Butler County Community College (BCCC, BC3) Introduction and Academics

Introduction

Butler County Community College, or BC3 as it is commonly known, was founded in 1965. Its main campus is located in Butler, PA and three additional satellite campuses can be found in Cranberry Township, Newcastle, and Hermitage. The school is a comprehensive two-year college offering certificates for those who wish to add new skills and advance in their careers as well as associate degrees that help prepare students to further their education at a four-year college or university or for entry-level jobs in the workforce.

This commuter campus offers programs that are often a mix of traditional class time and online distance learning, which creates a lot of flexible opportunities for those already with careers.

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Information Summary

Ranks 214th in Pennsylvania and 3360th overall. See the entire top 2,000 colleges and universities list
Overall Score (about)	45.3
Total Cost On-Campus Attendance	$6,350
Admission Success rate	N/A
Student Ratio Students-to-Faculty	23 : 1
Retention (full-time / part-time)	60% / 44%
Enrollment Total (all students)	3,305

Academics

Business Division

This division offers students occupational majors to choose from, which were designed to prepare them for entrance into the workforce soon after graduation, or they can transfer to a four-year college or university to complete a bachelor’s degree. Some of these programs include Human Resources, Hospitality Management, and Marketing Management.

Nursing and Allied Health

Students enrolled in this division will encounter a mix of coursework and clinical work and graduates are often well prepared to pursue jobs in the medical field right after graduation. Programs include Nursing, Physical Therapy Assistant, Medical Assistant, Massage Therapy, and Paramedic.

Humanities and Social Sciences

Students interested in General Education enroll in this division and there are currently 10 transfer programs and nine occupational programs. This division uses both a traditional class approach in conjunction with distance learning, so access to a personal computer is a must-have.

Natural Science & Technology

There are four transfer programs and 11 occupational programs in this division. The technology track is more hands-on, preparing students for the workforce after graduation. Most natural sciences students are able to transfer their credits to a four-year college or university and complete a bachelor’s degree.

Online

The online program awards degrees with the same distinction as traditional classes and students receive the same credit as well. Orientation is required and books will still need to be purchased, but this is great option to earn a degree if regular classroom attendance is an issue.

Most Popular Fields of Study

Unique Programs

BC3 has many partnerships with local agencies to provide the area with it’s Community & Workforce Program, which is geared towards providing opportunities for professionals already in the workforce to learn new skills and complete any holes in their training.

Certificates can be earned in the following programs:

Lifelong Learning
Public Safety
Business Training
Professional Education
Industrial Safety Training

Admissions

The college has an open admissions policy, meaning that anyone with a high school diploma or GED is welcome to apply. There is a nominal application fee, which can be waived if you are a returning student. Please note that if you are applying for the Nursing, Physical Therapy Assistant, Medical Assistant, Massage Therapy, or Paramedic program that these have additional requirements and a separate application is necessary. The school should be contacted directly to make arrangements to apply.

Financial Aid

Financial aid is offered and students have many options when it comes to financing their education here. Pell, PHEAA State, and Federal SEOG grants are available, along with student loans. Completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a must for anyone applying for aid.

The school also offers thousands of dollars worth of BC3 Education Foundation scholarships and interested students need to contact the school for a form and to see if they qualify.

The Work Study program is another avenue for funding, and these consist of part-time jobs on campus, of up to 20 hours per week. Students need to fill out the FAFSA, apply to a job, be registered for at least six credits, and have a minimum GPA of 2.00 to be considered.

The Veteran’s Benefits program is essential for any veteran wishing to receive funding. The Veterans Coordinator will handle all requests so anyone interested needs to arrange an appointment by contacting the Department of Veterans Affairs at the school.

Student Financial Aid Details

Ranks 6003rd for the average student loan amount.
Secrets to getting the best scholarships and financial aid in Pennsylvania.

Athletics

The Pioneers proudly wear their navy blue and white while cheering on their teams. Students can join the men’s basketball, baseball, and golf teams, along with the women’s basketball, golf, softball, and volleyball teams.

The school participates in the Western Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference (WPCC), Pennsylvania Collegiate Athletic Association (PCAA), and the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA).

Additional School Information

The college is home to a great entertainment venue, the Succop Theater which features plays, musicals, local artists, dance and performing arts, and even the Pittsburgh Philharmonic.

Accreditation

The school is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and the Nursing program is accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission Inc. (NLNAC).

Butler County Community College