Admissions & Tuition

Visitation

All prospective students are strongly encouraged to schedule an on-campus visit with an Admissions representative. 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., Ford City, Hermitage, or New Castle.

Admissions Policy

Butler County Community College subscribes to an open admission 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. However, if a student provides proof of SAT or ACT scores that meet the prescribed cut-offs it may exempt them from placement testing.

Enrollment at BC3 is open to:

• All high school graduates
• All students who have earned a High School Equivalency Diploma

Individuals who have not earned a high school diploma or a High School Equivalency Diploma may still apply to the college. Their applications will be evaluated by the Dean of Admissions. If admitted, and 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, High School Equivalency Diploma, or Commonwealth Secondary School Diploma.

High school students who have completed their sophomore year and have a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or better who wish to take college classes are able to do so via the College Pathways program. Courses can be taken at any BC3 location or online. Please view the Admissions website or contact the office for further information and permission forms.

High school students concurrently enrolled at BC3 who wish to become degree-seeking after graduating from high school must re-apply to the college. There is no fee to re-apply.

Admissions Procedures

An application, a $25 non-refundable, one-time application fee, and an official copy of the high school transcript are required for admission for first-time applicants to the College. Transfer students must also send an official copy of their transcript(s) from colleges or universities previously attended.

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 debit or 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 acceptance. Contact the Admissions Office for specific details. Nursing applications are available from July 1 to October 31 for admission in the following fall semester.

Returning Students

Students previously enrolled at BC3 who wish to return after an absence of one complete academic year (Fall, Spring and Summer) must re-apply to the college to update their information. There is no fee for re-applying.

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

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 or with appropriate SAT/ACT scores, may be exempt from placement testing upon receipt of their transcript and/or official scores.

International Student Admission

Applicants who are citizens of a country other than the United States may apply for admission to Butler County Community College as an F-1 international student. International students must enroll full-time (12+ credits) in an Associate Degree program for the fall and spring semesters and may take courses at our Main Campus in Butler, BC3 @ Cranberry in Cranberry Twp., BC3 @ Lawrence Crossing in New Castle, or BC3 @ LindenPointe in Hermitage. They will be advised by the PDSO or DSO at their respective location.

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

1. A complete Application for Admission with a $25 non-refundable, one-time application fee in US Dollars.
2. An official copy of their high school transcript (grades) and any other academic records beyond high school at a college, university, training or technical center. They must be translated in to the English language and American education system through World Education Services (www.wes.org) or Educational Credential Evaluators (www.ece.org) in order to be evaluated toward BC3 degree requirements.
3. Take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IETLS) if English is not a native language of their country. Students must submit TOEFL test scores at minimum of 61 on the Internet-based or an IELTS score of a minimum of 5. Test scores are good for two years from the time of completion.
4. Obtain and complete the confidential “Certification of Finances” form and the “Oath of Sponsorship” form to determine the ability to finance a BC3 education.
5. Provide a copy of their valid passport.

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 a letter welcoming them to the college and a “Certificate of Eligibility” form (I-20) for immigration purposes. An international student is charged out-of-state tuition/fees and is not eligible for federal financial aid programs. Submission deadlines for materials may be imposed to allow sufficient time for the application to be processed. Current deadline dates are June 15 for the fall semester (August) and November 15 for the spring semester (January). BC3 does not have on-campus housing for students or the support of an International Student Services Office.

Senior Citizen Credit Enrollment

Any resident of Butler County who is at least 62 years old (proof of age required) may enroll in credit classes at the College on a space available basis without paying tuition, course fees, or an application fee. However, they must still complete an Application for Admission and are responsible for the textbooks and materials associated with the class(es).

At the time of registration, the student must indicate if they wish to take audited or credit courses. Audit students have the right to attend class, but do not take tests, submit term papers, or receive grades. Senior citizens may register for available classes on the last day before classes begin.

Scholars Program

The Scholars Program is a series of courses designed to reward students who seek a more challenging academic experience at Butler County Community College.  Students who have accepted the Presidential Scholarship are enrolled into the Scholars Program.  In addition to the scholarship and the benefit of early registration for classes, Scholars take four Scholars-only classes - two general education courses in the first year of enrollment and two courses leading to an independent study project in the second year of enrollment.

The independent study program answers a research question under the supervision of a mentor. Students may identify  their own research question/project and then find the appropriate mentor or develop a research question/project under the guidance of a mentor (In addition to a faculty mentor, engagement with industry professionals through the project is allowable with approval of the faculty mentor). Students interested in learning more about the Scholars program should contact the coordinator of the Scholars Program, Michael Dittman mike.dittman@bc3.edu

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, BC3 @ Armstrong 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 or call the Admissions Office at 724-284-8501.

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.

Priority Registration for Veterans

Act 46 of 2014 requires public institutions of higher education in Pennsylvania to provide veteran students, as defined in the Act, with preference in course scheduling. Non-compliance may be reported to the Pennsylvania Department of Education by submitting the Higher Education Student Complaint form found at www.education.state.pa.us.

A veteran student:

• Has served in the United States Armed Forces, including a reserve component and National Guard
• Was discharged or released from such service under conditions other than dishonorable
• Has been admitted to BC3
• Resides in Pennsylvania while enrolled at the College

Course scheduling preference means that veteran students are able to start registering for courses sooner than students with the same class standing. The course schedule is available on the College’s website (www.BC3.edu) in advance of the start of registration.

An email will be sent to identified veteran students indicating the dates, times and campus locations. Veteran students must bring proof of service.

This policy will also be on the College website, in the online catalog, student handbook and advising materials distributed to students and advisors before registration begins for fall and spring.

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 who wish to learn about options for transferring credit from another college or university, College Level Examination Program (CLEP), Credit by Examination, Life or Work Experience, Articulation Agreements, or the Advanced Placement (AP) Program should refer to Academic Policies for more information.

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).

EstimatedTuition & Fees - 2016-2017

BC3 has adopted a full-time tuition rate. The full-time tuition rate is a flat rate for students taking 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.

Tuition Payment Plan

The College offers the BC3 EZ-Pay Payment plan giving students convenient and managable payment options. Plan details can be found in the Enollment Guide and on the Student Portal.

• Go to the Student Portal
• Click on the BC3 EZ-Pay link under Financial Information
• Click on the Payment Plan tab to select a plan

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. Update: September 2016: The payment plan fee is also 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.