orsa Member Scholarships

Funder: orsa credit union (formerly Community Financial Credit Union)

Geographic Scope: Michigan

Focus Areas: Higher education and career training through accredited colleges, universities, and CTE trade schools

Award Details:

• Total funding: $40,000 annually
• 10 general undergraduate scholarships at $3,000 each
• 5 CTE/trade school scholarships at $2,000 each
• Partnership with Local Impact Alliance

Eligibility Requirements

• Must be an orsa credit union member with account opened on or before December 31, 2025
• Must be applying to or accepted at an accredited college, university, or CTE trade school for full-time or part-time enrollment
• Must be pursuing an undergraduate degree or CTE trade school degree
• Previous recipients and applicants are eligible to apply again if criteria are still met
• NOT eligible: orsa board members, employees, and their family members

Evaluation Criteria

• Community service
• Extracurricular activities
• Letter of recommendation
• Job or employment experience
• Application essay question
• Financial need
• Academic performance
• No minimum GPA required

Mission

Fighting rising tuition costs by supporting Michigan students pursuing higher education and trade careers. The program has been supporting Michigan students for over 30 years.

Contact

Foundation Email: foundation@orsacu.org

Additional Scholarship Funds Available:

• Margaret Dunning Memorial Scholarship Fund
• George Lawton Memorial Scholarship Fund
• Ron Carlson Memorial Scholarship Fund

Donations: The orsa Scholarship Fund accepts member contributions to support students. Contributions can be made online or by contacting the foundation team.

How to Apply for orsa Member Scholarships

Application Format: Entirely online

Required Materials:

1. Last four digits of orsa account number
2. Latest transcript (no minimum GPA required)
3. Letter of recommendation from someone other than a family member
4. Online application form answering required questions

Application Steps:

1. Gather required materials (transcript and letter of recommendation)
2. Visit the general scholarship application or CTE/Trade application portal
3. Enter last four digits of orsa account number
4. Complete online application form
5. Upload/attach latest transcript
6. Upload/attach letter of recommendation
7. Submit application

Application Question Topics:

• Application essay question (specific topic not detailed in materials)

Submission Format: Online portal submission

Timeline Note: 2026 applications were open as of February 2, 2026 and have now closed. Applications typically open earlier in the calendar year for fall semester enrollment.

For More Information:
Refer to the full Scholarships page on orsacu.org or contact foundation@orsacu.org