(Butler, PA) Prospective students can explore programs at BC3 @ Cranberry and at Butler County Community College’s main campus, and learn about the transferability of BC3’s credits and its affordability compared to other regional colleges and universities during open houses this month.
The open house at BC3 @ Cranberry is scheduled for 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Oct. 21 at 250 Executive Drive, Cranberry Township.
The open house at BC3’s main campus is scheduled for 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Oct. 26 at 107 College Drive, Butler Township. A Nursing, R.N., information session will be held at 5:30 p.m.
Attendees will be allowed to bring one guest because of BC3’s current health and safety guidelines.
BC3 is temporarily requiring face coverings to be worn indoors at all BC3 locations. Face coverings must be worn by all students, faculty, staff and visitors in shared spaces inside college facilities, including classrooms and communal spaces, regardless of vaccination status. Individuals with a medical exemption must provide proper documentation from a medical professional.
BC3 will also waive the $25 application fee for prospective students who apply for enrollment at an open house. Prospective students can RSVP at apply.BC3.edu/open-house.
Explore career and transfer programs
Prospective students attending an open house can explore career and transfer programs, and instructional formats, tour classrooms and facilities, and review cost of attendance and financial aid options. They can also learn about support services and student activities and how BC3 has been ranked as the No. 1 community college in Pennsylvania six times since 2015, most recently for 2022 by Niche.com.
Niche.com, Pittsburgh, analyzed information from the U.S. Department of Education, the Brookings Institution and other sources in areas such as academics, value and professors in ranking BC3 first in its 2022 Best Community Colleges in Pennsylvania report.
BC3 @ Cranberry offers associate degrees in six transfer programs and in four career programs.
The college’s main campus offers associate degrees in 32 career programs and in 19 transfer programs.
Students in BC3’s career programs can develop the skills needed to enter the workforce immediately after graduation.
Approximately 71 percent of BC3 students this fall are enrolled in transfer programs.
BC3 students can apply credits earned toward a bachelor’s degree at public, private and online four-year colleges and universities.
Students who complete an associate degree at BC3 in one of 12 select programs can transfer all credits to a parallel program and with junior standing at any Pennsylvania public four-year institution.
Students who complete an associate degree at BC3 in one of eight select programs can transfer all credits to a parallel program at any Penn State University commonwealth campus.
The college’s main campus also offers 24 certificates or workplace certificates that take one year or less to complete.
70% of BC3’s Class of 2021 debt-free
The BC3 Education Foundation in 2021-2022 will award more than $200,000 in named scholarships. Scholarships, financial aid and BC3’s affordability allowed 70 percent of BC3’s Class of 2021 to graduate debt-free.
The average student-loan debt for Pennsylvania’s Class of 2019 was $38,521, according to an April 27 report in LendEDU, a website that provides comparisons for loans, credit cards and other financial products. Only student borrowers in New Hampshire and Connecticut were reported to have higher student-loan debt.
Tuition and fees for Butler County students attending BC3 this fall cost $172 per credit for a face-to-face class.
Tuition and fees for Pennsylvania students attending regional public four-year universities this fall cost between $437 and $504 per credit for a face-to-face class. Tuition and fees for Pennsylvania students attending regional state-related universities this fall cost between $572 and $1,170 per credit for a face-to-face class.
Approximately 83 percent of BC3’s credit classes this fall are face-to-face, about 14 percent are online and 3 percent are remote.
Online courses are delivered only online and at any time. Remote courses include video conferencing, email and Internet-based learning management system formats and are held at a specific time.
BC3 @ Cranberry offers pre-nursing courses
BC3 @ Cranberry’s menu of two-year transfer programs features business administration, criminology, early childhood education (Pre K-4), general studies, psychology and social work.
BC3 @ Cranberry’s selection of two-year career programs includes business management, digital audio and video production, graphic design and photography.
Students can also take pre-nursing courses at BC3 @ Cranberry and finish their degree in Nursing, R.N., on BC3’s main campus.
