After 76 years of a smaller presence in Jefferson County, Central Oregon Community College’s Madras campus has completed a major transformation — and local students no longer need to drive to Bend to pursue a career in healthcare.

The expanded campus, which celebrated its official opening on April 30, features a brand-new 24,000-square-foot building — more than double the original campus size — built at a total cost of 2 million. The 26-acre property was donated to the college by the Bean Foundation.

New Programs Now Enrolling

The Madras campus now offers five new programs:

  • Nursing (through a partnership with St. Charles Health System)
  • Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
  • Medical Assistant
  • Early Childhood Education (offered in both English and Spanish, in partnership with The Children’s Learning Center)
  • Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathway for Madras High School students seeking nursing experience

The first cohort of healthcare students is on track to complete the program in June. Nursing students are currently doing clinical rotations at St. Charles Madras, while CNA students are completing their practicums at East Cascade Retirement Center on 16th Street in Madras.

High school students in the CTE program who finish in June will be eligible to sit for the state exam to become certified nursing assistants.

Bachelor’s Degree Applications Open June 1

In a first for the Madras campus, COCC will begin accepting applications on June 1 for a Bachelor of Science in Nursing — a program for students who already hold an associate’s degree in nursing and want to complete a BSN locally. The program has been available in Bend; this is the first time it will be offered in Madras.

Why It Matters

A 2025 Oregon Office of Rural Health report ranked Warm Springs second-worst statewide for unmet healthcare needs, scoring just 26 out of 90 on the access scale. Madras scored 48. With nursing and medical training now available in Madras, the hope is that more locally trained providers will choose to stay and practice in the region.

COCC President Greg Pereira said the campus expansion is about more than education.

“This is a major stretch where people drive from Portland to Bend and beyond,” Pereira said. “We want to have qualified healthcare workers in this area. God forbid, if I’m in a car accident, I want to have the best medical professionals in this community to help support me and my family.”

Madras Campus Director James Rodriguez noted that the expansion grew directly from listening to what the community said it needed. “Community members are excited,” Rodriguez said. “They’re excited about the opportunity to access nursing, medical assisting and certified nursing assistant training close to home.”

With waitlists already forming for the new programs, COCC says demand clearly exists. Interested students can visit cocc.edu or contact the Madras campus directly for enrollment information. BSN program applications open June 1.