COCC Awarded $224K for Rural Student Health Care Scholarships

Funding from Central Oregon Health Council will support tuition for over 50 students in nursing, public health, and behavioral health programs.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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Central Oregon Community College has been awarded a $224,532 grant from the Central Oregon Health Council to provide full or partial tuition coverage for more than 50 rural-based students enrolled in health care training programs like public health, nursing, and behavioral health. The funding will also help expand health sciences programming at local high schools and support student field placements.

Why it matters

This grant addresses the significant need for more health care workers in rural Oregon, where a 2025 state report found over 18,800 open positions in the health care and social assistance sector. The funding will help expand access to in-demand health care careers for students from underserved areas.

The details

The grant from the Central Oregon Health Council will run from November 2026 to November 2030. It supplements a previous $300,000 grant from the Oregon Health Authority received by COCC in 2025 for similar scholarship purposes. Scholarships from the grants range from $500 to $5,000 and priority is given to students from Health Professional Shortage Areas, including the Warm Springs Reservation.

  • The COHC grant period opened in November 2026 and continues until November 2030.
  • The previous OHA grant received by COCC in early 2025 continues until June 2027.

The players

Central Oregon Community College

A public community college serving Central Oregon, with a newly expanded campus in Madras.

Central Oregon Health Council

A regional health collaborative that provides funding to improve health care access and outcomes in Central Oregon.

Oregon Health Authority

The state agency responsible for public health, health systems, and health policy in Oregon.

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What they’re saying

“With our newly expanded Madras campus, the timing of this funding is allowing more students from rural areas to work toward high-demand health care careers in the region.”

— Zak Boone, Vice President for College Advancement and COCC Foundation Executive Director (mycentraloregon.com)

What’s next

Interested students can explore scholarship options and conditions at cocc.edu/departments/financial-aid. COCC's spring term begins March 30.

The takeaway

This grant from the Central Oregon Health Council is a significant investment in expanding access to health care education and careers for students from rural and underserved areas, helping to address Oregon's critical shortage of health care workers.