BC3 at Lawrence Crossing to Showcase Advantages at April 4 Open House

(New Castle, PA) Visitors to BC3 at Lawrence Crossing’s April 4th open house can learn how 75 percent of recent BC3 graduates are debt-free, how BC3 has the highest salary-to-cost ratio among 42 regional colleges and universities, according to U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard data, and why BC3 is the No. 1 community college in Pennsylvania in back-to-back rankings by Schools.com.

BC3 will waive its $25 application fee for those who apply for admission during the open house, scheduled from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at BC3 @ Lawrence Crossing, 2849 W. State St., New Castle.

Visitors can also learn about BC3’s flexible course scheduling options that meet traditional and nontraditional students’ needs, and about associate degree programs that enable students to transfer to a four-year college or university or start a career upon graduation.

Ellwood City’s Janelle Fox

Eighty percent of BC3 students receive grants and scholarships to help them pay for their education. The U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard data also show that BC3’s tuition is less expensive than that of 42 regional colleges and universities.

The average student debt load in Pennsylvania, according to The Institute for College Access & Success, is $34,798. In Pennsylvania, 71 percent of college graduates have debt.

Janelle Fox won’t be among them.

Fox, 20, of Ellwood City, expects to earn an associate degree in early childhood education May 16 and graduate from BC3 @ Lawrence Crossing debt-free.

“When I first started, I had no clue what college would be like, because neither of my parents had the opportunity to go,” Fox said. “Now, graduating from BC3, if I were asked to do it all over again, I wouldn’t change a thing. The people here at BC3 are so friendly and helpful, and you can tell they really care about each student as an individual.”

Traditional and nontraditional students can capitalize on BC3’s five-week Fast Track sessions, held consecutively throughout the semester, in which students take three-credit courses in a variety of subjects online.

Students in BC3 @ Lawrence Crossing associate degree programs in business management, emergency services-police services option, human resource management and technical trades-cosmetology management option will develop the skills needed to enter the workforce immediately after graduation.

BC3 @ Lawrence Crossing’s credits in business administration, criminology, early childhood education (Pre K-4), general studies, history, physical education-sports management option, psychology, secondary education and social work can be transferred toward bachelor’s degrees at public, private and online four-year colleges and universities.

Additionally, students who complete a BC3 @ Lawrence Crossing degree in business administration, criminology, early childhood education, history, psychology and social work can transfer with junior standing to any Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education institution, such as Clarion, Edinboro, Indiana and Slippery Rock universities of Pennsylvania.

Students can also take pre-nursing courses at BC3 @ Lawrence Crossing and finish their degree at BC3’s main campus.

Visitors can RSVP to the open house at bc3.edu/open-houses.