Klamath County Competitors

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.

Perfectly placed in the Willamette Valley, 90 miles south of Portland and 40 miles north of Eugene, Benton County has easy access to urban areas with ample opportunities for cultural activities. Combined with outdoor recreation galore in the Cascade Range 80 miles to the east and the Coastal Range and the Pacific Ocean 50 miles west, the county’s 90,000 residents like to say they “have it all.” Voters elect three County Commissioners and a Sheriff to four-year terms. The District Attorney is also elected to a four-year term and is a state official. The County Commissioners are assisted in their administrative responsibilities by the County Administrator, who is responsible for implementing County policy, managing operations, budget, and supervising Department Directors. With a ’21-’23 total budget of approximately $349.8 million and 564 employees, Benton County provides a breadth of services through its departments of Assessment, Board of Commissioners, Community Development, District Attorney, Fairgrounds, Records and Elections, Financial Services, Health Centers, Health Department, Human Resources, Information Technology, Juvenile, Natural Areas and Parks, Public Works, and the Sheriff’s Office. In addition to Oregon State University and local entrepreneurship, Benton County’s economy is driven by the tech and health industries and regional agriculture. Traditionally, county Ag has focused on grass seed, Christmas trees, wine grapes, seed crops, organic produce, lumber, sheep, cattle and dairy, but recent years have seen large upswing in hazelnuts and marijuana. The community’s passion for supporting a thriving local economy allow the county to boast chefs, restaurateurs, winemakers, brewmasters and distilleries committed to locally grown ingredients with a strong focus on sustainability.

The City of Ashland is a community of approximately 21,000 residents located near the south end of the Rogue Valley along Interstate 5 in Southern Oregon. Just 16 miles north of the Oregon-California border and a little more than a two-hour drive west to the Pacific Ocean, Ashland is nestled in the foothills of the Siskiyou Mountains and is one of the most scenic and picturesque communities in the Pacific Northwest. Nearby recreational and outdoor amenities include lakes, mountain trails for hiking and biking, downhill skiing runs, and beautiful, and the historical Lithia Park. Ashland is also home to Southern Oregon University and a public school district consistently rated among the top 100 school districts in the nation. Ashland has managed to maintain a strong sense of community, in part because of the quality services it offers to its citizens.