DoW STEM Scholarships - SMART Scholarship vs QuestBridge College Prep Scholars Program and National College Match
Comparing two highly competitive STEM opportunities. Both are scholarships for high school students.
| DoW STEM Scholarships - SMART Scholarship | QuestBridge College Prep Scholars Program and National College Match | |
|---|---|---|
| Prestige Tier | Tier 2 — Highly Competitive | Tier 2 — Highly Competitive |
| Type | Scholarship | Scholarship |
| Organization | Department of Defense (DoD) | QuestBridge |
| Acceptance Rate | Approximately 8-18% depending on year; recent data shows ~600 awards annually from ~4,000-5,000 applicants | — |
| Applicants | 2024-2025 cycle: estimated 4,000+ applicants; historically 2,000-2,655 per year | — |
| Deadline | Rolling | Rolling |
| Cost to Apply | Free | Free |
| US Only | Yes | Yes |
| Grades | Currently enrolled undergraduate, master's, or doctoral students (NOT high school students) | — |
| College Impact | SMART Scholarship is HIGHLY REGARDED in college admissions and professional circles. For undergraduates: Demonstrates exceptional STEM commitment and achievement; counts as major merit-based scholarsh... | — |