Berkshire Community College
Pittsfield, MA1350 West Street, Pittsfield, MA 01201-5786
413-499-4660
Berkshire Community College (BCC) is a public community college in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Founded in 1960, BCC is the oldest and largest community college in the state's community college system. It enrolls approximately 5,000 students in credit and non-credit courses each semester. The college offers over 60 associate degree and certificate programs as well as continuing education and workforce development opportunities.
BCC is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) and is a member of the Massachusetts Community College Council (MCCC). The college is governed by an eleven-member Board of Trustees, six of whom are elected by BCC's district towns and cities, and five of whom are appointed by the Governor of Massachusetts. The college has its main campus in Pittsfield, with satellite campuses in Great Barrington and South Lee.
The college was founded in 1960 as Berkshire County Junior College, a two-year institution to serve the county's residents. The college's first classes were held in September 1961 in temporary quarters in the basement of the Pittsfield YMCA. In 1962, the college moved to its current main campus on West Street in Pittsfield. The college expanded its programs and facilities in the 1970s and 1980s, adding new academic programs, a library, a cafeteria, a bookstore, and a fitness center. In 1992, the college was renamed Berkshire Community College.
In the 2000s, BCC began offering distance learning courses and programs and expanded its workforce development offerings. The college also added a number of new academic programs, including a bachelor's degree in nursing and a master's degree in business administration. BCC has been recognized for its commitment to sustainability, and in 2009 the college was named one of the "Greenest Colleges in America" by The Princeton Review.
BCC is committed to providing affordable, accessible, and high-quality education and training opportunities to the residents of Berkshire County and the surrounding region. The college offers a variety of financial aid options to help students pay for their education, and it also provides a number of services to support students' success, including tutoring, advising, and career counseling.
Quick Facts
Enrollment: 1465
Type: Public, 2-year
Main Website: https://www.berkshirecc.edu/
Financial Aid: https://www.berkshirecc.edu/paying-for-college/index.php