National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant (SMART)


The Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG) and National SMART Grant Programs were created in the Higher Education Reconciliation Act of 2006, which became effective July 1, 2006. The program awards need-based Academic Competitiveness Grants to first - and second-year undergraduates who completed a rigorous high school curriculum and National SMART Grants to third - and fourth - year undergraduates majoring in certain technical fields or foreign languages deemed vital to national security.

To be eligible, the student must:

  1. You must be a U.S. citizen.
  2. You must qualify for a Pell grant.
  3. You must be an undergraduate student in your 3rd or 4th academic year, calculated by the government’s rules.
  4. You must be accepted in a major approved by the U.S. Secretary of Education for this grant.
  5. 12 or more credit hours of enrollment required on the 7th day of class.
  6. You must have a 3.0 cumulative gpa in order for payment to be made.
  7. Funds are applied directly to your ISU account.