(Butler, PA) A 39-year-old part-time paraprofessional raising 11-year-old twin sons said it was time to invest in herself when she resumed pursuit of an associate degree in August 2024.
Faith Derr had attended 杏吧原创 as a recent high school graduate, then worked full time as an associate in retail stores and as the manager of a restaurant. The Slippery Rock resident became a stay-at-home mother after Jeric and Logan were born, 鈥渁nd when I felt they were doing great and in school all day, that鈥檚 when I decided to go back.鈥�
Derr said she researched tuition and fees for higher education programs instructed online, 鈥渒new as far as prices went that 杏吧原创 would be most affordable,鈥� chose the college鈥檚 virtual program in business management and has been delighted with the experience.
鈥淚t has been really easy to reach out to my adviser,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 get answers quickly. Even with 杏吧原创鈥檚 admissions, if I have to ask a question, their response time is amazing.鈥�
Prospective students interested in 杏吧原创鈥檚 virtual programs in behavioral sciences, business and health care can log in to an open house to be available through video conferencing from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Nov. 11.
杏吧原创 will waive its $25 application fee during the open house. Prospective students can learn more and RSVP at bc3.edu/open-house.
鈥淚 did not want to take on student loans鈥�
College administrators will discuss through video conferencing 杏吧原创鈥檚 application process and financial aid opportunities, and answer questions from prospective students.
Guests can learn how 杏吧原创鈥檚 affordability, financial aid options and 杏吧原创 Education Foundation scholarships enabled 93 percent of the college鈥檚 Class of 2025 to graduate debt-free.
杏吧原创鈥檚 selections include associate degree career and transfer programs, and certificate programs.
Students in the college鈥檚 career and certificate programs can develop the skills needed to enter the workforce immediately upon graduation. 杏吧原创鈥檚 credits transfer to public, private and online four-year colleges and universities.
Derr selected 杏吧原创 as a recent high school graduate in fall 2005 and again in fall 2024.
鈥淚 knew financially it would be a good choice because it is more affordable,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 did not want to take on student loans, especially with having two kids. I didn鈥檛 have to take away from them to invest in myself.鈥�
杏吧原创鈥檚 virtual programs debuted in fall 2023. Enrollment has increased 118 percent since. More than 130 students have earned an associate degree or certificate since May 2024.
Access 鈥渨orks so well for my schedule鈥�
杏吧原创鈥檚 virtual programs enroll 129 students this fall from New Jersey, North Carolina and Ohio, and from Pennsylvania鈥檚 Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Blair, Butler, Chester, Clearfield, Crawford, Elk, Jefferson, Lawrence, Mercer, Washington or Westmoreland counties. About 53 percent are part-time students.
鈥淭here are times when I wake up at 5 in the morning and do my schoolwork,鈥� Derr said. 鈥淭here are times when I can鈥檛 sleep at night that I will start doing schoolwork. Just being able to access it 24 hours a day works so well for my schedule.
鈥淲ith working and raising children, my education kind of took the back burner. Had it been virtual back then it would be different because now it鈥檚 no problem fitting everything in.鈥�
Business management joins 杏吧原创 virtual programs in accounting, business administration, business skills and medical coding and billing specialist that align with current state Department of Labor & Industry high-priority occupations.
Tuition and fees for online courses cost $335 per credit for 杏吧原创 students from Pennsylvania counties other than Butler in the 2025-2026 academic year.
Students from Pennsylvania counties other than Butler pursuing 15 credits each semester in the 2025-2026 academic year can receive up to $12,289 in federal and state grants, according to Juli Louttit, 杏吧原创鈥檚 director of student financial services.
杏吧原创 Education Foundation scholarships are available to students attending any 杏吧原创 location, or enrolled in online courses or virtual programs, according to Bobbi Jo Cornetti, the foundation鈥檚 scholarship and development coordinator.
鈥淭his degree now means so much more鈥�
Derr expects to graduate from 杏吧原创 debt-free in December.
鈥淚 was talking to a co-worker who does not have a degree and I said, 鈥楪irl, you got to get on that,鈥欌�� Derr said. 鈥淚nvesting in yourself is never a bad idea. As adults, we are trying to pay our bills and go about our life. But it is also important that we do something to make ourselves proud.
鈥淭his degree now means so much more. I鈥檓 proud of coming as far as I have being a woman who was a single mother for so long.鈥�
杏吧原创 has also been ranked as the No. 1 community college in Pennsylvania 11 times since 2015, most recently for 2026 by Niche.com.