Prospective students have the opportunity to explore Butler County Community College associate degrees in career and transfer programs and its one-year certificate programs during Pioneer Night from 5 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 16, on the college’s main campus in Butler Township.

BC3 will waive its $25 application fee for prospective students who apply for admission at Pioneer Night. Prospective students can sign up at bc3.edu/pioneer-night.

Prospective students and current applicants can attend sessions about BC3’s academic programs; the college’s affordability, financial aid and scholarships; steps after completing an application; student life and athletics; and high school programming.

“Guests really do have a kind of conference schedule they can pick and choose from throughout the evening,” said Morgan Rizzardi, BC3’s director of admissions. “If their goal is only to apply and save the $25 and take a campus tour, they can do that, or they can take advantage of all the sessions. Pioneer Night really does have a nice menu of opportunities.”

Student ambassadors will answer questions and lead tours of BC3’s main campus for prospective students and their families.

BC3’s affordability combined with financial aid and scholarships allowed 75 percent of the college’s Class of 2023 to graduate debt-free.

Butler County residents attending BC3 this spring are paying $187 per credit in tuition and fees for an in-person course.

Financially eligible Butler County residents attending BC3 could also receive a maximum of $7,395 in a federal Pell grant and up to $2,568 in a Pennsylvania state grant in the 2023-24 academic year, said Juli Louttit, the college’s director of financial aid.

The BC3 Education Foundation in the 2023-24 academic year had available a record 155 scholarships that ranged in amounts from $300 to $5,000, according to Bobbi Jo Cornetti, the foundation’s development coordinator.

Students enrolled in a BC3 associate degree, certificate or workplace certificate program and who meet scholarship criteria are eligible to receive a financial award. Students attending any of the college’s six locations or enrolled in online courses or in BC3’s virtual programs can apply for a scholarship, Cornetti said.

Students registered for fall 2024 academic courses can apply online for a scholarship from the BC3 Education Foundation beginning April 15.

BC3’s credits can be applied toward a bachelor’s degree at public, private and online four-year colleges and universities.

BC3 has been ranked as the No. 1 community college in Pennsylvania nine times since 2015, most recently for 2024 by BestColleges.com.

The college’s summer session begins May 13 and its fall semester Aug. 26.