The Central Oregon Community College Madras Campus is well into its first full fall semester running healthcare training programs — and the new offerings represent a significant step toward building a homegrown healthcare workforce in Jefferson County.
COCC launched nursing, certified nursing assistant (CNA), and medical assistant programs at the Madras Campus in spring 2026, developed in partnership with St. Charles Health System. An early childhood education program, offered in both English and Spanish, was added through a collaboration with The Children's Learning Center. Now, with fall term in full swing, those programs are reaching students who might never have pursued healthcare training without a local option.
Filling a Rural Workforce Gap
Jefferson County — like most rural Oregon communities — has long struggled to attract and retain enough trained healthcare workers. CNAs, medical assistants, and nurses are chronically in short supply at rural facilities, and recruiting from outside the region is an ongoing challenge.
By training workers locally, COCC and St. Charles aim to build a pipeline that keeps talent close to home. Someone who grew up in Madras, trains in Madras, and finds their first healthcare job in Madras is far more likely to stay than a recruit from outside the region who has no roots here.
High School Students Get an Early Start
One of the most promising elements of the program is its Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathway for Madras High School students. Through the partnership, MHS students can gain hands-on healthcare experience while still in high school — earning college credit and building practical skills before they even graduate.
For students who might not see themselves as college-bound, a tangible healthcare credential earned locally can open doors to stable, well-paying careers without requiring a move to Bend or Portland.
A Transformed Campus
The new programs are running out of COCC's substantially upgraded Madras Campus, which reopened in January 2026 after a significant expansion and renovation. The facility now includes modern classrooms, computer labs, student support services, and equipment suited for healthcare training and live-streaming coursework.
COCC Madras also continues its longstanding partnership with the Oregon Department of Corrections, providing educational services to inmates at nearby Deer Ridge Correctional Institution — another dimension of the campus's broader workforce development mission.
How to Learn More
Students interested in nursing, CNA, medical assistant, or early childhood education programs at COCC Madras can contact the campus at 541-475-4556 or visit cocc.edu/departments/madras/. The campus is located at 2225 NW Doris Avenue in Madras.
Financial aid options including Oregon Promise (for recent high school graduates), federal Pell Grants, and other assistance may cover part or all of tuition costs for qualifying students. COCC advisors can help prospective students navigate enrollment and financial aid during drop-in advising hours.