Klamath Community College (KCC) is a public two-year institution serving Klamath and Lake counties in South Central Oregon. The College’s two-county service area covers more than 14,000 square miles, with a combined population of approximately 74,000. Although many technological and geographic barriers to obtaining a college education exist in Klamath and Lake counties, KCC is committed to ensuring community college is accessible to everyone, even those in the most rural areas. KCC was founded in 1996 and is Oregon’s youngest community college. KCC is an open-access institution that serves students from a wide variety of economic and social backgrounds. KCC's programs largely focus on workforce development and preparing degree and certificate earners for careers in high-wage, high-demand fields. KCC students can learn on campus in Klamath Falls, at the Lakeview, Ore., Innovation and Learning Center, or at one of six regional high schools to which KCC delivers live courses using synchronous technology. KCC also offers six online degrees and certificates that allow students to complete courses around busy life and work schedules. As a result of a recent partnership between KCC and Southern Oregon Goodwill, the Klamath Center for Education & Training (K-CET) was opened in Klamath Falls. The center is designed to address adult educational needs in Klamath and Lake counties. Through the center, adults ages 18 and older can enroll in GED, college prep adult basic education (ABE) and English as a second language (ESL) classes. To provide more options for student who cannot afford to leave South Central Oregon for education, KCC has cemented articulation agreements with Oregon State University, Southern Oregon University, Linfield University, and Eastern Oregon University that allow students to pursue bachelor’s degrees through KCC. KCC also offers non-credit certifications in phlebotomy, medical assistant, and dental assistant.
