Larissa Frain, 20, of Ford City, plans to graduate in May from Butler County Community College with an associate degree in general studies and transfer to La Roche University. Frain is shown Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026, during a transfer day event in Founders Hall on BC3’s main campus in Butler Township. Tours of BC3’s main campus and information sessions are planned as part of BC3’s Oct. 28 open house.
(Butler, PA) An Armstrong County 20-year-old said Butler County Community College’s affordability enabled her to test different academic programs without experiencing a notable financial setback.
“I was able to switch my major, and the cost won’t be affecting me for years,” said Larissa Frain, of Ford City. “I had been struggling with what I wanted to study in college.”
The 2024 graduate of Armstrong Junior-Senior High School enrolled in BC3’s 63-credit associate degree program in engineering, then changed to the college’s 60-credit associate degree program in general studies.
“I know I want to move into something in the sciences, like biology or chemistry,” Frain said. “It’s nice to know I did not waste money at BC3 on classes that I may not need.”
Prospective students can explore associate degree and certificate programs, review financial aid opportunities that enabled 82 percent of BC3’s Class of 2026 to graduate debt-free and learn how the college’s credits transfer to four-year institutions during an open house next week.
BC3 will also waive its $25 application fee during its main campus open house, set for 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 28 at 107 College Drive, Butler.
Guests can RSVP to attend the open house at bc3.edu/open-house.
“Our affordability allows students to dip their toes in the water to see what program makes the most sense for them, to see if it is something they like or don’t like.”
- Taylor Holl, BC3’s associate director of admissions
Tuition and fees cost $633 for Butler County residents taking an in-person three-credit course at BC3 in 2026-2027, and $942 for residents of Pennsylvania counties other than Butler.
Tuition and fees start at $1,472 for Pennsylvania residents taking an in-person three-credit course at regional four-year state universities and at higher rates at state-related universities.
“Our affordability allows students to dip their toes in the water to see what program makes the most sense for them, to see if it is something they like or don’t like,” said Taylor Holl, BC3’s associate director of admissions.
“Some students select a program based on a course they took, but they can change to something else without incurring a huge cost.”
Cohen Gamble, 19, of Butler, right, plans to graduate in May from Butler County Community College with an associate degree in business administration and transfer to possibly Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania. Gamble is shown Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026, during a transfer day event in Founders Hall on BC3’s main campus in Butler Township. Tours of BC3’s main campus and information sessions are planned as part of BC3’s Oct. 28 open house.
Cohen Gamble, 19, a 2025 graduate of Butler Area Senior High, said he chose BC3 “because of the low cost.
“It’s more affordable than the other schools,” the business administration student said. “With inflation, especially if you are undecided about your career, I feel like you don’t want to go to another school and spend 60 grand for one year and then switch your major and not know what to do.”
Butler County residents seeking 15 credits each semester in 2026-2027 at BC3 can receive up to an estimated $10,453 in federal and state grants, according to Juli Louttit, BC3’s director of student financial services.
Residents of Pennsylvania counties other than Butler seeking 15 credits each semester in 2026-2027 can receive up to an estimated $12,289 in federal and state grants, Louttit said.
BC3’s credits transfer to public, private and online four-year colleges and universities.
Frain and Gamble intend to graduate from BC3 in May. Frain plans to transfer to La Roche University to pursue a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry and Gamble, possibly to Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania to seek a bachelor’s degree in business administration in marketing.
The BC3 Education Foundation in 2026-2027 distributed to BC3 students a record 166 named scholarships, according to Bobbi Jo Cornetti, scholarship and development coordinator with the foundation. Financial awards ranged from $300 to $5,000 and averaged $500, Cornetti said.
The first of three 30-minute information sessions about paying for college will begin at 5:10 p.m. on the upper level of the Heaton Family Learning Commons during the open house. The first of five 25-minute tours of main campus facilities led by BC3’s student ambassadors will begin 5:05 p.m. on the upper level of the Heaton Family Learning Commons.
BC3 has also been ranked as the No. 1 community college in Pennsylvania 12 times since 2015, most recently for 2027 by Niche.com.