Who is impacted?

Hundreds of Uber drivers are students at Arizona State University relying on Uber’s tuition coverage program to earn a degree without overwhelming debt. To qualify for this benefit, we’ve each completed 2,000 trips—a milestone that often takes years of driving. Since then, we’ve worked to meet Uber’s requirements, completing about 20-30 trips a month and maintaining high customer ratings, balancing these trips with our studies, jobs, and family responsibilities. But now, new rules set to take effect on November 1 will require us to start accepting a minimum percentage of trips, gradually increasing to 50% by December 1. This change threatens to force us into financial hardship, jeopardizing our education.

What is at stake?

The ASU tuition program was meant to help drivers like us build a better future. However, if Uber enforces the 50% acceptance rate, drivers will have to choose between their education and their financial stability. One of the main appeals of working with Uber has always been the flexibility to accept or decline any orders we see, allowing us to choose trips that make financial sense and work best for us. As independent contractors, this ability to select profitable trips is essential—not only to maintain our income but to uphold our basic rights as contractors.

Unfortunately, recent economic circumstances have flooded the Uber marketplace with low-paying orders, many of which result in a loss of money after accounting for gas, maintenance, and other expenses. The average Uber driver in the U.S. earns between $0.60 and $1.20 per mile after Uber’s service fees. Once we factor in costs like gas, maintenance, and insurance, net earnings often drop to as low as $0.15 to $0.50 per mile. If we’re forced to accept these low-paying trips that barely cover expenses, many of us will struggle to make ends meet and may even have to drop out of the program we’ve worked so hard to stay in.

Why is now the time to act?

These new rules are set to begin on November 1, with acceptance rate requirements rising to 50% by December 1, so we need your help to protect the education we’ve worked years to earn. Education should be accessible, especially for those willing to work for it. Uber drivers shouldn’t have to risk financial loss to keep a benefit they were promised. Please join us in urging Uber to reconsider this pilot program. Together, we can ensure that Uber drivers across the country have a fair chance at a better future through education.

What we ask of Uber

We respectfully ask Uber to protect its drivers and their access to education by reconsidering the 50% trip acceptance requirement. At the very least, we urge Uber to make an exception for those of us who are already relying on this tuition benefit. We believe Uber can continue supporting drivers’ educational goals without forcing them into financial hardship. Please join us in standing up for fair treatment, contractor rights, and accessible education for every Uber driver in the ASU Tuition Program.