Latest news, weather, high school sports for Michigan’s Upper Peninsula

ESCANABA -- Bay College in Escanaba started its fall semester Monday. School officials say enrollment is where they expected it to be. There are 2,800 students. The popular programs include business, technology, computer, and nursing. So how's school going for the students?

Hannah Stebelton is starting the LPN program at Bay College. She's one of the lucky students who made the cut.

That's because school officials say the interest in the nursing program is so high. There are around 200 people on the waiting list.

“Nursing is always a really big, huge program,” says Bay College President, Laura Coleman. “There's going to be more of a demand in the U.P. to have good nurses."

So how's the second day of class going for Ms. Stebelton?

“I'm excited but a little bit nervous trying to figure out where everything was,” says Stebelton. “I was almost late my first day. I work at the hospital right now. So I’m around nurses all the time, and I kind of know what I’m getting myself into."

You may be surprised to learn that nursing and other students vary greatly in age. According to officials, non-traditional students are the growing trend in community colleges across America. Non-traditional students are made up of students in their twenties and older. School officials say 59 percent of their students are non-traditional students. But both non-traditional and traditional students will have their fair share of homework.

“I'm looking forward to being back to school,” says first year student, Alex Dehaan. “But I'm really not looking forward to being back in the homework swing of things. I know that it's part of college and you have to do everything outside of class. So I was prepared for it and have time set out to study. For the most part, I’m prepared for it."

The students will continue on their exciting journey. Wednesday, the campus will host a free picnic to give students a chance to socialize and get to know their fellow students.