The Central Oregon Community College Madras campus is heading into fall 2026 with a major new asset in place: a 24,000-square-foot Health Sciences building that opened last spring and is now operating through its first complete fall term, giving Jefferson County students access to nursing and medical training closer to home than ever before.

The $22 million facility, which opened in late April, houses expanded classroom and lab space for COCC's medical assistant and nursing programs — two of the most in-demand career paths in rural Oregon, where healthcare workforce shortages have been a persistent challenge for communities like Madras.

Bringing Healthcare Training to Jefferson County

For years, Jefferson County residents pursuing careers in nursing or medical assistance faced a significant practical barrier: they had to commute to Bend or Redmond to complete their COCC coursework. For students balancing jobs, families, and limited transportation options, that 45-minute drive each way was often the deciding factor in whether they could pursue a healthcare career at all.

The new Madras facility changes that calculation. With purpose-built classrooms, simulation labs, and clinical training space right on the Madras campus at 1170 E. Ashwood Road, local students can complete their programs without leaving the county.

A Growing Campus

The health sciences building represents the most significant capital investment in the Madras campus in recent memory, and it fits into a broader effort by COCC to expand access across its four-campus service area. The Madras Education Center has historically offered a mix of transfer-track academic classes, workforce development courses, computer lab access, tutoring, and testing services.

Adding dedicated health sciences facilities elevates the campus from a satellite extension center to something closer to a full-service community college hub — an important distinction for a county where higher education access has long been shaped by geography and distance.

Fall 2026 Enrollment

With fall term now underway, prospective students interested in healthcare programs — or any of COCC's offerings at the Madras campus — can get more information by contacting the campus directly.

  • Phone: (541) 475-4206
  • Address: 1170 E. Ashwood Road, Madras, OR 97741
  • Online: cocc.edu/departments/madras

For Jefferson County, the new building is more than a construction milestone. It's a signal that the community is investing in the kind of local workforce that can staff its clinics, support its aging population, and build careers without leaving home to do it.