USA Scholarships
Partial Funding Undergraduate Masters the USA

Union Plus Scholarship 2027 - $1,000 to $4,000

Deadline January 31, 2027 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern 133 days left · Hosted by Union Plus Education Foundation · Published

The Union Plus Scholarship Program 2027 helps union families pay for post-secondary study with competitive awards from $1,000 to $4,000. Since 1991 the Union Plus Education Foundation has paid more than $6.2 million to over 4,400 families, including 181 recipients sharing $300,000 in the 2026 cycle. Current or retired members of unions that participate in any Union Plus program, plus spouses and IRS-defined dependents, may apply after one year of continuous membership satisfied by May 31, 2027. Undergraduate and graduate students at accredited U.S. schools qualify, including community colleges and trade programs. Judges score academic ability, social awareness, financial need, and appreciation of labor, with essays counting for up to half your total. Complete the online application by January 31, 2027 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern.

One-time cash award
$1K-$4K
Accredited U.S. schools
Undergrad & grad
11:59 p.m. Eastern
31 Jan 2027
US, PR, Guam, USVI, Canada
Union families
How to apply Am I eligible? Official website

What is the Union Plus Scholarship?

Union Plus built its scholarship program so a pipefitter''s daughter, a teacher''s spouse, or a retired autoworker could afford the next semester without selling vacation days. The Union Plus Education Foundation runs the competition, backed in part by partners such as Capital One and First National Bank of Omaha, yet you never need their financial products to enter.

The money is straightforward: one-time awards from $1,000 to $4,000 paid after you prove acceptance at an accredited U.S. school. What makes the program distinctive is the scoring rubric. Impartial college educators judge academic strength, financial need, social awareness, and how well you explain what unions mean to your household. Spend real time on those two 350-word essays because they can carry half your score.

Mark two dates on your calendar. Membership must hit the one-year continuous mark by May 31, 2027, and the application itself shuts at 11:59 p.m. Eastern on January 31, 2027. When June arrives, check your mailbox and inbox even if you are not selected, because Union Plus emails every applicant when the winner list goes live. Reapply next year if you need another boost toward tuition.

Who can apply

Eligibility

Your progress 0 / 6
  • ✓
    Union membership or family tie
    You must be a current or retired member of a union that participates in any Union Plus program, or the spouse or dependent child of such a member. Grandchildren qualify only if they are legal dependents under IRS rules.
  • ✓
    One year of continuous membership by May 31, 2027
    The applicant, spouse, or parent (if you are a dependent) needs at least twelve consecutive months of union membership satisfied by May 31, 2027.
  • ✓
    Acceptance at an accredited U.S. school
    You must be accepted into an accredited college, university, community college, or recognized trade or technical school when awards issue in June 2027 for the 2027-2028 academic year.
  • ✓
    No Union Plus product purchase required
    Union Plus states you do not need the Union Plus credit card, personal loan, or college program to apply, and awards are not based on buying those products.
  • ✓
    Geographic participation
    Members in the United States, Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Canada may apply, but funds apply only to study at U.S. accredited institutions.
  • ✓
    Recommended 3.0 GPA
    Union Plus recommends a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. The committee still weighs essays, financial need, and labor appreciation heavily.
What you get

Benefits

  • Cash award range $1,000 to $4,000
  • Payment timing Issued June 2027 for Fall 2027 start
  • Renewability One-time per year but you may reapply annually
  • Program breadth Freshman year through final graduate year
  • Union Plus product requirement Not required
  • Room and board Cash sent to you, not a housing contract
What to prepare

Document checklist

Documents gathered 0 / 6
  • ✓
    Online Union Plus Scholarship application
    Apply only through the official online form linked from unionplus.org. Paper copies are not accepted.
  • ✓
    Two required essays (~350 words each)
    Essay one covers your relationship with the union and labor movement. Essay two chooses either a challenge you overcame or a gratitude story per the application prompts.
  • ✓
    Reference letter from a teacher or mentor
    Submit one letter in PDF, Word, JPEG, or PNG format. You may nominate a reference for confidential upload if your recommender requires it.
  • ✓
    Union affiliation details
    List national or international union name, local number, local address, phone, and local president or business manager for your union, your spouse's union, or your parent's union if you are a dependent.
  • ✓
    Financial need information
    Complete the financial sections honestly because need is an official evaluation pillar alongside academics and labor essays.
  • ✓
    Optional Isaiah's Award materials
    Applicants with foster care connections may describe related experience for the namesake Isaiah's Award reviewed within the same competition.
Step by step

How to apply

Check the eligible union drop-down in the application or ask your local representative. Union Plus lists participating unions when you create an account.
Union Plus typically releases the next cycle in mid-June. Create your login early so you can draft essays before winter break.
Use personal stories from family members who belong to the union rather than generic labor history. Essays can count for half your score.
Ask a teacher or adult mentor who knows your achievements. Upload the file yourself or send the confidential nomination link if required.
Include every union affiliation for you, your spouse, or your parents. Missing local numbers delay verification.
Late applications are rejected automatically. Save the confirmation screen when the form succeeds.
Winners hear by mail the first week of June 2027 and all applicants receive email when the public winner list posts.
When

Deadline and timeline

Application deadline
January 31, 2027 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern
133 days left
Mid-Jun 2026
Expected opening of the 2027 Union Plus Scholarship online application.
Jun - Dec 2026
Applicants gather union records, draft essays, and request reference letters.
Jan 31, 2027
Application deadline at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.
May 31, 2027
Scholarship Committee finalizes award decisions and membership cutoffs.
Early Jun 2027
Winners notified by postal mail; all applicants emailed when results post.
Fall 2027
One-time cash awards applied toward the 2027-2028 academic year after enrollment proof.
Questions

FAQ

What is the Union Plus Scholarship deadline for 2027?

Complete applications must arrive by 11:59 p.m. Eastern on January 31, 2027. Union Plus opens the form in mid-June each year and rejects late submissions.

How much is the Union Plus Scholarship worth?

Awards range from $1,000 to $4,000 as one-time cash grants for study beginning in Fall 2027. Amounts vary by competition, and you may reapply in future years even after winning once.

Who is eligible for the Union Plus Scholarship?

Current or retired members of unions in the Union Plus network, their spouses, and dependent children qualify after one year of continuous membership satisfied by May 31, 2027. Members in Canada, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands may apply if they attend U.S. accredited schools.

Do I need a Union Plus credit card to apply?

No. Union Plus repeats on its website that purchasing credit cards, loans, or college program products is not required and does not affect selection.

Can graduate students apply for the Union Plus Scholarship?

Yes. The scholarship covers any year of post-secondary study, including master's, law, and medical programs, as long as you are accepted at an accredited U.S. institution when the award issues.

What essays does the Union Plus Scholarship require?

You write two essays of about 350 words. The first explains how unions affected your life, and the second responds to a personal challenge or gratitude prompt. Essays can represent up to half of your evaluation score.

When are Union Plus Scholarship winners announced?

The committee decides by May 31 each year. Winners receive mail the first week of June, and every applicant gets email when the list posts on unionplus.org.

Is the Union Plus Scholarship renewable?

Each award is a one-time grant, but you may submit a fresh application every year and potentially win again.

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