UConn Announces Unique Partnership With Waterbury Students

STORRS/WATERBURY, CT — The University of Connecticut has entered into a unique partnership with a municipality.

Waterbury students who maintain strong academic performance will receive substantial financial aid to support their academic careers at UConn if they are offered and accept admission at any of the school’s campuses, UConn and city officials announced Wednesday.

The Waterbury Promise program’s partnership with UConn was unveiled Wednesday at the university's Waterbury campus in an event that included Interim UConn President Dr. Andrew Agwunobi, Mayor Neil O’Leary, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Verna Ruffin.

The program goes into effect with the first incoming class of graduating high school seniors from Waterbury’s high schools, who would become part of UConn’s Class of 2026 if they are offered and accept admission to the campuses in Storrs, Waterbury, Hartford, Stamford, or Avery Point.

The Waterbury Promise Scholars at UConn will receive $5,000 per year from the University to be split between fall and spring semesters, paired with generous need-based scholarships from the Promise program that would increase for each of the next three cohorts as the program expands.
For some students with modest family incomes, that combination of aid along with other federal, state, and UConn aid could cover most or all of their tuition and fees, and potentially a large part of their on-campus room and board costs if they live in Storrs or Stamford student housing.

There will be no cap on the number of Waterbury Promise Scholars who can benefit from the opportunity.