MOORHEAD — Minnesota State Community and Technical College is seeing a surge in enrollment in several programs this fall.

The school reported a 32% increase in health sciences enrollment and a 14% rise in nursing compared to last year.

A dean at the school said the increase can be attributed to its simulation center, which features four hospital rooms, a surgery room, a long-term care room and advanced equipment designed to prepare students for real-world scenarios.

“Our nursing students, in particular, really benefit from spending time in here. They’re learning. They’ll have content from a lecture room, they’ll come into a lab, and then they’ll come into the simulation center, and they’re going to put into practice what they’re learning in the classroom with a simulated patient,” said Ken Kompelien, dean of the School of Health Services.

Overall student enrollment at M State is up 4.6% compared to last year.