Admissions & Tuition

Visitation

All prospective students are not only invited, but strongly encouraged to schedule an on-campus visit with an Admissions Counselor. The Admissions Office is located in the Student Success Center on BC3’s Main Campus. Individual and group campus tours are available and can be arranged with the Admissions Office by calling (724) 284-8501 or toll free at 888-826-2829. Prospective students may also contact the BC3 location closest to them in Brockway, Cranberry Twp., Hermitage, or New Castle.

Admissions Policy

Butler County Community College subscribes to an open admissions policy and is committed to serve all who may benefit from the academic programs of the institution. As such, the College does not require standardized pre-admissions testing such as the SAT or the ACT.

The open admissions policy includes:

• All high school graduates
• All students who have earned a GED high school equivalency
• Individuals who have not earned a high school diploma or a GED may be considered for admission if they demonstrate the ability to benefit from the college experience. After successfully completing 30 credits at BC3, they can petition for a Commonwealth Secondary School Diploma. Federal financial aid is not awarded to students without a high school diploma, GED, or Commonwealth Secondary School Diploma.

Students who have completed at least two years of high school maintaining a 3.0 or higher cumulative GPA and wish to begin taking college classes may be able to do so. These individuals must contact the Admissions Office for further information and permission forms.

Admissions Procedures

An application, a $25 non-refundable, one-time application fee, and an official copy of the high school transcript are required of most applicants for admission. Transfer students must send an official copy of transcripts from all colleges previously attended. Neither ACT nor SAT exams are required for admission. Paper applications are available through the mail, at the high school guidance offices, on the website or in person during an Admissions visit. Students may also apply online and pay the application fee with a credit card. Applicants are notified of their acceptance approximately two weeks from the date of their application.

The Massage Therapy, Medical Assistant, Nursing (RN), and Physical Therapist Assistant programs are selective and each has special requirements for admission. Contact the Admissions Office for specific details. Nursing applications are accepted only from July 1 to October 31 for admission in the following fall semester.

Placement Testing

Upon admission to the College, students are required to take a placement test. The results of this test are used to assist students in selecting appropriate courses. If test scores indicate a need to strengthen basic skills in reading, mathematics, or English, students will be required to enroll in one or more developmental and/or preparatory courses. Students have the opportunity to retest once in each subject area. No fee is charged for the placement test or for the retests.  Students who have a college-level English and/or Math class passed with a “C” or higher may be exempt from placement testing upon receipt of their transcript.

Re-Admission

Students previously enrolled at BC3 who wish to return after an absence of one semester or more (not including the summer sessions) must update their application through the Admissions Office. They cannot apply online, but will need to download the application from the website, complete it and either mail it in or drop it off. There is no fee for re-admission.

A student who does not attend for two calendar years or longer may be re-admitted to the College, but will return under the most current program planner and catalog. Requests for exemption may be made in writing to the appropriate Dean.

International Student Admission

Applicants who are citizens of a country other than the United States may apply for admission to Butler County Community College. International students who study at BC3 must take their classes at the main campus located in Butler, Pennsylvania and be full-time students in an Associate Degree program.

In order to be admitted, the student must submit the following:

1. A completed application with a $25 non-refundable, one-time application fee to the Admissions Office.
2. Send a copy of high school transcript (grades) to the Admissions Office. If the applicant has attended any other type of educational program or institution, copies of transcripts for those academic records are also required. NOTE: All records must be translated into the English language.
3. Take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and have the scores sent to the Admissions Office. Students must score 61 on the internet-based test or 500 on the paper-based test and are only valid for two years.
4. A confidential “Certification of Finances” form completed by the same individual who will be signing the “Oath of Sponsorship” form is required to determine ability to finance a BC3 education at the determined rates.

After the steps above have been completed, transcripts, test scores, and financial background will be reviewed and a decision will be made on admission. If accepted, the applicant will receive an acceptance letter and a “Certificate of Eligibility” form (I-20) for immigration purposes. An International student is charged out-of-state tuition and fees. International students are accepted initially only for the fall and spring semester - not for the summer semester. Submission deadlines for materials may be imposed to allow sufficient time for the application to be processed. Deadline dates are June 15 for the fall semester and November 15 for the spring semester.

Senior Citizen Audit

Any resident of Butler County who is at least sixty-two years old (proof of age required) may enroll in credit classes at the College on a space available basis without paying tuition, required fees, or an application fee. However, they must still complete an Application for Admission. At the time of registration, the student must indicate if they wish to take audited or credit courses. Senior citizens may register for available classes on the last day before classes begin. Audit students have the right to attend class, but do not take tests, submit term papers, or receive grades. Students receive an electronic grade report at the end of the semester indicating audit or a grade if taken for credit. Any additional expenses associated with the course such as books and other instructional materials are incurred by the student.

Registration

All students, new and returning, have several opportunities to register for classes and receive academic advising.

• New students can schedule an individual or group advising session to discuss their educational objectives with a College counselor and to plan their course work for the first semester. Information about these sessions is provided to new students when they submit their application for admission.
• An early registration period is conducted to give returning students the opportunity to meet with their advisors and plan their schedules in advance. Students are notified of early registration dates by email.
• Additional registration periods are scheduled prior to the start of the academic semester. The College will publish the dates and times for additional registration sessions.

Students may register in person at Butler Main Campus, BC3 @ Cranberry, BC3 @ Lawrence Crossing, BC3 @ LindenPointe, BC3 @ Brockway or by logging onto the website at bc3.edu.

All students are encouraged to register as early as possible since many classes fill to capacity well before the start of each term.

Only four of the College’s educational programs require special admissions procedures. Students interested in the Massage Therapy, Medical Assistant, Nursing or Physical Therapist Assistant programs should consult those sections of the catalog for application and admission procedures.

Web Registration

Students may register online through the Student Portal. Credit card payments are accepted online. Students may pay for classes after they register online and must do so by the deadline or their scheduled courses will be dropped.

Students can login to the online student portal throughout the semester to register, pay tuition, check midterm and final grades, or drop and add courses.

Transfer Credit

Students at Butler County Community College may receive credit for graded courses taken at most other accredited, degree-granting institutions. The Director of Records and Registration in consultation with the V. P. for Academic Affairs and deans, will review incoming transfer of credits. For courses to be accepted in transfer, they must be listed on a college transcript with a grade of A, B, or C. One and only one course with a D grade may be accepted if approved by the V. P. for Academic Affairs. College-level work will be granted transfer credit where applicable to the student’s program.

Students enrolled in a DEGREE program may not transfer in any more than forty-five (45) credits in any program. This may be done separately or combined with other methods of credit for prior learning.

Students enrolled in a CERTIFICATE program must take fifteen (15) credits in the Certificate program at Butler County Community College. The remainder may be accepted in transfer (separately or combined with other methods of credit for prior learning).

Tuition & Fees - 2014-2015

BC3 has adopted a full-time tuition rate. The full-time tuition rate is a flat rate for students taking between 12-17 credits. Fees will remain on a per credit basis. For more information about the full-time tuition rate, visit bc3.edu.

The Director of Records and Registration can determine county, state, and participating district residency at the time of registration.  In addition to the costs listed above, students should allow for commuting costs, clothing, food, and other personal expenses.

* Tuition and fees are subject to change by action of the Board of Trustees. Fees for other services (such as testing, transcripts, graduation, and noncredit courses) will continue to be set by the administration. Contact the Admissions Office for up-to-date costs.

Refund Policy

1. If you notify the College of complete withdrawal during the first five (5) work days of the semester, your tuition and fees will be refunded.* In the first five (5) College work days, there will be no penalty for partial withdrawal.
2. If you withdraw completely or partially from the sixth through the tenth College work days, 75 percent of the applicable tuition will be refunded.
3. There will be no refund after the tenth College work day.
4. The application for admission fee and the application for graduation fee are non-refundable.
5. Refunds for financial aid recipients must be calculated according to federal and/or state refund regulations.
6. To request a Medical Withdrawal, submit a completed Medical Withdrawal form before the week of final exams. Your refund will be 50 percent for Medical Withdrawal between the eleventh class day and midterm. There will be no refund for Medical Withdrawal after midterm. All Medical Withdrawals must be submitted before the last class day of the semester. The Medical Withdrawal form must be returned to the Director of Records and Registration.
7. If you are a member of the Armed Forces of the United States and your military unit is called to active duty for deployment, you may request a full refund of tuition and refundable fees. You must provide a copy of your deployment orders to the Office of Records and Registration.
8. If you believe that your circumstances may warrant an exception from these rules, submit a written appeal with appropriate documentation to the Office of Records and Registration during the semester in question.

*For six, eight, or ten week sessions, you must notify the College of complete withdrawal during the first three College work days of the session for a 100 percent refund. If you withdraw completely or partially from the fourth through the sixth College work days, 75 percent of the applicable tuition will be refunded. There will be no refund after the sixth College work day. For three week sessions, if you withdraw completely before the second College work day, you will receive a 100 percent refund. If you completely or partially withdraw during the second College work day, 75 percent of the applicable tuition will be refunded. There will be no refund after the second work day.