Central Oregon Community College celebrated the grand opening of its expanded Madras campus on April 30, capping a $22 million project that more than doubles the campus's footprint and launches five new academic programs designed to fill critical workforce gaps in Jefferson County.

The new 24,000-square-foot building — built on 26 acres donated by the Bean Foundation — now houses nursing, certified nursing assistant, medical assistant, and early childhood education programs, plus a Career and Technical Education pipeline for Madras High School students. The early childhood education program is offered in both Spanish and English through a partnership with The Children's Learning Center.

Addressing a Local Healthcare Crisis

The expansion couldn't come soon enough. A 2025 Oregon Office of Rural Health report scored Warm Springs a 26 out of 90 on unmet healthcare needs — the second-worst in the state. Madras scored a 48. A statewide Healthcare Workforce Need Assessment found that more than half of healthcare jobs require postsecondary education, and that filling those positions remains a struggle for rural employers.

"The value is tremendous to the community," said James Rodriguez, the Madras campus director, who said the work began by listening to what residents actually needed. "We are providing healthcare careers and opportunities for students to go right into the workforce."

High School to Healthcare Pathway

One of the program's most significant features is a CTE pathway for Madras High School students. After completing the course this spring, students can take a certification exam to become certified nursing assistants.

Meghan Drew, the CTE health sciences teacher at Madras High School and a registered nurse, said the hands-on approach is making a difference. "We are learning everything... We have all of the supplies so that we can teach and make sure they're doing it correctly before we send them into the workforce," Drew said. Watching her students grow has been "amazing" to see. "It's something our community needs."

First Bachelor's Degree in Nursing at Madras

In a historic first for the campus, COCC Madras will offer a Bachelor of Science in Nursing for students who already hold an associate's degree in nursing. The program begins accepting applications June 1 — meaning local nurses no longer have to drive to Bend to advance their education.

"Some people have families, and lots of people have jobs and it's just not possible to drive all the way to Bend or even to Redmond to take certain classes," said Lucas Alberg, the college's director of marketing and public relations. "But to have everything be localized makes it so much easier."

Economic Impact

A recent COCC economic impact study found the college generates $349 million for Central Oregon annually and supports 1 in every 41 regional jobs. Students with an associate's degree from COCC earn on average $10,000 more per year than those with only a high school diploma.

In total, 58 new healthcare students are enrolled in the new programs, with an additional 30 in early childhood education. COCC President Greg Pereira said waitlists have already formed. "It says that we are serving communities as effectively as possible," he said.