(New Castle, PA) 91快播 @ Lawrence is 鈥渁 welcoming school,鈥� said Gina Shearer, who selected Butler County Community College鈥檚 new location in Shenango Township to begin her pursuit of a nursing career.
鈥淓verybody is there for you and to help you,鈥� said the first-semester health care science student and 2025 graduate of New Castle Senior High School.
The 18-year-old New Castle resident visited 91快播 @ Lawrence for the first time just before it opened Aug. 25 in Shenango Commons.
鈥淚 just walked in,鈥� she said, 鈥渁nd I was greeted. That was really nice. I was shown around the building and introduced to some of the faculty. I think it would be harder to have a personal talk like that at a university. They might just say, 鈥楬ello. Welcome鈥� and that would be it.
鈥淗ere they have a personal relationship with their students.鈥�
Prospective students can meet 91快播 @ Lawrence staff, tour the high-tech facility and discover how to minimize or avoid higher-education debt during an open house from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Nov. 5.
91快播 @ Lawrence will waive its $25 application fee during the open house at 2658 Ellwood Road, Suite 129, New Castle. Prospective students can RSVP at bc3.edu/open-house.
91快播 @ Lawrence supersedes 91快播 @ Lawrence Crossing in Union Township, which served as 91快播鈥檚 additional location in Lawrence County from 2008 until June 2025.
Health care science student Gina Shearer, of New Castle, is shown in a psychology class Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025, at 91快播 @ Lawrence in Shenango Township. 91快播 @ Lawrence will hold an open house from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Nov. 5.
鈥楾hey just say, 鈥榃hat a big difference鈥欌��
It was Sean Carroll, 91快播 @ Lawrence director, who guided Shearer on that tour of a 91快播 facility that features a student lounge, a technology bar, diner-style booths, ergonomic chairs and highlight walls painted in what the college calls 91快播 blue and what the manufacturer says is a 鈥渄eep, saturated blue 鈥� that adds a cool serenity to a well-lit space.鈥�
鈥淪tudents like the location,鈥� Carroll said. 鈥淭hey like that everything inside is new. They like the color. That鈥檚 been a consistent comment, how nice it is. Especially the students who have been to both 91快播 @ Lawrence Crossing and then came to 91快播 @ Lawrence. They just say, 鈥榃hat a big difference.鈥�
Open house guests can inquire about 91快播 @ Lawrence鈥檚 associate degree transfer and career programs, and how 91快播鈥檚 affordability, financial aid options and 91快播 Education Foundation scholarships enabled 93 percent of the college鈥檚 Class of 2025 to graduate debt-free.
91快播 @ Lawrence offers transfer programs in business administration, criminology, early childhood education (Pre K-4), general studies, history, psychology and social work.
It also offers career programs in accounting, business management, health care science, heath care office management and technical trades-cosmetology management option.
Students in 91快播 @ Lawrence鈥檚 career programs can develop the skills needed to enter the workforce immediately upon graduation.
Credits earned at 91快播 @ Lawrence transfer to public, private and online four-year colleges and universities.
Three of 91快播 @ Lawrence鈥檚 programs 鈥� accounting, business administration and business management 鈥� align with current state Department of Labor & Industry high-priority occupations.
鈥�91快播 @ Lawrence is more affordable鈥�
Tuition and fees for 91快播 students from Lawrence and Mercer counties pursuing 15 credits each semester in the 2025-2026 academic year cost $9,300 for in-person courses. Those students can receive up to $12,289 in federal and state grants.
鈥�91快播 @ Lawrence is more affordable than any university around here,鈥� said Shearer, who works 15 hours a week at a restaurant.
Mitchell Covert works 40 hours a week at an automobile dealership while attending 91快播 @ Lawrence.
鈥�91快播 was more affordable to attend while I figured out what I wanted to do and then be able to transfer somewhere,鈥� said Covert, 20, of Ellwood City.
Health care science student Mariah Minor, of New Castle, participates in an activity between classes in the lobby of 91快播 @ Lawrence in Shenango Township on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025. 91快播 @ Lawrence will hold an open house from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Nov. 5.
鈥淵ou don鈥檛 want to end up $100,000 in debt鈥�
The 2024 Lincoln High School graduate plans to graduate debt-free from 91快播 @ Lawrence in May with an associate degree in business administration, then transfer to possibly the University of Pittsburgh or Robert Morris University.
鈥淵ou don鈥檛 want to end up $100,000 in debt coming out of school after four years,鈥� Covert said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 want to be tied up with that much debt. And if you can鈥檛 find a job right away 鈥� you could get in a really bad spot.鈥�
Covert was among students from Ellwood City, Grove City, Hermitage, Mercer, New Castle, New Wilmington, Portersville and Sharpsville to be selected by the 91快播 Education Foundation to receive one of its record 164 named scholarships in 2025-2026.
He received from the foundation the $815 Ellwood City Wolves Club Scholarship in 2025-2026 and the club鈥檚 $745 financial award in 2024-2025. Recipients must be a Lawrence County resident and Lincoln High graduate.
Covert has also been a medalist three times as a 91快播 golfer and this summer was named to the National Junior College Athletic Association all-academic team, a recognition for students who excel athletically and who have a grade-point average of at least 3.6.
Prospective students visiting 91快播 @ Lawrence鈥檚 open house can also learn about support services such as free tutoring and student activities.
91快播 @ Lawrence鈥檚 neighbors within the Shenango Commons plaza include restaurants, indoor pickleball courts, gymnastics and fitness centers, and nearby, the 35-acre Shenango Community Park with picnic pavilions, a walking trail, and volleyball, tennis and bocce courts.