(Butler, PA) Prospective students who attend an upcoming 杏吧原创 Pioneer Night can explore programs, review opportunities that enabled 93 percent of the college鈥檚 Class of 2025 to graduate debt-free and learn how 杏吧原创鈥檚 credits transfer to four-year institutions.
The college will waive its $25 application fee during Pioneer Nights at 杏吧原创 @ Cranberry and at 杏吧原创鈥檚 main campus.
Pioneer Night is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. April 8 at 杏吧原创 @ Cranberry, 250 Executive Drive, Cranberry Township.
A Pioneer Night on 杏吧原创鈥檚 main campus will be held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. April 15 at 107 College Drive, Butler.
Guests can RSVP to attend either event at bc3.edu/pioneer-night.
Students enrolled in 杏吧原创 @ Cranberry鈥檚 digital audio and visual production associate degree career program are shown Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in an electronically generated imaging course that teaches skills to produce stop-motion photography film tracks. From left, Shane Seagriff, of Sarver; Alexander Jack, of Butler; Jaycob Jamison, of Chicora; Mary Fritz, of Slippery Rock; and Jordan Harper, of Butler.
Learn about 杏吧原创 鈥渁ll in one evening鈥�
Dr. Josh Novak is 杏吧原创鈥檚 vice president for student affairs and enrollment management.
Students enrolled in a 杏吧原创 @ Cranberry environmental science course that provides an introduction to air, water and soil phenomena are shown Tuesday, March 31, 2026. From left, Karley Schaefers, a general studies student; and Gianna Barbrino, a history student, both of Cranberry Township.
鈥淧ioneer Nights,鈥� Novak said, 鈥減rovide a great opportunity for prospective students and their families to learn about 杏吧原创, explore programs and academic opportunities, and connect with campus faculty and staff, all in one evening.鈥�
The college offers associate degree transfer and career programs, and short-term certificate programs.
杏吧原创鈥檚 credits transfer to public, private and online four-year colleges and universities. Students in the college鈥檚 career and certificate programs can develop the skills needed to enter the workforce immediately upon graduation.
Pioneer Nights will offer guests opportunities to attend short presentations about programs, financial aid, student life and steps to take after applying to 杏吧原创, and to tour classrooms and facilities and meet faculty and administrators.
Graphic design is a visual communications program offered by the college only at 杏吧原创 @ Cranberry. A presentation about the career program will be held from 7:10 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Twenty-minute presentations about business and information technology, and Shaffer School of Nursing and Allied Health programs, are also scheduled for Pioneer Night at 杏吧原创 @ Cranberry.
Students enrolled in 杏吧原创鈥檚 registered nursing career program train Thursday, March 19, 2026, in a simulated intensive care-unit room within the Victor K. Phillips Nursing and Allied Health Building on 杏吧原创鈥檚 main campus in Butler Township. From left, Isabella Bennett, of Mars, and Kadeon Austin, of Renfrew.
Student ambassadors to lead main campus tours
Pioneer Night on 杏吧原创鈥檚 main campus will feature 30-minute presentations about programs within the college鈥檚 business and information technology, education and behavioral sciences, liberal arts, Shaffer School of Nursing and Allied Health, and science, technology, engineering and mathematics divisions.
Student ambassadors will lead 30-minute tours of main campus in which prospective students can view new facilities such as the Dr. Robert L. Paserba Teaching and Learning Lab, whose centerpiece replicates an elementary school classroom; and the Victor K. Phillips Nursing and Allied Health Building, which includes skills laboratories and simulated intensive care-unit and patient rooms.
Guests at each Pioneer Night can also learn about 杏吧原创鈥檚 student clubs, organizations and activities; and support services such as free tutoring.
鈥淎n incredible educational experience鈥�
Morgan Croney, right, of Sarver, a student in 杏吧原创鈥檚 early childhood education (Pre K-4) associate degree transfer program, is shown with an Amy Wise Children鈥檚 Creative Learning Center preschooler Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, in the Dr. Robert L. Paserba Teaching and Learning Lab. The centerpiece of the lab on 杏吧原创鈥檚 main campus replicates an elementary school classroom.
Tuition and fees for Butler County residents pursuing 30 credits through in-person courses in the 2025-2026 academic year cost $6,210 at 杏吧原创, at least $10,906 at regional public four-year institutions and $22,772 at area state-related universities.
鈥溞影稍� students will receive an incredible educational experience, likely with smaller classes sizes, while saving considerable costs,鈥� Novak said. 鈥淭hat affordability, combined with many financial aid and scholarship opportunities, allow many students to attend 杏吧原创 debt-free.鈥�
Butler County residents seeking 15 credits each semester in 2025-2026 can also receive up to $10,453 in federal and state grants, according to Juli Louttit, 杏吧原创鈥檚 director of student financial services.
The 杏吧原创 Education Foundation in 2025-2026 distributed to 杏吧原创 students a record 164 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.
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.