(Hermitage, PA) Veronica Lenzi had a test the next day in human biology at BC3 @ LindenPointe, an examination that she believed would include her having to draw an atom.
“I haven’t had a science class like that since ninth grade,” said Lenzi, 19, a West Middlesex resident and 2022 graduate of a regional online school. “There was something I didn’t understand in a study guide about electrons and the valence shell.”
She approached her educator, Dr. Deborah Stage.
“I didn’t realize she was actually about to be in another class,” Lenzi said. “She could have easily been like, ‘You can’t ask me right now because I have a class’ or ‘Class is about to start. This is something we learned in class.’ I’ve had high school teachers like that. ‘Oh, you should have been paying attention in class.’ But I was paying attention in class. I just got confused.”
Stage, Lenzi said, “took time out of starting her class. She went over the study guide and helped me.”
Lenzi, who expects to graduate in May from BC3 @ LindenPointe with an associate degree in general studies toward her goal of achieving a doctorate in sociocultural anthropology, is among students praising BC3’s selection as the No. 1 community college in Pennsylvania for a ninth time since 2015.
BestColleges.com analyzed data from the U.S. Department of Education and considered factors such as academic quality, affordability and online competency in ranking BC3 as the top accredited community college in the state in 2023.
BC3 and the nine other institutions in BestColleges.com’s Top 10 in 2023 are accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, a global institutional accreditor recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education since 1952.
BC3 was also selected as the No. 1 community college in Pennsylvania for 2023 and for 2022 by Niche; in 2022, 2020 and in 2017 by BestColleges.com; and in 2019, 2017 and 2015 by Schools.com.
“BC3 always has and will continue to provide a great education for students,” Lenzi said. “I am proud that I get to be a part of this journey with BC3 and that BC3 keeps getting better year after year.”
“If you are struggling with anything, your teachers are right there to help you. It just feels like a supportive environment.”
“It all starts in the classroom”
BestColleges.com publishes information to help students make educational decisions and find schools that best fit their needs through proprietary research, guides and college rankings.
“To consistently rank highly with BestColleges is a strong indicator that a college will provide high-quality education at a great value,” said Danika Miller, BestColleges editor. “A top-ranked school has a variety of programs, positive student outcomes, financial aid opportunities and support for students as they move on to their next step.”
“It all starts in the classroom,” added Dr. Nick Neupauer, BC3’s president since 2007 and the longest-serving chief executive officer in the college’s 58-year history. “And that excellence in the classroom, in a teaching institution, that is student-centered, is at the core of all of our successes.”
Joseph E. Kubit is a Butler County judge, chairman of BC3’s board of trustees and a 1984 BC3 graduate.
“Being recognized, once again, as Pennsylvania’s No. 1 community college is truly an honor,” Kubit said. “It is also a testament to the skill and dedication of the faculty, administration and staff to seeing to it that students at BC3 receive a high-quality, affordable education.”
Small class sizes popular
Nearly 52 percent of BC3’s students as of Aug. 31 were enrolled in associate degree transfer programs, according to Sharla Anke, the college’s assistant dean of institutional research and planning.
About 48 percent were enrolled in programs in which they can develop the skills needed to enter the workforce immediately upon graduation, such as associate degree career programs and certificate or workplace certificate programs.
BC3’s student-to-faculty ratio is 12:1 and the lowest of the nine other institutions in BestColleges.com’s Top 10 in 2023, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics.
“The ratio is hard to compete with here at BC3,” said Terence Rice, 21, of Neshannock Township, Lawrence County, an accounting student at BC3 @ Lawrence Crossing in New Castle.
“You feel a little bit more accountable to do your work when you are in a class with maybe fewer people. As a student, it has helped me to learn better than I ever have, truly.”
Lenzi’s brother, Michael, and sister also attended BC3 @ LindenPointe.
“I get so many teachers coming up to me and saying, ‘Oh, you’re Victoria’s little sister,’” Lenzi said. “They remember her so much. I want to be able to make an impression on them like that also. …
“Universities, the bigger they are, the less connected they usually are with their students. Smaller community colleges like BC3 are able to connect to their students so much more. If you are struggling with anything, your teachers are right there to help you. It just feels like a supportive environment.”
“Student debt is just so exceptionally high. I am fortunate because of how affordable BC3 is that I don’t have to worry about paying off loans for school.”
Students who attend a community college for their first two years can save an estimated $20,000 on the cost of higher education, according to the Pennsylvania Commission for Community Colleges, of which BC3 is a member.
BC3’s $5,328 average net price in 2021-2022 was the lowest of the nine other institutions in BestColleges.com’s Top 10 in 2023, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.
The lowest average net price in 2021-2022 for Pennsylvania residents attending regional public four-year universities was $17,873, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.
“At first I did not plan on going to college,” said Lenzi, who works about 22 hours per week at a restaurant and at a youth organization. “My sister told me, ‘Even if you don’t know what you are going to study, BC3 is a great place to start because of how affordable it is. If you don’t know what you want to do, just go for your general studies and explore the different majors.’
“She said, ‘It’s a great place to start because you are most likely going to end up debt-free.’”
Lenzi plans to graduate debt-free from BC3, as did 75 percent of the college’s Class of 2023.
The college’s Education Foundation in 2022-2023 awarded a record $281,000 in scholarships to BC3 students and this year has a record 155 named financial awards available.
Only residents of seven other states have average monthly student-loan payments higher than do Pennsylvanians with $216.38, according to an April 5 report by LendEDU, a website that provides comparisons for loans, credit cards and other financial products.
“Student debt is just so exceptionally high,” Lenzi said. “I am fortunate because of how affordable BC3 is that I don’t have to worry about paying off loans for school.”
BC3’s new virtual programs “solid option”
A record 345 fall students – and an increase of 29 percent from 10 years ago – are taking only online courses at BC3. The college this fall debuted virtual associate degree transfer and career programs, and certificate or workplace certificate programs that are instructed by BC3 faculty.
“The new virtual programs now provide a solid option for students who may not live near a BC3 location or have transportation issues, and allows them to take advantage of the quality programs that BC3 offers in a fully online format,” said Ann McCandless, the college’s dean of educational technology.
Amelia Miller, 18, of Butler, works 20 hours a week and is enrolled this fall in the college’s new virtual associate degree program in psychology.
“It definitely saves me time,” Miller said. “I can do my schoolwork really any time during the day and not have to worry about rushing from college to get to work.”
BC3 @ LindenPointe’s fall open house will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Nov. 15 at 3182 Innovation Way, Hermitage. Prospective students can RSVP at bc3.edu/open-house
Following BC3 in BestColleges.com’s 2023 rankings were No. 2, Bucks County Community College, Newtown; No. 3, Montgomery County Community College, Blue Bell; No. 4, Northampton County Area Community College, Bethlehem; No. 5, Pennsylvania Highlands Community College, Johnstown; No. 6, Lehigh Carbon Community College, Schnecksville; No. 7, Mercyhurst University-North East Campus; No. 8, Community College of Beaver County, Monaca; No. 9, Luzerne County Community College, Nanticoke; No. 10, Delaware County Community College, Media.
