Higher Education

Bend has two excellent higher education options for those who want to stay local or for anyone wanting to move to Bend, Oregon, to attend college.

Central Oregon Community College (COCC)

Central Oregon Community College is the oldest two-year college in the State of Oregon. The main campus is located on the west side of Bend on more than 200 acres. The campus has 30 different buildings and is continuing to expand. Perched high on a hill, the campus boasts beautiful views of the Cascade Mountains. The campus is conveniently located near the Deschutes National Forest, the Deschutes River and Downtown Bend providing access to both social and recreational activities. Central Oregon Community College also has campuses in Redmond, Prineville and Madras, providing educational opportunities across Central Oregon.

Central Oregon Community College offers a two-year Associate Degree or Certificate. They have programs for students interested in entering directly into the workforce or students interested in continuing their education as a transfer student to a four-year college. Central Oregon Community College offers 78 different academic programs, including automotive technology, aviation, culinary arts, criminal justice, dentistry, fire science, massage therapy, nursing, outdoor leadership and veterinary medicine. Central Oregon Community College also provides opportunities for students to become involved in clubs and activities. This is a great opportunity outside of the classroom for students to become more involved in their area of study, in sports and with the local community in Bend.

Cascade Culinary Institute at Central Oregon Community College offers competency-based instruction in a nurturing environment with an emphasis on sustainability. Certificates and degrees include culinary arts, baking and pastry arts, and hospitality management.

The Central Oregon Community College is located at 2600 NW College Way in Bend. For more information, visit Central Oregon Community College or call 541-383-7700.

Oregon State University Cascades Campus

Oregon State University – Cascades (OSU-Cascades) located in Bend is a branch campus of Oregon State University (OSU) located in Corvallis, Oregon. It is the only university in Central Oregon offering both baccalaureate and graduate programs. OSU-Cascades currently resides on 128 acres of land and plans to expand academically with new degree programs over the next 10 years. OSU-Cascades currently offers 36 different undergraduate degree programs, 3 graduate degree programs, with plans to increase to a total of 50 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. OSU-Cascades partners with the Central Oregon Community College and Oregon State University. Students can take lower-division classes at the Central Oregon Community College and upper-division classes through OSU-Cascades or Oregon State University. Masters programs are currently available in counseling, teaching, and creative writing.

The OSU-Cascades Campus is located at 1500 SW Chandler Avenue in Bend. For more information, visit Oregon State University-Cascades Campus or call 541-322-3100.

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