1. What is the history and purpose of the SMART Grant
The SMART Grant award and other awards were established as part of the Higher Education Reconciliation Act of 2005 to further assistant students who are eligible for Pell Grants. Proposed by Senator Bill Frist, a former assistant professor of surgery at Vanderbilt University Medical School, is majority leader of the United States Senate, the SMART Grant Program was designed to ensure that the U.S. retains global leadership in the sciences. The program provides grants up to $4,000 on top of Pell Grants (a total of $8,050 in assistance per year) to help bright, hard-working, full time students of modest means to pursue a degree in math, science, and strategic foreign languages. Between now and 2010, the Congressional Budget Office estimates that almost 600,000 students will benefit from this program.
The SMART Grant program is also designed to help American research universities retain their global preeminence. Today, India and China together graduate more than twice as many engineers as the United States. Both nations will continue to increase their ranks of scientists and engineers rapidly in the coming years. Meanwhile, many American employers have a difficult time finding qualified scientists and engineers.
Since 85% of growth in U.S. income comes from technological change, we need to do everything we can to encourage our best and brightest to enter key scientific fields. For more information on these awards, visit this link: www.federalstudentaid.ed.gov. For detailed information about the implementation of this grant, visit this link online: http://www.ifap.ed.gov/dpcletters/GEN0608.html%20
2. When does the new grant start?
Eligibility begins July 1, 2006 and is applied to the 2006-2007 school year for those entering their third or fourth year of an eligible degree program to attain their first undergraduate degree.
3. How do I know if I am eligible for the SMART Grant?
To receive this grant you must be a U.S. citizen, who has completed a FAFSA form, and is eligible for the Pell Grant, and you must be enrolled in your third or fourth undergraduate year, working toward your first bachelor’s degree.
You must be enrolled in an eligible major (http://www.ifap.ed.gov/dpcletters/attachments/GEN0606A.pdf), with 60 more credits in your third year and 90 or more credits in your fourth year, and you must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or more on a 4.0 scale to apply. For more information on eligibility visit this website:http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/about/ac-smart/state-programs06.html.
4. How much money can I get through this grant program?
The maximum Federal SMART Grant available to eligible students is $4,000 per year. The amount received by each student depends on the student’s financial need, the cost of the school the student attends and the other financial aid awarded to the student. The Federal SMART Grant funds awarded to a student cannot exceed one full year of academic tuition and students may not receive grants for more than one school at a time.
The National SMART grant can provide up to $4,000 for each of the third and fourth years of undergraduate study for full-time students.
5. How Do I apply for a SMART Grant?
All you have to do is submit or update your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. Among the considerations for grants and financial aid now included in the FAFSA review is the review for Pell, SMART and other grants. After you save and submit your new or updated application online, you will be notified if you are eligible for additional (800) 433-3243 or (800) 730-8913 for TTY for the hearing-impaired.
6. How will I know if I am getting an SMART award?
You will be notified by email or by postal delivery if you are eligible. You will receive information about the amount of the award and you will be told if any other financial aid changes will be made by your school as a result of this award.
7. If I get SMART Grant funding, how is it disbursed to me or to my school?
If you are eligible for funds, the Office of the Bursar will apply the Federal SMART Grant award funding to your outstanding fees e.g. tuition, room and board, and other institutional charges. Any funds remaining after application to your tuition related charges will be mailed to you by check or directly deposited to the bank of your designation, as you choose.
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Smart Grant FAQ
