{"id":21463,"date":"2023-09-20T11:44:51","date_gmt":"2023-09-20T15:44:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.bc3.edu\/?p=21463"},"modified":"2024-02-28T14:02:12","modified_gmt":"2024-02-28T19:02:12","slug":"bc3-earns-9th-no-1-ranking-in-9-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.bc3.edu\/bc3-earns-9th-no-1-ranking-in-9-years\/","title":{"rendered":"BC3 earns 9th No. 1 ranking in 9 years"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"21463\" class=\"elementor elementor-21463\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3059299 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"3059299\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-39b42d5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"39b42d5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.21.0 - 08-05-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<p>(Butler, PA) Butler County Community College, which this year received the largest financial gift in its history, opened two state-of-the-art learning facilities and marked the 10th anniversary of an additional location established to serve students in Pennsylvania counties under-represented by higher education, has been ranked as the No. 1 community college in Pennsylvania for the ninth time since 2015.<\/p><p>BestColleges.com analyzed data from the U.S. Department of Education and considered factors such as academic quality, affordability and online competency in picking BC3 as the top accredited community college in the state in 2023.<\/p><p>BC3 and the nine other institutions in BestColleges.com\u2019s 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.<\/p><p>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.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d0520e9 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"d0520e9\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c11c51d elementor-blockquote--skin-quotation elementor-blockquote--button-color-official elementor-widget elementor-widget-blockquote\" data-id=\"c11c51d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"blockquote.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor-pro - v3.21.0 - 30-04-2024 *\/\n@charset \"UTF-8\";.entry-content blockquote.elementor-blockquote:not(.alignright):not(.alignleft),.entry-summary blockquote.elementor-blockquote{margin-right:0;margin-left:0}.elementor-widget-blockquote blockquote{margin:0;padding:0;outline:0;font-size:100%;vertical-align:baseline;background:transparent;quotes:none;border:0;font-style:normal;color:#3f444b}.elementor-widget-blockquote blockquote .e-q-footer:after,.elementor-widget-blockquote blockquote 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.elementor-blockquote__tweet-button:before{right:auto;left:-.8em;border-right-color:#1da1f2;border-left-color:transparent}.elementor-blockquote--button-skin-bubble.elementor-blockquote--align-left .elementor-blockquote__tweet-button:hover:before{border-right-color:#0967a0}.elementor-blockquote--button-skin-bubble.elementor-blockquote--align-right .elementor-blockquote__tweet-button:before{left:auto;right:-.8em;border-right-color:transparent;border-left-color:#1da1f2}.elementor-blockquote--button-skin-bubble.elementor-blockquote--align-right .elementor-blockquote__tweet-button:hover:before{border-left-color:#0967a0}.elementor-blockquote--skin-boxed .elementor-blockquote{background-color:#f9fafa;padding:30px}.elementor-blockquote--skin-border .elementor-blockquote{border-color:#f9fafa;border-style:solid;border-inline-start-width:7px;padding-inline-start:20px}.elementor-blockquote--skin-quotation .elementor-blockquote:before{content:\"\u201c\";font-size:100px;color:#f9fafa;font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif;font-weight:900;line-height:1;display:block;height:.6em}.elementor-blockquote--skin-quotation .elementor-blockquote__content{margin-top:15px}.elementor-blockquote--align-left .elementor-blockquote__content{text-align:left}.elementor-blockquote--align-left .elementor-blockquote .e-q-footer{flex-direction:row}.elementor-blockquote--align-right .elementor-blockquote__content{text-align:right}.elementor-blockquote--align-right .elementor-blockquote .e-q-footer{flex-direction:row-reverse}.elementor-blockquote--align-center .elementor-blockquote{text-align:center}.elementor-blockquote--align-center .elementor-blockquote .e-q-footer,.elementor-blockquote--align-center .elementor-blockquote__author{display:block}.elementor-blockquote--align-center .elementor-blockquote__tweet-button{margin-right:auto;margin-left:auto}<\/style>\t\t<blockquote class=\"elementor-blockquote\">\n\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-blockquote__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\u201cWhen I apply to the jobs I want, BC3 will be on my resume. I can be proud that I went to the nine-time No. 1-ranked community college.\u201d \t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-q-footer\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<cite class=\"elementor-blockquote__author\">Collin Jacobson, BC3 @ Brockway business management student <\/cite>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a9234f4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"a9234f4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.21.0 - 08-05-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-image{text-align:center}.elementor-widget-image a{display:inline-block}.elementor-widget-image a img[src$=\".svg\"]{width:48px}.elementor-widget-image img{vertical-align:middle;display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"778\" src=\"https:\/\/news.bc3.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/BC3_Brockway_Jacobson_Collin_091423-1024x778.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-21497\" alt=\"BC3_No. 1_BestColleges_2023\" srcset=\"https:\/\/news.bc3.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/BC3_Brockway_Jacobson_Collin_091423-1024x778.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/news.bc3.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/BC3_Brockway_Jacobson_Collin_091423-350x266.jpg 350w, https:\/\/news.bc3.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/BC3_Brockway_Jacobson_Collin_091423-150x114.jpg 150w, https:\/\/news.bc3.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/BC3_Brockway_Jacobson_Collin_091423-768x584.jpg 768w, https:\/\/news.bc3.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/BC3_Brockway_Jacobson_Collin_091423-750x570.jpg 750w, https:\/\/news.bc3.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/BC3_Brockway_Jacobson_Collin_091423-1140x866.jpg 1140w, https:\/\/news.bc3.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/BC3_Brockway_Jacobson_Collin_091423.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" data-full-width=\"1500\" data-full-height=\"1140\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Collin Jacobson, 19, of Curwensville, is shown Thursday, Sept. 14, 2023, at BC3 @ Brockway in Brockway, where he is a business management student. BC3 has been ranked as the No. 1 community college in Pennsylvania for a ninth time since 2015.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1a62ed7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1a62ed7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>\u201cBC3 has been on this nine-time winning streak,\u201d said Terence Rice, 21, an accounting student at<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bc3.edu\/campus\/lawrence-crossing\/index.html\"> BC3 @ Lawrence Crossing<\/a> in New Castle. \u201cIt\u2019s impressive. It really is.\u201d<\/p><p>\u201cIt makes me proud,\u201d said Elizabeth Tracy, 22, of Cranberry Township, and a health care science student at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bc3.edu\/campus\/cranberry\/index.html\">BC3 @ Cranberry<\/a> in Cranberry Township. \u201cIt\u2019s important to me because I know I am at a school that actually cares about their students and puts forth so much effort into helping them to succeed.\u201d<\/p><p>\u201cWhen I apply to the jobs I want, BC3 will be on my resume,\u201d said Collin Jacobson, 19, a business management student at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bc3.edu\/campus\/brockway\/index.html\">BC3 @ Brockway<\/a> in Brockway, an additional location that in July celebrated its 10th anniversary of serving students in Clarion, Clearfield, Elk and Jefferson counties.<\/p><p>\u201cI can be proud that I went to the nine-time No. 1-ranked community college.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-15a51a4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"15a51a4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1140\" height=\"570\" src=\"https:\/\/news.bc3.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/BC3_Lawrence-Crossing_Rice_Terence_091323-1140x570.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-jnews-1140x570 size-jnews-1140x570 wp-image-21470\" alt=\"BC3_No. 1_BestColleges_2023\" srcset=\"https:\/\/news.bc3.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/BC3_Lawrence-Crossing_Rice_Terence_091323-1140x570.jpeg 1140w, https:\/\/news.bc3.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/BC3_Lawrence-Crossing_Rice_Terence_091323-360x180.jpeg 360w, https:\/\/news.bc3.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/BC3_Lawrence-Crossing_Rice_Terence_091323-750x375.jpeg 750w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1140px) 100vw, 1140px\" data-full-width=\"1500\" data-full-height=\"1013\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Terence Rice, 21, of Neshannock Township, is shown Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023, at BC3 @ Lawrence Crossing in New Castle, where he is an accounting student. \nBC3 has been ranked as the No. 1 community college in Pennsylvania for a ninth time since 2015.\n<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7411b40 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"7411b40\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a0b121c elementor-blockquote--skin-quotation elementor-blockquote--button-color-official elementor-widget elementor-widget-blockquote\" data-id=\"a0b121c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"blockquote.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<blockquote class=\"elementor-blockquote\">\n\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-blockquote__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\u201cUniversities, 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.\u201d\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-q-footer\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<cite class=\"elementor-blockquote__author\">Veronica Lenzi, BC3 @ LindenPointe general studies student <\/cite>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8def4b0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"8def4b0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1140\" height=\"570\" src=\"https:\/\/news.bc3.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/BC3_Cranberry_Tracy_Elizabeth_091323-1140x570.jpg\" class=\"attachment-jnews-1140x570 size-jnews-1140x570 wp-image-21482\" alt=\"BC3_No. 1_BestColleges_2023\" srcset=\"https:\/\/news.bc3.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/BC3_Cranberry_Tracy_Elizabeth_091323-1140x570.jpg 1140w, https:\/\/news.bc3.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/BC3_Cranberry_Tracy_Elizabeth_091323-360x180.jpg 360w, https:\/\/news.bc3.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/BC3_Cranberry_Tracy_Elizabeth_091323-750x375.jpg 750w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1140px) 100vw, 1140px\" data-full-width=\"1500\" data-full-height=\"1013\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Elizabeth Tracy, 22, of Cranberry Township, is shown Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023, at BC3 @ Cranberry in Cranberry Township, where she is a heath care science student. BC3 has been ranked as the No. 1 community college in Pennsylvania for a ninth time since 2015.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d7df349 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d7df349\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3>\u201cIt all starts in the classroom\u201d<\/h3><p>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.<\/p><p>\u201cTo consistently rank highly with BestColleges is a strong indicator that a college will provide high-quality education at a great value,\u201d said Danika Miller, BestColleges editor. \u201cA 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.\u201d<\/p><p>\u201cIt all starts in the classroom,\u201d added Dr. Nick Neupauer, BC3\u2019s president since 2007 and the<a href=\"https:\/\/news.bc3.edu\/neupauer-to-become-bc3s-longest-serving-president\/\"> longest-serving chief executive officer<\/a> in the 58-year history of western Pennsylvania\u2019s first community college. \u201cAnd that excellence in the classroom, in a teaching institution that is student-centered, is at the core of all of our successes.\u201d<\/p><p>Joseph E. Kubit is a Butler County judge, chairman of BC3\u2019s board of trustees and a 1984 graduate of BC3.<\/p><p>\u201cBeing recognized, once again, as Pennsylvania\u2019s No. 1 community college is truly an honor,\u201d Kubit said. \u201cIt 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.\u201d<\/p><p>BC3 in August received its <a href=\"https:\/\/news.bc3.edu\/3m-gift-to-bc3-largest-in-college-history\/\">first $3 million gift<\/a>, which college officials said will benefit students. The contribution to the BC3 Education Foundation from the estate of former state Sen. Tim Shaffer is the seventh of at least $1 million in the past nine years.<\/p><p>The college opened the 15,000-square-foot <a href=\"https:\/\/news.bc3.edu\/community-grand-opening-to-showcase-new-bc3-armstrong-facility-in-ford-city\/\">BC3 @ Armstrong facility<\/a> in March in Ford City, and the 25,000-square-foot<a href=\"https:\/\/news.bc3.edu\/guests-to-be-in-awe-of-bc3s-newest-facility\/\"> Victor K. Phillips Nursing and Allied Health Building<\/a> in August on its main campus.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5d48630 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"5d48630\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"692\" src=\"https:\/\/news.bc3.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/BC3_Main-Campus_Spadafora_Rocco_091923-1024x692.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-21493\" alt=\"BC3_No. 1_BestColleges_2023\" srcset=\"https:\/\/news.bc3.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/BC3_Main-Campus_Spadafora_Rocco_091923-1024x692.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/news.bc3.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/BC3_Main-Campus_Spadafora_Rocco_091923-350x236.jpg 350w, https:\/\/news.bc3.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/BC3_Main-Campus_Spadafora_Rocco_091923-150x101.jpg 150w, https:\/\/news.bc3.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/BC3_Main-Campus_Spadafora_Rocco_091923-768x519.jpg 768w, https:\/\/news.bc3.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/BC3_Main-Campus_Spadafora_Rocco_091923-750x507.jpg 750w, https:\/\/news.bc3.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/BC3_Main-Campus_Spadafora_Rocco_091923-1140x770.jpg 1140w, https:\/\/news.bc3.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/BC3_Main-Campus_Spadafora_Rocco_091923.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" data-full-width=\"1500\" data-full-height=\"1013\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Rocco Spadafora, 18, of Pittsburgh, is shown Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023, on BC3\u2019s main campus in Butler Township, where he is a business administration student. BC3 has been ranked as the No. 1 community college in Pennsylvania for a ninth time since 2015.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ef0d0d9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ef0d0d9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3>\u201cTeachers are very personable\u201d<\/h3><p>Nearly 52 percent of BC3\u2019s students as of Aug. 31 were enrolled in associate degree transfer programs, according to Sharla Anke, the college\u2019s assistant dean of institutional research and planning.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1c819d0 e-grid e-con-full e-con e-child\" data-id=\"1c819d0\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8cadeab elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8cadeab\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>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.<\/p><p>BC3\u2019s student-to-faculty ratio is 12:1 and the lowest of the nine other institutions in BestColleges.com\u2019s Top 10 in 2023, according to the U.S. Department of Education\u2019s National Center for Education Statistics.<\/p><p>\u201cUniversities, 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,\u201d said Veronica Lenzi, 19, of West Middlesex, Mercer County, a general studies student at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bc3.edu\/campus\/lindenpointe\/index.html\">BC3 @ LindenPointe<\/a> in Hermitage.<\/p><p>\u201cIf you are struggling with anything, your teachers are right there to help you. It just feels like a supportive environment.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d84c132 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"d84c132\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/news.bc3.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/BC3_LindenPointe_Lenzi_Veronica_091823.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-21502\" alt=\"BC3_No. 1_BestColleges_2023\" srcset=\"https:\/\/news.bc3.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/BC3_LindenPointe_Lenzi_Veronica_091823.jpeg 150w, https:\/\/news.bc3.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/BC3_LindenPointe_Lenzi_Veronica_091823-100x150.jpeg 100w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" data-full-width=\"150\" data-full-height=\"225\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Veronica Lenzi, 19, of West Middlesex, is a general studies student at BC3 @ LindenPointe in Hermitage. BC3 has been named the No. 1 community college in Pennsylvania for a ninth time since 2015. <\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e72f377 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e72f377\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Rocco Spadafora, 18, is a business administration student on BC3\u2019s main campus.<\/p><p>\u201cI already knew that the education at BC3 would be really good to set me up for the future,\u201d he said. \u201cThe teachers are very personable to every single student. They care about every single student individually.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8de5643 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"8de5643\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1140\" height=\"570\" src=\"https:\/\/news.bc3.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/BC3_Armstrong_Cigola_Connor_091823-1140x570.jpg\" class=\"attachment-jnews-1140x570 size-jnews-1140x570 wp-image-21489\" alt=\"BC3_No. 1_BestColleges_2023\" srcset=\"https:\/\/news.bc3.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/BC3_Armstrong_Cigola_Connor_091823-1140x570.jpg 1140w, https:\/\/news.bc3.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/BC3_Armstrong_Cigola_Connor_091823-360x180.jpg 360w, https:\/\/news.bc3.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/BC3_Armstrong_Cigola_Connor_091823-750x375.jpg 750w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1140px) 100vw, 1140px\" data-full-width=\"1500\" data-full-height=\"1013\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Connor Cigola, 19, of Ford City, is shown Monday, Sept. 18, 2023, at BC3 @ Armstrong in Ford City, where he is a general studies student. BC3 has been ranked as the No. 1 community college in Pennsylvania for a ninth time since 2015.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-335d180 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"335d180\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3>\u201cIt\u2019s almost been too perfect, with the cost savings \u2026\u201d<\/h3><p>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.<\/p><p>BC3\u2019s $5,328 average net price in 2021-2022 was the lowest of the nine other institutions in BestColleges.com\u2019s Top 10 in 2023, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.<\/p><p>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.<\/p><p>\u201cSince I have been at BC3, it\u2019s almost been too perfect, with the cost savings and the quality of education,\u201d said Rice, of BC3 @ Lawrence Crossing.<\/p><p>\u201cI know some people who are in a good bit of debt,\u201d said Connor Cigola, 19, a general studies student at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bc3.edu\/campus\/armstrong\/index.html\">BC3 @ Armstrong<\/a> who plans to graduate debt-free from BC3, as did 75 percent of the college\u2019s Class of 2023.<\/p><p>\u201cThey don\u2019t know how they are going to pay it off.\u201d<\/p><p>The college\u2019s Education Foundation in 2022-2023 awarded a record $281,000 in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bc3.edu\/paying\/financial-aid\/scholarships.html\">scholarships<\/a> to BC3 students and this year has a record <a href=\"https:\/\/news.bc3.edu\/application-deadline-nears-for-record-155-bc3-scholarships\/\">155 named financial awards<\/a> available.<\/p><p>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.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-523149d elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"523149d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"692\" src=\"https:\/\/news.bc3.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/BC3_Virtual-Programs_Miller_Amelia_091423-1024x692.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-21498\" alt=\"BC3_No. 1_BestColleges_2023\" srcset=\"https:\/\/news.bc3.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/BC3_Virtual-Programs_Miller_Amelia_091423-1024x692.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/news.bc3.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/BC3_Virtual-Programs_Miller_Amelia_091423-350x236.jpg 350w, https:\/\/news.bc3.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/BC3_Virtual-Programs_Miller_Amelia_091423-150x101.jpg 150w, https:\/\/news.bc3.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/BC3_Virtual-Programs_Miller_Amelia_091423-768x519.jpg 768w, https:\/\/news.bc3.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/BC3_Virtual-Programs_Miller_Amelia_091423-750x507.jpg 750w, https:\/\/news.bc3.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/BC3_Virtual-Programs_Miller_Amelia_091423-1140x770.jpg 1140w, https:\/\/news.bc3.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/BC3_Virtual-Programs_Miller_Amelia_091423.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" data-full-width=\"1500\" data-full-height=\"1013\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Amelia Miller, 18, of Butler, a student in Butler County Community College\u2019s new virtual associate degree program in psychology, is shown at her home on Thursday, Sept. 14, 2023. BC3 has been ranked as the No. 1 community college in Pennsylvania for a ninth time since 2015.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-513ebd3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"513ebd3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3>BC3\u2019s new virtual programs \u201csolid option\u201d<\/h3><p>A record 345 fall students \u2013 and an increase of 29 percent from 10 years ago \u2013 are taking only online courses at BC3. The college this fall debuted <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bc3.edu\/programs-classes\/online-distance-education\/index.html\">virtual<\/a> associate degree transfer and career programs, and certificate or workplace certificate programs that are instructed by BC3 faculty.<\/p><p>\u201cThe 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,\u201d said Ann McCandless, the college\u2019s dean of educational technology.<\/p><p>Amelia Miller, 18, of Butler, works 20 hours a week and is enrolled this fall in the college\u2019s new virtual associate degree program in psychology.<\/p><p>\u201cIt definitely saves me time,\u201d Miller said. \u201cI can do my schoolwork really any time during the day and not have to worry about rushing from college to get to work.\u201d<\/p><p>BC3 will hold fall open houses from Oct. 10 to Nov. 15. Prospective students can RSVP at<a href=\"https:\/\/apply.bc3.edu\/upcoming-events\/\"> bc3.edu\/open-house<\/a><\/p><p>Following BC3 in BestColleges.com\u2019s 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.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>(Butler, PA) Butler County Community College, which this year received the largest financial gift in its history, opened two state-of-the-art learning facilities and marked the 10th anniversary of an additional [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":21464,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_price":"","_stock":"","_tribe_ticket_header":"","_tribe_default_ticket_provider":"TEC\\Tickets\\Commerce\\Module","_tribe_ticket_capacity":"0","_ticket_start_date":"","_ticket_end_date":"","_tribe_ticket_show_description":"","_tribe_ticket_show_not_going":false,"_tribe_ticket_use_global_stock":"","_tribe_ticket_global_stock_level":"","_global_stock_mode":"","_global_stock_cap":"","_tribe_rsvp_for_event":"","_tribe_ticket_going_count":"","_tribe_ticket_not_going_count":"","_tribe_tickets_list":"[]","_tribe_ticket_has_attendee_info_fields":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[209,218],"tags":[305,278,276,254,368,371,253,255,298,256,258,261,260,236,277,325],"post_folder":[],"ticketed":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.bc3.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21463"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.bc3.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.bc3.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.bc3.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.bc3.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21463"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/news.bc3.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21463\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":21864,"href":"https:\/\/news.bc3.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21463\/revisions\/21864"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.bc3.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/21464"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.bc3.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21463"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.bc3.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21463"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.bc3.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21463"},{"taxonomy":"post_folder","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.bc3.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post_folder?post=21463"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}