PETOSKEY -- As more and more people are laid off from their jobs, that's creating a ripple effect that's having a big impact on higher education.

North Central Michigan College in Petoskey says they're continuing to see record enrollment.

"I thought when I came in and got settled working at Kimball that was going to be it until I could retire," said Dale Prentice, a NCMC student.

However, after 8 years with the company, Prentice was laid off from his job at Kimball Electronics in Gaylord. Now he's back in the classroom and re-starting his career.

"Enrollment numbers are through the roof," said Charlie MacInnis, marketing director for North Central Michigan College. "Enrollment numbers are growing for a variety of reasons. We know that in the current semester just ending we have almost twice as many people here because of job layoffs from a year ago."

NCMC is seeing an 8% hike in their overall enrollment. Monies from programs like 'No Worker Left Behind' provides opportunities for laid off employees to gain education in growing career fields.

MacInnis says they're also seeing record enrollment climb because more people are seeing community college as an economic alternative.

"We are an inexpensive school close to home for many of our students so we represent the most economical way for students to begin taking college courses," MacInnis said.

Growing class sizes can come with its challenges. While MacInnis says they have adequate staff, he says increasing enrollment means classes filled up quicker than normal.

"I can tell you the pressure to get into the nursing program is significant," MacInnis said. "We receive quite a few more applications than we accommodate in the nursing program, but we know that and the community knows that the health care field is a growing opportunity."

But, no matter the reason students, like Prentice, who hopes to become a network administrator, says getting back into the classroom is giving him greater hope for the future.

"Actually, I do feel very confident because the program gives me an opportunity to re-start a new career and it looks to be a very promising career," Prentice said.

And MacInnis says NCMC is also seeing a spike in the number of students enrolling in online courses. Northwestern Michigan College in Traverse City reports a slight increase in enrollment compared to last fall; but adds that the number of commuter students from Antrim County rose 10 percent.