Portland Community College — Rock Creek Campus

Rock Creek carries a Portland mailing address but sits about 12 miles west of downtown, in the Beaverton–Hillsboro growth area of Washington County. Its 260 acres include woodlands, wetlands and open grassland, giving the campus a very different scale from PCC’s city locations. It is a full-service site for transfer courses, career-technical study, a library, bookstore and student support, and it serves roughly 20,000 students over a year. The college describes it as an important resource for Washington County and the region’s technology and manufacturing corridor.

The clearest example of Rock Creek’s hands-on teaching is Veterinary Technology. Students work with animals in campus labs and at the working farm, which is home to cattle, horses, sheep, pigs and goats. PCC lists the associate degree as a two-year full-time award and publishes a seven-term plan of study with clinical practice; admission is limited, so applicants must complete prerequisites and the program’s separate selection process. Other location-specific training includes dealer-service technology for Caterpillar equipment, aviation facilities, and more than a dozen career-technical programs.

The site is also a place to spend time between classes. PCC points visitors to the Helzer Gallery, a 3.6-acre learning garden, Panther soccer and student fitness facilities; its resource centers include support for veterans, women, multicultural students and LGBTQ+ students. Child care is available through an on-campus center. These are campus resources rather than automatic benefits of enrollment, so check eligibility, opening times and current service details. An Admissions Welcome Center in Building 9 can help with the college’s general start-up steps.

Rock Creek is farther from central Portland than the other main campuses, so the trip deserves planning. PCC lists TriMet service, including Line 52 toward Beaverton, and a free shuttle between its campuses. Vehicles parked on PCC property need a valid permit, and availability is first come, first served. Use the official campus map and the current transit and shuttle schedules before setting out; program labs, the farm and the admissions desk occupy different parts of the grounds.