Two-Year Colleges in Oregon
Portland Community College: Life-long Learning and a Stepping Stone to a Bright Future
Oregon is located in the northwestern region of the United States on the Pacific Coast, with Washington to the north and California to the south. As a whole, the state’s weather is heavily influenced by the Pacific Ocean and thus the climate is generally mild, though it rains a lot more in the western regions where most of Oregon’s population lives. Oregon produces 95% of domestic hazelnuts and is one of the four major hazelnut growing regions in the world. Despite recent downturns in the industry, Oregon is still a major timber production and logging state, leading the nation in softwood lumber production. It is home to one of the world’s largest salmon-fishing industries and the scenic natural beauty the state has been blessed with supports a vibrant tourism industry. Oregon has the highest number of breweries of any city in the world and is the headquarters of some very large corporations, such as Nike and various high technology companies. The state is also home to 17 regional community colleges that can fast track you to fulfilling your dreams.
Located in the state’s most populous city of Portland, it has an enrollment of around a whopping 83,000 students. It offers one of the largest life-long learning programs in the nation, with more than 4,000 non-credit and continuing education courses and associated enrollment of over 30,000 students. These courses are offered in the five general subjects of Home and Garden, Language and Culture, Recreation and Wellness, Work and Life Balance, and Creative Arts. Classes are offered on campus and in the community at such locations as local businesses, schools, community centers and churches, as well as online. It also offer an international program where students can study in a variety of other countries, and has a number of scholarships available for its students through the PCC Foundation. Many of the classes that it offers can be directly applied towards a four-year university degree. Students have the option of dual enrollment whereby they can be simultaneously enrolled at the community college and a number of other universities so that they can increase the resources they have access and satisfy the specifics of their educational requirements.
Located in the state capital of Salem, it serves more than 64,000 students each year in Marion, Polk, Yamhill and Linn counties, an area that covers 2,600 square miles. It offers an Associate of Applied Science in more than 40 professional-technical programs and is well known for its nursing, viticulture, electronics and fire science programs. It boasts a diverse campus, as the school firmly believes that diversity plays a vital role in the learning process by increasing opportunities for it to occur. Downtown Salem is home to the college’s Center for Business and Industry, which operates classes and programs that benefit businesses in the area. Additionally, the school operates a working vineyard at the Eola Viticulture Center, which houses its winemaking and vineyard management programs.
Located in Eugene, more than 36,000 students enroll in its classes for both credit and non-credit every year, placing it third in terms of the largest enrollment among community colleges in Oregon. The comprehensive community college offers a wide range of classes and courses of study, including transfer credit programs, continuing education non-credit courses, career and technical degrees and certificates, customized training for local businesses, programs in English as a Second Language, and a variety of online classes. The campus boasts a scenic location where peaks from the Cascade Mountains can be seen from the campus and where outdoor adventures are just a short distance away.
Located in Newport and established in 1987, it is one of the youngest colleges in Oregon. With an enrollment of only around 3,000 students, it is also one of the smallest community colleges in the state. It is well know for offering the only Aquarium Science Program in the nation, with two programs available to its students: one to obtain an Associate’s degree and another to obtain a one year certificate for those with a bachelor’s degree or higher in life sciences. There are a very limited number of spots for the program, at a mere 22 positions, and applicants are interviewed by several biologists and experts in the field. Those who study in the program end with an internship at a public aquarium, fish hatchery, zoo or marine laboratory.
Established in 1996, it is the youngest community college in the state. It is situated in Klamath Falls and is one of the smallest community colleges in Oregon by enrollment, with a student body of around 1,400 students. Plans are being worked on to expand the college’s campus to an adjacent 50 acres. It maintains excellent relations with the Oregon Institute of Technology.
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