A new era of higher education access has arrived in Jefferson County. Central Oregon Community College's expanded Madras campus — a $22 million, 24,000-square-foot building — is open, operational, and already changing lives.
The facility, located at 1170 East Ashwood Road, has been hosting classes since January 2026 after years of planning and construction. COCC held an official ribbon-cutting and public open house on April 30, drawing community members, elected officials, and students to mark the milestone.
Health Programs Built for Jefferson County's Needs
The new building includes dedicated classrooms and labs for medical assistant and nursing programs — two fields desperately needed in a county that has historically struggled with healthcare workforce shortages. St. Charles Madras is the county's only hospital, serving a large rural population with limited specialty care access.
Madras Campus Director James Rodriguez said the college built these programs in direct response to what the community asked for.
"The priority is giving back to the community — understanding, listening to the community and meeting their needs as a community college. We pride ourselves in that. And so as a community college, we listened," Rodriguez said.
Child Care Center Open to All
An entire floor of the new building is dedicated to a child care center — a facility open not just to COCC students and staff, but to any family in Jefferson County. Child care access has been a persistent challenge in rural Oregon, and the addition gives local parents a new, affordable option.
The project was made possible in part by a land donation from the Bean Foundation, which helped secure the site for the expanded campus.
A Long Time Coming
For years, Jefferson County residents who wanted to pursue higher education faced a difficult choice: commute to Bend or Redmond, or forgo college entirely. The expanded COCC campus represents a significant investment in keeping that opportunity local — and in building the workforce Jefferson County's economy and healthcare system need to grow.
For enrollment information, visit cocc.edu/madras or call the Madras campus directly.