College Information
No matter what your situation or your previous educational experience, if you are willing to work hard and take advantage of College resources, you’ll see why Bristol Community College really is where students come first. Still not sure? Read on.
Choosing Bristol Community College
Here are some concerns you might have and some solutions:
Why go to a community college when I can go right to a four-year college?
The better question is, “Why pay their high costs for your first two years?” Check the chapter on Transferring to see how much you can save on your college costs by starting at BCC.
Plus, with the statewide Joint Admissions program, you can be sure you can transfer into a comparable program at a Massachusetts state college or the University of Massachusetts. You can also qualify for a tuition discount with Tuition Advantage. See Transferring for more.
I don’t know what I want to study.
That’s no reason to put off starting college! Begin in General Studies or a Liberal Arts and Sciences program. You can earn general education requirements that can transfer into any degree program, and perhaps discover a new career direction.
I can’t afford to go to college.
BCC is an affordable solution to the high cost of a college education. Our low cost per credit makes us the region’s best educational value. We offer financial aid for eligible students, and because you live nearby, you can commute and save a lot of money. Most of our students find it very convenient to schedule full- or part-time work around their college classes. And, since a college degree makes you so much more marketable and prepares you for better jobs, can you afford not to go?
I was never a good student.
The passage of time can make an amazing difference. We offer courses that can improve basic academic skills, and a full-service Tutoring and Academic Support Center for individual tutoring. You will also find our faculty is particularly interested in helping you succeed.
I don’t have time to enroll in a full-time program.
Then enroll part time! As much as possible, BCC allows you to fit school into your schedule, not ours. There is no rule that says you have to complete your Associate degree in two years. Do it at your own pace. And with classes offered days, evenings, weekends, and online, your course schedule can be very flexible.
Do you have any questions or concerns?
Contact the Admissions Office at admissions@bristol.mass.edu or (508) 678-2811 x2179 and let us work with you to come up with solutions.
Who can apply for admission to BCC?
Everyone! As your community college, we offer the educational services you need, whether you want to take just one course or a full course load.
Our open admissions policy means that there is a program just right for you. Applicants for an associate’s degree program must have a high school diploma or equivalency certificate or college degree. This requirement may be waived for adults who pass an approved examination administered by BCC which indicates they have the ability to succeed at college work.
Some candidates are admitted to the Center for Developmental Education to strengthen their background in specific areas before attempting
work in another program.Admission to some programs is competitive because of the limited number of openings and/or the prerequisites required, such as Clinical Laboratory Science, Complementary Healthcare, Culinary Arts, Dental Hygiene, Healthcare Information, Histology, Medical Assisting, Nursing, Occupational Therapy Assistant, Pre-Radiology Technology, Therapeutic Massage, and Phlebotomy.
Admission requirements to specific programs may change in accordance
with policies established by the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education and the BCC Board of Trustees.As a state-assisted institution, Bristol Community College gives first priority
to legal residents of Massachusetts, and second priority to students who apply under the New England Regional Student program. All others are admitted as space is available. BCC is authorized under Federal law to enroll nonimmigrant alien students.
Applications are processed as they come in. There are no deadlines for application, but submitting your completed application well in advance of the semester in which you wish to enroll will give you the best selection of courses.
If you are applying for Clinical Laboratory Science, Complementary Healthcare, Culinary Arts, Dental Hygiene, Healthcare Information, Histology, Nursing, Occupational Therapy Assistant, Phlebotomy, Pre-Radiology Technology, and Therapeutic Massage, please submit your completed application by January 15 to receive priority consideration for admission to the following September. After that date, applications will continue to be accepted on a space-available basis. Please review carefully the special application requirements for these programs, found in each program description.
- Fill out an application found at the back of this catalog. Extra copies are available by calling the Admissions Office at (508) 678-2811 x2516, or on the Web at “Admissions.”
- Mail the completed application form to the Admissions Office, Bristol Community College, 777 Elsbree Street, Fall River, MA, 02720. Include a check or money order payable to Bristol Community College for the appropriate application fee.
$10 For Massachusetts residents and qualified New England Regional Student Program applicants or
$35 for all others.
This fee may be waived if it causes unusual financial hardship. Contact the Admissions Office at admissions@bristol.mass.edu or (508) 678-2811 x2179 for details.
You may apply to up to three Massachusetts community colleges with one application fee. Send your check to Bristol Community College and ask us to notify the others of your payment. - Ask your high school and all post-secondary schools you attended to send an official transcript of your grades to the Admissions Office at BCC.
- If you have received your G.E.D., have an official copy of your G.E.D. test scores sent to the BCC Admissions Office.
- If you would like to talk with an Admissions counselor, please call the office at (508) 678-2811 x2947, for an appointment.
- Immunization, Insurance & Consent: all full-time students and part-time Health Sciences and Early Childhood Education students must provide proof of immunization against measles, mumps, rubella, tetanus, and hepatitis B. There are other requirements for the health sciences program.
All students taking nine or more credits and all Health Science students must have health insurance. You will be enrolled and charged for the college insurance plan unless proof of coverage by another insurer is furnished to Student Accounts, located in the Enrollment Center or by accessing the Web site:
www.universityhealthplans.com.You may qualify for one of the new Mass. Health plans: call (877) 623-6765.
If you are younger than 18 years of age, you must have your parent or guardian sign a “Consent for Treatment Form” to be treated for anything other than for emergencies. Contact Health Services, G208, ext. 2232.
Contact the Admissions Office at admissions@bristol.mass.edu or call (508) 678-2811, ext. 2947 to arrange a campus tour for individuals or groups. Visit Admissions for a list of upcoming dates for information sessions and campus tours. For a tour of the New Bedford Campus, call x4000, or for Attleboro, call (508) 226-2484.
Contact the Admissions Office at admissions@bristolcc.edu or call (508) 678-2811 x2947 to arrange a campus tour for individuals or groups. Visit www.BristolCC.edu at Admissions for a list of upcoming dates for information sessions and campus tours. International students, students who are neither U.S. citizens nor permanent residents of the U.S., who wish to attend Bristol Community College on an F-1 student visa must have completed their secondary school education and must demonstrate their proficiency in English (if English is not their first or best language). Students attending Bristol Community College on an F-1 student visa must be enrolled in a degree program as a full-time student (12 credits or more per semester) and must receive approval by the Registrar’s office for program changes.
International applicants currently outside of the U.S. must submit completed admission applications by July 15 for the next September semester, or by November 15 for the next January semester. International applicants currently within the U.S. must submit completed admission applications by August 1 for the next September semester, or by January 1 for the next January semester.
International students must submit the following documents for admission to Bristol community College:
- Application for admission for international students (with a non-refundable fee of $35)
- Secondary school or high school or college/university official transcripts (translated into English by an official translator)
- Valid passport, visa and I-94 card
- Transfer students must bring a copy of the previous school’s I-20 and verification of attendance (this must include the International Student Transfer Report form provided by Bristol Community College)
- Proof of financial support (Verification of Funds form provided by Bristol Community College) Funds must exceed $15,000 (U.S. dollars).
- Proof of the following vaccinations: measles, Mumps, Rubella, Tetanus within 10 years, Hepatitis B series.
Once the Admissions office at Bristol Community College receives all required documentation, international students will be issued an I-20 for (Certificate of Eligibility for Student Visa). After students are admitted and respond with a $50 non-refundable registration deposit, they can apply for a student visa. International students will be subject to out-of-state tuition rates while attending Bristol Community College with an I-20 form. Financial Aid is not available to international students. Please contact the Admissions office at admissions@bristol.mass.edu 508-678-2811 ext. 2947 for more information.
Transfer students from another regionally accredited college or university usually receive credit for courses appropriate to their program in which they received a ‘C-’ or better. Up to 30 credits may be transferred for associate degree programs. For students admitted to certificate programs, half the required credits must be earned at BCC.
Part-time students take fewer than 12 credits of course work and receive all the services available to a full-time student.Veterans may use G.I. benefits at Bristol Community College. The College’s certifying official will assist you in applying for your benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and accessing college services. A representative in BCC’s Advisement and Counseling Services office can assist you.
January and summer admissions: Students may begin an academic program in January or the summer by taking general and elective courses required for the program. Not all program-specific courses are offered every semester.
SACHEM cross-registration
BCC is a member of the Southeastern Association for Cooperation in Higher Education (SACHEM), a consortium of nine institutions of higher education. Students of the participating institutions may cross-register for selected courses on a tuition-exchange, space available basis. For more information contact the Registrar.Tech Prep students from one of the area member high schools within the Bristol Community College Tech Prep Consortium should complete the section on the Application for Admission designated for students enrolled in their high school Tech Prep program.
New England Regional Student Program allows out-of-state students from New England to enroll in BCC programs at in-state tuition if the public colleges and universities in the student’s home state do not offer the program. The Admissions office and the NERSP website at www.nebhe.org have additional information. Students enrolling in evening and weekend classes have no residency requirement and are charged the same cost per credit as in-state students.