The National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (SMART) Grant is an award of funds for educational expenses provided by the federal government to third and fourth year undergraduate students who have excelled in certain major fields of study. The SMART grant does not have to repaid.

The student must complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the academic year he or she plans to attend, identifying SIUC as a possible school of attendance (Federal School Code 001758). A paper FAFSA form, which must be mailed to the federal processors, is available in the Financial Aid Office (FAO). However, FAO recommends that the application be completed on the Internet at www.fafsa.ed.gov. The FAO will receive an electronic report of the results of the application in 2-3 weeks. The student will be provided with a Student Aid Report in paper or electronic form.

The applicants must be a U.S. citizen, a Federal Pell grant recipient, a third or fourth year undergraduate enrolled full-time in a degree program, enrolled in a four-year degree-granting institution, major in computer science, engineering, a critical foreign language, mathematics, physical sciences, or technology, have at least a cumulative 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale in the coursework required for the students major and be a U.S. citizen.

All applicants who are determined eligible will receive the SMART grant.

An eligible student may receive $4,000 for their third and fourth academic year of study. Half is awarded for fall semester, and half is awarded for spring semester. Summer SMART grants are only available if the student has not fully utilized their entire SMART grant during the fall/spring semester and meets all other award criteria.