Central Oregon Community College (COCC) Introduction and Academics

Introduction

For students looking to get their feet wet in higher education at a community college in Oregon, Central Oregon Community College (COCC) offers a solid foundation on which to build further academic success. The college also has a number of programs for students who want to quickly retool for a new career, including its aviation program.

In addition, COCC, which is located in Bend, Oregon has a beautiful campus with plenty of nearby outdoor fun and adventure along with necessary urban amenities.

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Information Summary

Ranks 30th in Oregon and 2804th overall. See the entire top 2,000 colleges and universities list
Overall Score (about)	53.6
Total Cost On-Campus Attendance	$19,929
Admission Success rate	N/A
Student Ratio Students-to-Faculty	18 : 1
Retention (full-time / part-time)	54% / 36%
Enrollment Total (all students)	4,872

Academics

The college primarily serves a feeder school to Oregon’s four-year universities. There are a variety of benefits to completing your first two years at a community college, including lower prices and a more nuturing atmosphere.

Degrees and Programs Offered

In addition to its academic programs intended to prepare students for a four-year school, a number of certificates and associate’s degrees are available for students who want to quickly complete training and enter the workforce. Two unique programs are the college’s aviation training program, which trains commercial pilots, and the firefighting program.

There are more than 60 programs of study students can choose from, including certificate and associate’s degree options.

Some of the most popular majors include:

Liberal Arts: 58 percent of enrollment
Health Professions: 19 percent of enrollment
Public safety related majors: 9 percent of enrollment

Accreditation is granted by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, which accredits schools in of Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington. The NWCCU accredits more than 150 colleges and universities in the region.

Most Popular Fields of Study

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Admissions

Admissions are open, meaning that virtually all students who apply to the college are admitted. Some programs, such as the nursing program, may have entrance criteria.

The admissions office maintains a rolling deadline. Typically students must apply by the Wednesday before courses start in the current term. Prospective students must submit high school transcripts and SAT or ACT scores while transfer students have to submit transcripts from their former college(s).

Applicants need to take a placement exam to determine whether they need remediation in some areas.

Financial Aid

Students are eligible for federal grants and student loans. There are also a number of grants and scholarships offered by the state of Oregon, the university itself, and other organizations that students may be eligible for.

The COCC Foundation alone offers more than 250 scholarships each year. The college website has detailed listings of available scholarships and some information on how to apply.

The office of financial stands ready to help students find other grants and scholarships they may be eligible for. About 66 percent of students receive student aid in terms of loans, grants or scholarships.

Student Financial Aid Details

Ranks 4879th for the average student loan amount.
Secrets to getting the best scholarships and financial aid in Oregon.

Students

The campus is comprised largely of students who are somewhat older than traditional college students—students that are returning to school to improve their career opportunities.

Student Organizations and Activities

The school offers a wide variety of academic, cultural and recreational activities for its students. Student activities include professional and academic organizations, civic groups, diversity and ethnicity-themed organizations and recreational activities. The student newspaper is called The Broadside.

Campus Facilities

Unlike most community colleges, there are some on-campus housing opportunities here. A small percentage of the students live in on-campus housing.

A unique attraction is the school’s arboretum, which has a wide variety of plant and animal species and is a much-enjoyed portion of the campus.

The college also provides dining facilities and also has security services, including escort services to help students feel safe at night as they travel on campus.

Student Enrollment Demographics

Athletics

Central Oregon Community College’s mascot is the Bobcat. School colors are cardinal and gold. Although the college does not have traditional intercollegiate athletics, club and intramural sports are available for students. The club and intramural sports include:

Men’s and Women’s

Baseball
Basketball
Non-tackle Football
Table Tennis
Cross Country
Soccer
Track and Field
Volleyball
Golf

Local Community

One of its main “selling points” to prospective students is the college’s location. Bend offers impressive views of the Cascade Mountains and students have plenty of skiing, hiking and other opportunities. Bend is a well-regarded town and one of the more pleasant places to live in Oregon. Bend has a population of about 75,000 and offers many of the amenities of larger cities without the congestion and crowding of more populated areas.

Central Oregon Community College