George M. Pullman was the inventor and manufacturer of the railroad sleeping car. During the 1880's, Mr. Pullman built and developed the town of Pullman, Illinois, for his employees and their families. In his will, Mr. Pullman provided for the building and endowment of a “free school of manual training for the benefit of the children of persons living or employed at Pullman.”

The Pullman Free School of Manual Training opened in September 1915, and became widely recognized for the excellence of its program and for its service to the Pullman-Roseland community in Chicago. After 35 years, the school was forced to close because its endowment was no longer sufficient to support the rising cost of operation. The assets of the school were used to establish the George M. Pullman Educational Foundation, chartered in 1949. Through scholarship aid for higher education, the Foundation seeks to fulfill Mr. Pullman’s wish to provide educational opportunities for deserving young persons who would otherwise be unable to afford them.

Pullman Scholarships are only given for undergraduate study. The average stipend for recent first-year classes has been approximately $3,000. Individual Pullman stipends vary from $200 to $4,000, based on the recipient’s financial need and scholarships/grants available from other sources. Each year, from a group of approximately 300 applicants, 50-60 recipients will be selected for first time awards.

The scholarship is intended to help make it possible for students of modest means to attend colleges and technical schools whose cost might otherwise be prohibitive. The awards are paid directly to the college to be applied to the student’s account.

Competition for Pullman Foundation scholarships is open to:

Residents of Cook County, Illinois. The student’s parent(s) and/or guardian(s), or a parent or guardian who has custody of the student, must be residents at the time the student graduates from high school. The student must be nominated by the high school counselor or approved sponsoring college access program.

Children and siblings of alumni of the Pullman Free School of Manual Training, regardless of their place of residence; and

Children or siblings of former or current Pullman Scholars, regardless of their place of residence. All applicants must meet citizenship or residency eligibility requirements for U.S. federal student aid programs. All decisions regarding eligibility status will be made by the Pullman Foundation, and shall be final.

Only those students who meet the requirements listed on page 1 are able to compete for a Pullman scholarship. The Foundation will review the academic and personal record of each eligible applicant as well as his or her need for financial assistance in making its decisions. Each applicant must:

demonstrate a need for financial assistance;

demonstrate the ability and strong desire to achieve a good academic record;

file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine the level of state and federal aid for which he or she qualifies; and

submit a copy of his or her Student Aid Report (SAR) to the Foundation.

Please note that due to limited funds and a highly competitive pool of applicants, it is impossible to assist every eligible or qualified applicant. All eligible applicants are subject to the same qualifications and other criteria.

Pullman scholarships are awarded on a yearly basis and are renewable through eight semesters or twelve quarters of full time undergraduate study. Recipients may petition the Scholarship Selection Committee for extension of a scholarship stipend for up to two semesters or three quarters of additional full time undergraduate course work required to complete the recipient’s intended program of study. In the case of undergraduate professional degree programs, awards may be renewed for an additional four semesters or six quarters if needed for the scholar to complete the program. Scholarship renewal is contingent upon maintenance of a satisfactory academic record and continuing financial need. Renewal is not available for graduate study or graduate professional study. Pullman scholarships are limited to the first undergraduate degree ONLY!