Roberta B. Willis Need-Merit Scholarship — Connecticut Office of Higher Education

The Roberta B. Willis Need-Merit Scholarship combines financial need and academic achievement for Connecticut residents attending an eligible public or nonprofit private college. The Office of Higher Education (OHE) page lists academic routes including a class rank in the top 20 percent or an SAT score of 1,200 or ACT score of 25, alongside a Student Aid Index cutoff that OHE sets each year. The published maximum is up to $5,250 per year for a four-year program and $4,650 for a two-year program; the cap is not a guaranteed offer and does not replace the college’s aid notice.

The application detail that can change the outcome is who submits it: students do not file the Need-Merit application themselves. A high-school counselor must nominate the student through CT Scholars, while the student completes FAFSA by February 15 and lists an eligible institution on the federal form. OHE says it sets the SAI cutoff annually, so do not copy a threshold from an older guide or social-media post. If the counselor lacks portal access or the file does not appear, contact the state office and the college aid office well before the deadline.

Awards are made by academic year, and the package can vary by term with need, funding and approved cost. In a public discussion, one college student asked why the award showed for fall but not spring, including a comparison with another student. The thread does not reveal the cause or prove a general problem; it does show why students should review each term, OHE notices and the student account, and ask whether verification is missing or the need calculation changed. Keep FAFSA confirmation, the counselor’s submission record and the award notice; ask Student Financial Aid to explain the amount, renewal and remaining balance.