NSF Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Program

The NSF Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Program (S-STEM) is a funding initiative administered by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) through its Directorate for STEM Education and the Division of Undergraduate Education. Created under the American Competitiveness and Workforce Improvement Act, the S-STEM program aims to increase the success of academically talented but financially disadvantaged students in completing associate, baccalaureate, or graduate degrees in NSF-eligible STEM disciplines. The program specifically seeks to address the workforce needs of the United States by enabling these students to enter the STEM labor market with minimal debt and high qualifications. The S-STEM program is structured into three primary tracks to accommodate different institutional capacities and goals. Track 1 focuses on institutional capacity building and is open only to institutions without active S-STEM or Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Talent Expansion Program (STEP) awards in the five years preceding the application. Track 2 supports implementation projects at any eligible institution regardless of prior funding, while Track 3 enables inter-institutional consortia to collaborate on broader initiatives supporting low-income STEM students. Each track includes significant investment in scholarships and supports, including curricular and co-curricular enhancements aimed at improving student retention, graduation, and transition to graduate studies or the workforce. To qualify, students must be low-income domestic students with demonstrated unmet financial need and academic talent. S-STEM scholarships must be used as "last dollar" awards after other forms of grant or scholarship aid have been applied. The maximum annual scholarship is $15,000 for undergraduate students and $20,000 for graduate students, not exceeding the student’s unmet financial need. At least 50% (Track 1) or 60% (Tracks 2 and 3) of total requested funds must be allocated to scholarships. Additional funding can support mentoring, professional development, research experiences, and student support infrastructure. Proposals must include a detailed management plan, needs analysis, prospective scholar data, and robust plans for student mentorship and cohort-building. Track 3 proposals are additionally required to include a social science or educational research component and undergo a third-year NSF review. All tracks must incorporate evaluation plans executed by external evaluators, with ongoing data reporting via NSF-led systems. Applicants are required to submit full proposals via Research.gov or Grants.gov, with a firm deadline on March 4, 2025, and recurring deadlines on the first Tuesday in March annually thereafter. All proposals must align with the NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG). Specific supplementary documentation, such as a letter from the Financial Aid Office, logic models, and scholar pool analysis, is required. Webinars and other informational resources are made available by the S-STEM team to guide applicants. Institutions may submit up to two proposals per cycle, but with no overlapping disciplines and subject to eligibility constraints based on prior awards. The S-STEM program is highly competitive, with an estimated annual funding range of $80 million to $120 million supporting 40 to 60 new awards. Awards may be structured as standard or continuing grants, with durations up to six years. The program is committed to broadening participation in STEM, especially encouraging proposals from community colleges, predominantly undergraduate institutions, and public institutions in diverse geographic contexts. Points of contact for the program include a team of NSF Program Directors who are available for consultation.

Ensure detailed justification of low-income criteria, unmet need, and strong faculty mentoring plans; follow strict formatting and planning documentation guidance.