The NSF Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (S-STEM) Program is a funding initiative by the National Science Foundation (NSF) aimed at supporting low-income, academically talented students in STEM disciplines. The program is designed to increase the number of graduates in STEM fields by providing financial scholarships and implementing evidence-based curricular and co-curricular support to improve retention, academic success, and career placement. The S-STEM program recognizes that financial aid alone is not sufficient to ensure student success, so it encourages institutions of higher education (IHEs) to develop holistic support mechanisms.

The program funds three different tracks of projects: Track 1 (Institutional Capacity Building), Track 2 (Implementation Projects), and Track 3 (Inter-Institutional Consortia). Track 1 projects aim to build institutional capacity for supporting low-income STEM students, particularly at institutions that have not recently received S-STEM funding. Track 2 projects focus on implementing evidence-based programs at institutions that already have experience in supporting STEM students. Track 3 projects facilitate multi-institutional collaborations to address STEM education challenges at scale. In all tracks, at least 50% to 60% of awarded funds must be used for direct scholarships to students, covering their cost of attendance.

Eligible applicants include two- and four-year institutions of higher education (IHEs) accredited in the U.S. Proposals must be submitted by faculty or academic administrators from eligible institutions, with leadership roles specified for ensuring project success. Students receiving scholarships must be U.S. citizens, nationals, or lawful permanent residents, be enrolled at least half-time in an S-STEM eligible degree program, demonstrate academic talent or potential, and have demonstrated financial need based on institutional and federal guidelines (e.g., Pell Grant eligibility). Scholarships cannot be used as compensation for work and must be structured to reduce the financial burden on students, thereby allowing them to focus on their education.

The maximum award amount for Track 1 and Track 2 projects is $2,000,000 for up to six years, while Track 3 projects can receive up to $5,000,000 for the same period. The total estimated program funding ranges from $80,000,000 to $120,000,000, with an anticipated 40-60 awards distributed. The program does not require cost-sharing or matching funds.

Applications are submitted via Research.gov or Grants.gov, with a required deadline of March 4, 2025. The program follows a competitive merit review process, where proposals are evaluated based on intellectual merit, broader impacts, the potential to increase STEM retention and graduation rates, and the quality of proposed student support mechanisms. Annual reporting is required, and institutions must provide student data through an NSF monitoring system.

NSF encourages participation from Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs), Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), and community colleges. The program also strongly supports efforts to broaden participation in STEM fields, particularly for underrepresented and underserved student populations.

For more information, applicants may contact the NSF program officers listed in the solicitation, including Thomas D. Kim (tkim@nsf.gov, 703-292-4458) and others.