Union Plus Scholarship Program

Name: Union Plus Scholarship Program

Award Amount: $500 to $4,000

Information And Eligibility:
The Union Plus Scholarship Program is a nationally recognized education assistance program designed to support students from union households who are pursuing postsecondary education. Administered by the Union Plus Education Foundation, the program has awarded more than $5.9 million in scholarships to over 4,200 union families since its inception. These scholarships are intended to reduce the financial burden of education while honoring the values of organized labor, academic commitment, and community engagement.

The program is open to a wide range of students, including those attending two-year colleges, four-year universities, graduate programs, trade schools, and technical institutions. Eligible applicants include current or retired members of participating unions, as well as their spouses and dependent children as defined by IRS regulations. At least one year of continuous union membership is required, and that requirement must be met by the specified cutoff date in the scholarship year.

Union Plus scholarships are competitive and are not awarded based on financial need alone. Instead, applicants are evaluated holistically, with strong emphasis placed on academic performance, social awareness, leadership qualities, and appreciation of the labor movement. While there is no strict minimum GPA requirement, a GPA of 3.0 or higher is strongly recommended to remain competitive. Essays are a major component of the application and can account for up to half of an applicant’s total evaluation score.

Eligibility Requirements:

• Applicant must be a current or retired member of a participating union, or the spouse or dependent child of a union member
• At least one year of continuous union membership through the applicant, parent, or spouse
• Enrollment or planned enrollment in an accredited postsecondary institution
• Open to undergraduate, graduate, trade, and technical school students

Application Requirements:

• Completed online scholarship application
• Academic transcripts
• One or more essays addressing academic goals, community involvement, and the role of labor in the applicant’s life
• Additional documentation verifying union membership, if requested

Additional Details:

• Scholarships are one-time awards but students may reapply in future years
• A special Isaiah’s Award is available for applicants with personal or professional connections to the foster care system
• No participation in Union Plus credit cards, loans, or other programs is required to apply
• Scholarship recipients are typically notified by early summer

Deadline: January

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