Public
Accredited · Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Butler, Pennsylvania
Butler County Community College — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
$11,152Annual Cost
$38,891Grad Salary
34.8%Pell Grant
Selectivity
Open Enrollment
Institution Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
SAT Middle 50%
-40–30
Avg Net Price
$6,075
Need-Based Aid
34.8% receive Pell
Butler County Community College (BC3) is a public institution in Pennsylvania known for its high-quality, affordable education and its role as a key regional provider of associate degrees and workforce development. It offers a diverse range of programs in fields like nursing, technology, and business, all supported by personalized instruction and modern campus facilities. By prioritizing student success and transfer readiness, BC3 provides a stable and effective foundation for those pursuing long-term academic and career ambitions.
Butler County Community College Acceptance Rate
Admission at Butler County Community College is inclusive by design: 100% of applicants who meet basic eligibility are accepted.
What to Expect
- Eligibility First: A high school diploma or GED typically clears the main bar.
- Plan Ahead for Placement: Placement tests can shape which courses you start in — worth preparing for.
Selectivity at a Glance
Open Enrollment
Selectivity scale: Open Enrollment — rate not reported
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
A GPA a bit under the average isn't disqualifying at this tier — a solid test score or clear leadership record can offset it.
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Butler County Community College Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Butler County Community College follows a Rolling Admissions policy, meaning applications are reviewed as they arrive and there is no single fixed deadline.
Key Admission Dates
Rolling Admissions — Apply Anytime
BC3 reviews applications continuously throughout the year. Seats and scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so applying early gives you a significant advantage for both admission and financial aid.
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
Check Your Admission Chances at BC3
Admission Chance Predictor
Built from Butler County Community College's own verified admissions data — adjust the sliders below
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Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
⚠️ Note: Predicting based on regional averages as this institution does not publicly report full score datasets.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
Butler County Community College (BC3) Test Requirements
Scores aren't just a formality at BC3 — landing within or above the 2026 admitted class's middle 50% keeps you fully competitive, even where submission is optional.
Can I Get Into BC3 Without SAT or ACT?
BC3's test-score policy isn't published. As a default, submit your score only if it's at or above the state/national average — a below-average score can work against you.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for BC3
Inclusive Strategy: Success & Transfer
BC3's open-access model means the real strategic decisions happen after enrollment: course planning, advising, and whether to transfer later.
Check whether your GPA and coursework already exempt you from testing for RN
BC3 waives placement/entrance testing for RN applicants who graduated high school within the last five years with a minimum 3.00 unweighted cumulative GPA, A/B grades in 11th and 12th grade English, and a C or better in Algebra 2. If you meet these specific thresholds, request the testing exemption explicitly rather than defaulting into the standard testing track - it's a real, named policy, not just a general "strong students test out" assumption.
Know that the ADN degree is only offered at two of BC3's six locations
While BC3 operates six locations across western Pennsylvania (Butler, Brockway, Cranberry Township, Ford City, Hermitage, New Castle), the Nursing, R.N., A.A.S. degree is only offered at the Main Campus in Butler and BC3 @ Brockway - general education courses can be taken anywhere, but your nursing-specific coursework locks you into one of just two sites. Confirm which of these two locations fits your commute or relocation plans before building prerequisite coursework at a different BC3 site that won't host the actual nursing courses.
Understand that only 4 of BC3's ~55 programs are selective - but they're gatekept by the same office
BC3 is open admission overall, but its Shaffer School of Nursing & Allied Health treats exactly four programs - Massage Therapy, Practical Nursing, Registered Nursing, and Physical Therapist Assistant - as selective admission, each requiring a separate application process coordinated through the Admissions Office. If you're targeting one of these four, contact admissions@bc3.edu directly early to understand that program's specific prerequisite and testing sequence rather than assuming your general BC3 acceptance covers it.
Use BC3's PASSHE transfer guarantee if a bachelor's is your end goal
BC3 has 12 associate degree programs (Biological Science, Business Admin, Chemistry, Communications, Criminology, Computer Science, Early Childhood Ed., English, History, Math, Social Work, Psychology) that transfer to Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) universities and select opt-in colleges as a guaranteed rising junior - not just a generic "credits transfer" claim. If a bachelor's degree at a PASSHE school is your target, choose your BC3 associate degree specifically from this named list of 12 to lock in the guarantee.
Expert Insight:
A specific and easy-to-miss failure pattern is taking general education prerequisites at a BC3 location other than Main Campus (Butler) or Brockway while assuming you can seamlessly roll into the nursing program at your local site - since the nursing-specific coursework is only delivered at those two locations, students at BC3's other four sites need to plan for eventual relocation or commuting once they reach the nursing-specific semesters.
BC3 Profile
Full Name
Butler County Community College (BC3)
City
Butler
State
Pennsylvania
ZIP Code
16002
Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSACHE)
Is a BC3 Degree Worth It?
At $11,152/year against a $38,891 median graduate salary, BC3 is worth weighing against your specific program and financial situation — the numbers below give you a real basis for that decision.
Admitted students' families report a median household income around $52,300, and graduates see a 3.1% unemployment rate.
How much does a degree from BC3 Cost?
Listed tuition runs $11,152/year at BC3; factor in Pell and federal grant aid and most students land closer to $6,075.
At BC3, 34.8% receive a Pell Grant and 16.9% carry federal loans. Filing FAFSA early and naming BC3 on it improves your shot at both.
How much does a BC3 Graduate earn?
Ten years out from enrollment, BC3 graduates report a median income of $38,891, somewhat below the U.S. median graduate income of $40,595.
Degree Programs at BC3
Associate Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About BC3 Admissions
Butler County Community College graduates earn a lower median salary of $38,891/year, especially outside technical fields.
Tuition at Butler County Community College is relatively affordable, around $11,152/year.
34.8% of Butler County Community College students get a Pell Grant. Your odds depend mostly on household income — filing FAFSA early still helps maximize what you're offered.
Butler County Community College follows Rolling Admissions — applications are reviewed year-round, so applying early is your best strategy.
Transferring in is a well-trodden path here. Line up your transcripts, recommendations, and a strong personal statement before applying.
The biggest levers are academic performance, a clear extracurricular focus, and essays that stand out — plus a solid test score where the school considers one.
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