Jefferson County residents who are registered nurses and want to advance their education no longer need to commute to Bend or beyond. Central Oregon Community College's new Madras campus building is open, and the school is now accepting applications for its first-ever Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program, which began accepting applicants on June 1.
A New Building, New Possibilities
The transformed COCC Madras campus — which celebrated its opening in January 2026 after groundbreaking in June 2024 — brings a dedicated healthcare education facility to Jefferson County for the first time. The building includes practice exam rooms where students train in realistic clinical settings, and is designed to support three standalone health career programs offering full degree and certificate tracks.
Those programs are:
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) — for students who already hold an Associate Degree in Nursing and want to earn a four-year degree
- Medical Assisting — a certificate and degree program for entry-level healthcare work
- Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) — foundational healthcare training with a clear path to employment
Filling a Critical Gap
Jefferson County has long struggled with healthcare workforce shortages. The ability to train nurses and healthcare workers locally — rather than relying on recruiting from Bend, Portland, or out of state — could meaningfully strengthen the county's healthcare pipeline over time.
"Community members are excited," said one COCC alumnus involved in the campus development. "They're excited about the opportunity to access nursing, medical assisting, and certified nursing assistant training close to home."
Who Is the BSN For?
The BSN program is specifically designed for Registered Nurses who already hold an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree in nursing. It is a completion program — sometimes called an RN-to-BSN track — that allows working nurses to earn a bachelor's degree, which is increasingly required for advancement in hospital and clinical settings.
How to Apply
Applications for the BSN program are now open. Prospective students should contact COCC's Madras campus directly or visit cocc.edu to begin the enrollment process. Advisors at the Madras campus can assist with application requirements, financial aid options, and program scheduling.
The Madras campus is located at the Bean Foundation-donated site in central Jefferson County and is accessible to students from across the region, including Warm Springs, Culver, Metolius, and Crooked River Ranch.