ESCANABA, Mich. (WZMQ) – The fall semester is off to a strong start for Bay College.
On Monday, Bay’s Escanaba campus was buzzing with excitement for the first day of classes.
“There’s a lot of energy on campus, and it’s great to see students walking the halls,” said Admissions Director Jessica Beaver. “We’re helping students get their IDs, find the book store, the food pantry. Some students are already considering changing their major. It’s been a pretty busy morning so far!”
Bay College is enjoying its highest enrollment since 2014, with more than 2,000 students signed up for classes. Beaver believes the spike could be partially due to a renewed interest in college following the pandemic, as well as programs like Michigan’s free “Community College Guarantee.”
“I think after COVID, students are just starting to feel more confident,” she said. “They’ve had a bit more time to try a different career or maybe do some dual enrollment classes. I think with all of the state initiatives, that financial burden is now removed for many, which is spectacular.”
Beaver says Bay is also pleased with its student retention. About 50 percent of this semester’s students are new, while the other 50 percent are returning.
“This kind of 50/50 split is really exciting because getting new students is awesome, but then we do want to see people complete,” said Beaver. “We want them to get a certificate; we want them to get a degree. The fact that half of our enrollment are returning students is pretty impressive.”
On Wednesday, Bay College will host a cookout for students to explore work opportunities, join campus clubs, and meet their fellow students.
While the last day to register for classes this semester is August 30, classes are filling up fast. To learn more about enrolling at Bay College, click here or call (906) 217-4010.
