<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2007-02-27</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000087565</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SCHULMAN A INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SHLM</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000887762</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BARINGTON CAPITAL GROUP L P</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>888 SEVENTH AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>17TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10019</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText>See Remarks</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001107149</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BARINGTON COMPANIES EQUITY PARTNERS L P</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>888 SEVENTH AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>17TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10019</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText>See Remarks</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001373188</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Barington Investments LP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>888 SEVENTH AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>17TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10019</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText>See Remarks</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001324906</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Barington Companies Advisors, LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>888 SEVENTH AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>17TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10019</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText>See Remarks</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001324904</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Barington Companies Investors, LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>888 SEVENTH AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>17TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10019</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText>See Remarks</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001390336</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Barington Offshore Advisors II, LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>888 SEVENTH AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>17TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10019</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText>See Remarks</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001324903</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LNA Capital Corp.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>888 SEVENTH AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>17TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10019</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText>See Remarks</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001324905</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Barington Companies Offshore Fund, Ltd. (BVI)</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O BISON FINANCIAL SERVICES LTD.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>BISON COURT, ROAD TOWN</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>TORTOLA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>D8</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>VIRGIN ISLANDS, BRITISH</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText>See Remarks</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-02-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>35386</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>20.789</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>961950</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Barington Companies Offshore Fund, Ltd.</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-02-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5223</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>20.789</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>397916</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Barington Investments, L.P.</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>578918</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Barington Companies Equity Partners, L.P.</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Includes shares owned directly by Barington Companies Equity Partners, L.P., Barington Companies Offshore Fund, Ltd. and Barington Investments, L.P.  As the general partner of Barington Companies Equity Partners, L.P., Barington Companies Investors, LLC may be deemed to beneficially own the shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by Barington Companies Equity Partners, L.P.  As the general partner of Barington Investments, L.P., Barington Companies Advisors, LLC may be deemed to beneficially own the shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by Barington Investments, L.P.  As the investment advisor to Barington Companies Offshore Fund, Ltd., Barington Offshore Advisors II, LLC may be deemed to beneficially own the shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by Barington Companies Offshore Fund, Ltd.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">(Continuation of Footnote 1)   As the majority member of Barington Companies Investors, LLC, Barington Companies Advisors, LLC and Barington Offshore Advisors II, LLC, Barington Capital Group, L.P. may be deemed to beneficially own the shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by Barington Companies Equity Partners, L.P., Barington Investments, L.P. and Barington Companies Offshore Fund, Ltd.  As the general partner of Barington Capital Group, L.P., LNA Capital Corp. may be deemed to beneficially own the shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by Barington Companies Equity Partners, L.P., Barington Investments, L.P. and Barington Companies Offshore Fund, Ltd.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Each Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership of these securities except to the extent of its pecuniary interest therein, and this report shall not be deemed to be an admission that any Reporting Person is the beneficial owner of these securities for purposes of Section 16 or for any other purpose.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>Each Reporting Person may be deemed to be a member of a Section 13(d) group that owns more than 10% of the Issuer's outstanding Common Stock.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>BARINGTON COMPANIES EQUITY PARTNERS, L.P., By: Barington Companies Investors, LLC, its general partner, By: /s/ James A. Mitarotonda, its managing member</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-03-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>BARINGTON COMPANIES INVESTORS, LLC, By: /s/ James A. Mitarotonda, its managing member</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-03-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>BARINGTON INVESTMENTS, L.P., By: Barington Companies Advisors, LLC, its general partner, By:  /s/ James A. Mitarotonda, its managing member</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-03-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>BARINGTON COMPANIES ADVISORS, LLC, By: /s/ James A. Mitarotonda, its managing member</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-03-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>BARINGTON COMPANIES OFFSHORE FUND, LTD., By:  /s/ James A. Mitarotonda, its president</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-03-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>BARINGTON OFFSHORE ADVISORS II, LLC, By: /s/ James A. Mitarotonda, its managing member</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-03-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>BARINGTON CAPITAL GROUP, L.P., By: LNA Capital Corp., its general partner, By: /s/ James A. Mitarotonda, its president and CEO</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-03-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>LNA CAPITAL CORP., By: /s/ James A. Mitarotonda, its president and CEO</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-03-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
