SMART Grant

Effective with the Fall 2006 semester, the U.S. Department of Education enacted a new grant program entitled the National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (SMART) Grant. This grant is available for students in their third and fourth years of college.

At Western Kentucky University, a third year student is defined as someone that has earned between 49 and 72 credit hours. A fourth year student is defined as someone that has earned between 73 and 96 credit hours. The definition of third year and fourth year students for purposes of this grant differ than that of grade level progression for the purpose of awarding Federal Stafford loans.

In addition to meeting the classification definition above, a student must meet the following criteria to be considered for the SMART Grant:

• Eligible for Pell Grant
• Full-time student
• US citizen
• Pursuing a Bachelors degree
• Pursuing a major in physical, life or computer science, engineering, mathematics, technology or critical foreign language
• 3.0 cumulative GPA

To remain eligible for this program, a student must continue to maintain a 3.0 GPA and remain enrolled in an eligible program of study.

The award amount of this grant is $4000 per academic year. In the event that the addition of this grant causes an over-award, a reduction of other aid may be necessary in accordance with Federal and State regulations. Any such changes would be reflected on the student’s TopNet account. In addition, students are eligible for only one third year award and only one fourth year award per Federal regulations.