Colleges & Universities

With a campus so new the paint is still drying, their first 1,200 students, 3,000 alumni and community supporters  are realizing a 30-year, grassroots effort to bring a four-year university to Central Oregon.

OSU-Cascades opened its 10-acre campus in Bend at the start of the fall term in 2016. Located in the heart of Central Oregon, a vast natural laboratory, OSU-Cascades offers 16 undergraduate and four graduate degrees, including signature programs in energy systems engineering, tourism and outdoor leadership, and hospitality management.

The Energy Systems Engineering Management program is unique in the state, preparing graduates for a broad range of careers in the energy industry. The Computer Science degree was developed with considerable industry input from many of the region’s software firms. OSU-Cascades is now offering an executive leadership MBA program through OSU’s College of Business. The MBA takes about two years and is delivered in a hybrid format, blending face-to-face with online sessions and is designed for busy professionals. The university also aims to launch additional MBA programs.

OSU-Cascades’ enrollment is slated to grow to 3,000 to 5,000 students by 2025 to meet state educational attainment goals, The campus will serve students from Central Oregon, as well as Oregon, the U.S. and international destinations.

Offering small class sizes, OSU-Cascade students may choose from a variety of graduate, undergraduate, and minor programs, which will be expanding as the campus expands over the next decade.

OSU-Cascades Fields of Study:

Additional Programs at OSU-Cascades:

Through it's College of Education, OSU Cascades offers Graduate programs in Counseling (Ph. D, MCoun) and Teaching (MAT). In addition, the College of Liberal Arts provides a Masters in Creative Writing (MFA). 

CENTRAL OREGON COMMUNITY COLLEGE (COCC)

Central Oregon Community College was founded in 1949 and is Oregon’s first and consequently oldest community college. The College offers two-year associate degrees, transfer/lower division programs, career and technical education degrees and certificates, developmental courses, continuing education and community learning classes, industry-specific training programs and business management assistance. 

The COCC District covers a 10,000-square-mile area that encompasses all of Crook, Deschutes and Jefferson counties, the southern part of Wasco, and the northern portions of Klamath and Lake Counties. A seven-member board of directors governs the College, with members of that board elected from geographic zones in the District.

The 201-acre Bend campus offers spectacular views of the Cascades and includes 26 buildings with a total of 575,000 square feet under roof. The newest buildings are the Jungers Culinary Center, funded primarily by private donations, and the Health Careers Center and Science Center, funded by a voter-approved bond measure.

The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) operated by COCC provides active support for Central Oregon’s small businesses. SBDC provides programs such as counseling and market research assistance for entrepreneurs at the earliest stages of development. COCC’s Continuing Education department delivers industry-specific courses and workshops tailored to business and industry’s changing needs. The College also offers a wide range of continuing education for personal and professional development.

COCC Redmond Campus:

The COCC Redmond Campus sits on 25-acres near the Redmond Airport. This campus includes four buildings to serve students with a variety of career programs, educational opportunities and transfer eligible classes. This past year, approximately 6,649 students enrolled in one

 or more credit classes in Redmond. The COCC Redmond campus offers these services and educational opportunities:

·         The full range of credit classes for completion of the Associate of Arts Oregon Transfer (AAOT) degree

·         Degree and certificate programs in Welding, Machining, Manufacturing and Quality Assurance

·         Veterinary Technician Associate of Applied Science Degree Program

·         The Art & Science of Modern Beer Brewing and Oregon Sourced Beer Brewing (non-credit)

·         Academic advising and financial aid counseling

·         Placement testing, proctored exams, and tutoring

·         Community Education Courses in art, home and garden, languages, and other special interests

·         Career and job search services

·         Small business advising

·         Customized business training