OCCC at 40
Oregon Coast Community College 40th Anniversary
Forty Years Forward
Oregon Coast Community College · 1987–2027
Forty years of opening doors on the Oregon coast
On May 19, 1987, the people of Lincoln County voted to create a community college of their own. Four decades later, that act of collective faith has grown into something remarkable — an institution that transforms lives, strengthens communities, and grows bolder every year.
How we got here
Four decades, one mission
From a single campus to a countywide network — Oregon Coast Community College has always followed the same north star: meet Lincoln County students where they are and help them get where they want to go.
May 1987
Founded by the people. Lincoln County voters said yes to a community college — and to each other. Oregon Coast Community College opened its doors to serve every corner of this 1,200-square-mile coastal county.
Early years
Putting down roots. The college established centers in Newport, Lincoln City, Toledo, and Waldport, weaving itself into the fabric of communities spread across the entire county. Transfer pathways, professional-technical programs, and community education grew alongside enrollment.
May 2004
Voters invest in a permanent home. Lincoln County approved a bond measure to fund construction of a campus in Newport and centers in both Waldport and Lincoln City — giving the college the physical foundation it needed to serve the entire county for generations to come.
February 2020
Independent accreditation achieved. After six years of focused, institution-wide effort, OCCC secured independent accreditation through the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities — a milestone that affirmed the college's academic quality and its standing as a fully autonomous institution.
2020
Welding launches on the coast. OCCC expanded trades education with welding instruction delivered from the Port of Toledo facility and — uniquely — inside Taft High School in Lincoln City, bringing college-level workforce training directly to the next generation.
2022 – present
Nursing and Allied Health takes off. The department nearly doubled in capacity, adding an LPN-to-RN pathway and a four-year BSN program — expanding the college's role as a critical pipeline for healthcare workers on the coast.
May 2024
Voters say yes — again. Lincoln County approved a bond measure to fund construction of the Oregon Coast Advanced Technology & Trades (OCATT) Center on the Newport campus, along with safety and renovation projects across all OCCC facilities. It was an overwhelming vote of confidence in what this college means to this community.
2025 – 2026
Five straight years of growth — and a new record. The 2025–26 academic year marked OCCC's fifth consecutive year of enrollment growth, culminating in an all-time high. More students than ever are choosing Oregon Coast to chart a path forward.
The year ahead
Year 40 is going to be something
Our 40th year isn't a moment to slow down and admire the view. It's a launching pad. Here's what's coming — and why we're so excited.
East County Center opens
September 11, 2026: a ribbon-cutting celebration at the historic Arcadia School in Toledo marks OCCC's first-ever East County Center — bringing college closer to home for more Lincoln County residents than ever before.
Natural Resources
A new degree launching Fall 2026, featuring a direct pathway to more than a dozen majors in Oregon State University's College of Forestry — connecting coastal students to careers stewarding the land and sea.
Psychology transfer
Starting Fall 2026, Psychology students who complete OCCC's new transfer degree can enter any of Oregon's seven public universities with junior standing — a streamlined pathway to a four-year degree.
New four-year degrees
OCCC is expanding its baccalaureate offerings in both Nursing and Aquarium Science — programs that allow students to go from first-year coursework all the way to a bachelor's degree without ever leaving Lincoln County.
OCATT Center under construction
All year, cranes will rise over the Newport campus as the $30 million Oregon Coast Advanced Technology & Trades Center takes shape — a transformational facility that will redefine workforce education on the Oregon coast for decades to come.
Come along for the ride
For forty years, Oregon Coast Community College has been the place where Lincoln County students discover what's possible. Year 40 will be one of our biggest yet — and we wouldn't want you to miss a moment of it.