Union Plus Scholarship Program

 Since 1992, the Union Plus Scholarship Program has awarded more than $3.6 million to students of working families who want to begin or continue their post-secondary education. Over 2,400 families have benefited from our commitment to higher education. The Union Plus Scholarship Program is offered through the Union Plus Education Foundation.

Evaluation criteria:

• This is a competitive scholarship. Applicants are evaluated according to academic ability, social awareness, financial need and appreciation of labor. A GPA of 3.0 or higher is recommended.
• The required essays can account for up to half your total score.
• Scholarship applicants are judged by a committee of impartial post-secondary educators.

Application Deadline:

A complete application must be received on or before 12:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) on  12:00pm (noon, Eastern Time), Saturday, January 31, 2016.  Applications received after this deadline will not be considered.

Scholarship Award Amounts:

Amounts range from $500 to $4,000. These one-time cash awards are for study beginning in the Fall of 2015. Students may re-apply each year.

Award date:

May 31, 2016. During the first week of June 2016 award recipients will be notified by postal mail, and all applicants will be sent email notification.

 Eligibility criteria:

• Current and retired members of unions participating in any Union Plus program, their spouses and their dependent children (as defined by IRS regulations) are eligible. Grandchildren are not eligible unless a legal dependent (as defined by IRS regulations).  At least one year of continuous union membership by the applicant, applicant’s spouse or parent (if applicant is a dependent). The one year membership minimum must be satisfied by May 31, 2016.
• Members of participating unions from the U.S., Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands and Canada.
• The applicant must be accepted into a U.S. accredited college, university, community college, technical or trade school at the time the award is issued.  Awards must be used for the 2016 – 2017 school year.
• Undergraduate and graduate students are eligible to apply.