A scholarship for union families

Your application must be complete and received by 12:00 p.m. (noon, ET) on Friday, January 31, 2025.

Current and retired members of unions that participate in any Union Plus program, their spouses and their dependent children (as defined by IRS regulations) can apply for a Union Plus Scholarship. 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, 2025.

A list of eligible unions is provided in a drop-down menu in the Union Information section of the scholarship application. You might also ask your local union representative or visit your local or national union’s website to check if they offer Union Plus benefits. Also, a list of eligible unions is available in the drop-down menu when you create an account on the Union Plus website.

No, you do not have to purchase any Union Plus product or participate in any Union Plus program to be eligible.

The scholarship applies to any year of study, from the freshman year of college through the last year of graduate school, including law school and medical school. The applicant must be accepted into a U.S. accredited post-secondary school at the time the award is issued.

U.S. accredited colleges and universities, including undergraduate and graduate schools, community colleges, trade and technical schools.

Union members (and family members) from the U.S., Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Canada are eligible. Awards apply only to those attending a U.S. accredited college, university, trade or technical school.

Information and requirements include:

• One letter of reference from a teacher or other adult who is familiar with your achievements and abilities. We encourage applicants to obtain and submit their letter of reference on their own. However, if your reference requires that the letter remain confidential, you have an option to nominate your reference so the letter may be submitted confidentially. (The application will request that you to send an email to your reference, who will be instructed on how to confidentially attach their letter.) The letter must be in Word (.doc/.docx); Adobe (.pdf); JPEG (.jpeg, .jpg); PNG (.png).
• Two required essays of approximately 350 words each.
  • Essay 1: Describe your relationship with the union and the labor movement, in what ways has it personally affected your life and your family's life?
  • Essay 2: A choice of one of these two questions: A) The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience? B) Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?
• Union information. National or international union name, local union number, local union's address, phone number and the name of the local union President or Business Manager. You need this information for your union, your spouse's union or your parent's union (if you are a dependent). If you or your family members are affiliated with multiple unions you must list this information for all.

Submit an essay of approximately 350 words describing your relationship with the union and the labor movement. In what ways has it personally affected your life and your family’s life?

Refer to the following advice listed in the Essay section: Because this is a union scholarship, we are looking for your own knowledge of unions and the labor movement. Although it may be included, please do not simply recite typical labor history. Write about personal stories and experiences. Many applicants may not be union members but are the children or spouses of union members. Talk with union family members (parents, spouses, grandparents, etc.) and ask them about their experiences in the union. Relate personal stories and experiences on how being in a union has made a difference in their life and your life.

No, you can only apply for the Union Plus Scholarship using this online form.

In the application’s Reference Letter section there is detailed explanation of how to nominate a third party to submit the letter of reference confidentially.

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

Awards are issued in June of 2025 and apply to the 2025 - 2026 school year. The applicant must be accepted into an accredited college or university, community college or recognized technical or trade school at the time the award is issued.

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

No, these are one-time awards. But each year you may re-apply and you might be selected to receive another award.

When you successfully submit your application you'll get a screen message confirming your application was received. Due to the volume of applications, we cannot provide any information on the status of an application before the award announcements are made during the first week of June each year. All applicants will be notified by email when the award list is posted at the Union Plus website by mid-June.

Awards are announced by mail the first week of June each year. Award recipients who do not respond are then contacted by phone. All applicants will be notified by email when the award list is posted at unionplus.org/scholarships by mid-June each year. Please note that due to the volume of applications we cannot provide any information on the status of an application before award announcements are made.

The Union Plus Scholarship is offered by the Union Plus Education Foundation, with funding from Capital One N.A. (the provider of the Union Plus Credit Card), First National Bank of Omaha (the provider of the Union Plus Loan Program), and EDVANCE (a provider of the Union Plus College Program). (Note, you do not need to participate in these programs to be eligible to apply for this scholarship).  

The Union Plus Education Foundation is funded in part by donations from Capital One N.A. (the provider of the Union Plus Credit Card), First National Bank of Omaha (the provider of the Union Plus Personal Loan), and EDVANCE (a provider of the Union Plus College Program). You do NOT need to participate in these programs to apply for this scholarship.