Since 1992, the Union Plus Scholarship Program has awarded more than $2 million to students of working families who want to begin or continue their secondary education. Over 1,300 families have benefited from our commitment to higher education. The Union Plus Scholarship Program is offered through the Union Plus Education Foundation.

How to ApplyThe 2006 scholarship application postmark deadline was January 31, 2006. The 2007 scholarship application will be available in September 2006.


Eligibility for ScholarshipsMembers of AFL-CIO unions participating in any Union Plus program, their spouses and their dependent children (foster children, step children, and any other child for whom the individual member provides greater than 50% of his or her support) can apply for a Union Plus Scholarship. (Participating AFL-CIO union members from Puerto Rico, Canada, Guam and Virgin Islands and U.S. citizens are eligible.) Members do not have to purchase any Union Plus program product or participate in any Union Plus programs to apply for the scholarships and scholarship awards are not based upon participation in a Union Plus program.

The individual must be accepted into an accredited college or university, community college or recognized technical or trade school at the time the award is issued. Graduate students are not eligible.

Evaluation criteria
The scholarship program is open to students attending or planning to attend a college or university, a community college, or a technical college or trade school. Applicants for scholarships are evaluated according to academic ability, social awareness, financial need and appreciation of labor.

Scholarship applications are judged by a committee of impartial post secondary educators. Applications are first reviewed by a panel of independent career professionals. Semi-finalists are chosen based on a point scale, and their applications are then provided to judges for further review and selection of finalists and awards. Program judges include representatives from the American Association of Community Colleges, the United Negro College Fund, the American Association of State Colleges and Universities and the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities.

Scholarship award amounts: The amount of the award ranges from $500 - $4,000. This is a one-time cash award sent to individual winners for undergraduate study beginning in the fall of the same year.