of every year, with awards being granted the following spring.
All applicants must be:
- a citizen of the United States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, or United Kingdom at time of application,
- 18 years of age or older as of August 1, 2024
- requesting at least 1 year of degree funding prior to graduation (which starts at the program start date),
- able to complete at least one summer internship (multi-year scholars only)
- willing to accept post-graduation employment with the DoD,
- a student in good standing with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale,
- pursuing a technical undergraduate or graduate degree in one of the 24 STEM disciplines listed below,
- able to produce a fall 2023 college transcript from a regionally accredited US college or university, OR be pursuing a graduate degree at a regionally accredited US college or university.
Active duty military members who wish to apply for the SMART Scholarship must be separated or on terminal leave on or before August 1, 2024 to be eligible. Reserve and National Guard members are eligible to apply. Current ROTC participants with a future service commitment are not eligible to apply
For more information, watch the SMART Eligibility Requirements video.
What kind of STEM?
The program focuses on students pursuing disciplines that are critical to national security functions of the Department of Defense (DoD). The following is a list of SMART’s 24 approved STEM disciplines. These disciplines are general umbrella disciplines – specific applicant majors or fields of study may fall under one or more discipline on this list.
Please note, non-technical degrees, including management, arts, or humanities, are not approved or funded by SMART.
- Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering
- Biomedical Engineering
- Biosciences
- Chemical Engineering
- Chemistry
- Civil Engineering
- Cognitive, Neural, and Behavioral Sciences
- Computer Science and Engineering
- Cybersecurity
- Data Science and Analytics
- Electrical Engineering
- Environmental Sciences
- 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
What you need to know
Scholarships are awarded for a minimum of 1 year and a maximum of 5 years of funding, depending on degree requirements. SMART is a one-for-one commitment; for every year of degree funding, the scholar commits to working for a year with the DoD as a civilian employee.
Undergraduate applicants
- Must be currently enrolled at a regionally accredited U.S. college or university
- Must be able to produce a fall 2023 (or earlier) college transcript at the end of the term
- AP coursework is not considered college credit
Graduate applicants
- Can be either currently enrolled in a regionally accredited U.S. college or university or awaiting notification of admission
- If awaiting admission, you must be accepted for entrance in the fall 2024 term
Scholars enter the program as either recruitment or retention. Learn more information on how scholars participate in the SMART Program through recruitment or retention.
Learn more about the citizenship and security clearance requirements for SMART scholarship awards.
USDA/1890 National Scholars Program
May 21, 2017
Apply Today!
Applications for the 2025 school year will be accepted from January 7, 2025 through March 1, 2025.
The USDA 1890 National Scholars Program is aimed at bolstering educational and career opportunities for students from rural or underserved communities around the country. It was established in 1992 as part of the partnership between USDA and the 1890 land-grant universities.
USDA’s Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement (OPPE) manages the 1890 National Scholars Program, which is aimed at increasing the number of students from rural and underserved communities who study food, agriculture, natural resource and other related sciences. The scholarship provides recipients with full tuition, fees, books, room and board. Scholars attend one of the 1890 land-grant universities and pursue degrees in agriculture, food, natural resource sciences, or related academic disciplines. The scholarship may also include work experience at USDA. The program is a crucial part of USDA’s Next Generation efforts.
USDA awarded 94 1890 scholarships in Fiscal Year 2024.
These are the (19) 1890 universities:
- Alabama A&M University
- Alcorn State University, Mississippi
- Central State University, Ohio
- Delaware State University
- Florida A&M University
- Fort Valley State University, Georgia
- Kentucky State University
- Langston University, Oklahoma
- Lincoln University, Missouri
- North Carolina A&T State University
- Prairie View A&M University, Texas
- South Carolina State University
- Southern University, Louisiana
- Tennessee State University
- Tuskegee University, Alabama
- University of Arkansas Pine Bluff
- University of Maryland Eastern Shore
- Virginia State University
- West Virginia State University
Study Disciplines
USDA 1890 National Scholars are required to study one of the following disciplines:
- Agriculture
- Agricultural Business/Management
- Agricultural Economics
- Agricultural Engineering/Mechanics
- Agricultural Production and Technology
- Agronomy or Crop Science
- Animal Sciences
- Botany
- Food Sciences/Technology
- Forestry and Related Sciences
- Home Economics/Nutrition
- Horticulture
- Natural Resources Management
- Soil Conservation/Soil Science
- Farm and Range Management
- Other related disciplines, (e.g. non-medical biological sciences, pre-veterinary medicine, computer science)
The Award
The scholarship may be renewed each year, contingent upon satisfactory academic performance and normal progress toward a bachelor’s degree.
General Eligibility
To be eligible for the USDA/1890 National Scholars Program scholarship, a student must:
- Be a U.S. citizen
- Have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better (on a 4.0 scale)
- Have a minimum of 21 ACT, 1080 SAT scores
- Have been accepted for admission or currently attending one of the nineteen 1890 Land-Grant Universities.
- Study agriculture, food, natural resource sciences, or other related academic disciplines
- Demonstrate leadership and community service
- Submit an official transcript, from each high school and college attended, with the school seal and an authorized official’s signature
- Submit a 250-500 word essay for each of the following questions:
- How will the USDA 1890 National Scholarship support your career aspirations? If there is a particular mission area within USDA that also supports your career aspirations, please indicate that mission area.
- What factors have influenced your decision to pursue academic studies in agriculture, food, natural resource sciences, or a supporting discipline (such as economics, computer science, accounting, etc.)?
- Submit completed application
Who Should Apply
The USDA 1890 National Scholars Program is open to high school seniors entering their freshman year of college, and rising college sophomores and juniors.
Don’t miss the next scholarship application deadline!
Sign up to receive updates on the next 1890 National Scholars Program application opening, along with information about other USDA opportunities.
For any questions regarding the USDA/1890 National Scholars Program, please contact:
Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement
USDA 1890 Programs
1400 Independence Ave., S.W., Stop 0601Washington, DC 20250Telephone Number: (202) 720-6350Email: 1890init@usda.gov or partnerships@usda.gov
USDA Pathways Programs
April 29, 2017
USDA Pathways Programs
The U.S. Department of Agriculture offers different pathway opportunities for students and recent graduates to work in the agricultural, science, technology, math, environmental, management, business and many other fields. USDA offers internships to students and recent graduates to help them to excel in their chosen fields.
The USDA Internship Program provides paid work experiences for students who are in high school or pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in an accredited college or university (including Home-Schooling, Certificate Programs and Community Colleges). Interns may work during the summer, fall, spring or year round. Please apply at www.usajobs.gov – Students and Recent Graduates
The USDA Recent Graduates Program provides individuals who have recently graduated from qualifying educational institutions or programs with developmental experiences in the Federal Government intended to promote possible careers in the civil service. Participants must have obtained a degree, or completed a qualifying career or technical education program within the preceding 2 years. Veterans are eligible to participate to the program within 6 years of obtaining a degree or graduating qualifying program.
USDA Presidential Management Fellows Program
The USDA Presidential Management Fellows Program is a prestigious, competitive program that is managed by the Office of Personnel Management. The PMF Program supports leadership development for recent graduates who have been pre-qualified or recommended by a network of graduate schools. Graduates are provided with a 2 year appointment at USDA that may lead to conversion to a permanent appointment.
Questions regarding any of the three USDA Pathways Programs can be directed to:
Askusdapathways@dm.usda.gov
USDA Scholarship Programs
April 29, 2017
USDA Scholarship Programs
The Organization of Professional Employees of the USDA (OPEDA) accepts scholarship applications March 1st through June 30th of each year. OPEDA members in good standing and their family members attending college are eligible to apply. Two scholarships are awarded in honor of John W. Peterson and Steven “Tom” Stefani for their exemplary service to OPEDA, the USDA, and our country. We encourage you to visit OPEDA’s website for more information about membership and scholarship opportunities.
As an Adel A. Malak Scholarship recipient, you will experience and take on a variety of Public Health Veterinarian responsibilities to more fully understand the great work FSIS does to protect public health through food safety.
Saul T. Wilson, Jr., Scholarship Program (STWJS) (PDF, 542KB)
A career in public veterinary health would afford you the opportunity to be involved with the health of major animal populations in many activity areas. Veterinarians have a responsibility for the health of the Nation’s animals, and public health veterinarians can have a broad and lasting impact on animal health issues. A hallmark of VS is its multidisciplinary approach to working on animal health problems. VS has employment opportunities in the public veterinary field for professionals from a variety of disciplines. Additionally, APHIS employs veterinarians in its Animal Care and Plant Protection and Quarantine programs. Employment opportunities are located throughout the United States.
USDA/1994 Tribal Scholars Program
Scholars for applicants attending 1994 Land Grant Tribal Colleges and Universities seeking careers in food, agriculture, and natural resource sciences, and/or other related disciplines.
USDA/Public Service Leader Scholars (PSLS)
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Public Service Leaders Scholarship Program provides combined scholarship and internship opportunities to undergraduate and graduate students leading to permanent employment upon completion of their degree. The program is designed to promote public service and create access to higher education.
William F. Helms Internship Program
USDA offers tuition assistance, mentoring, and summer work to college students interested in pursuing a career related plant pathology, biology, virology, ecology, and entomology.