Manhattanville College is exploring the nursing business.

The Purchase-based institution, known for its liberal arts education, will be opening a School of Nursing and Health Sciences.

News 12 is told the college has a strong science department that has the means to provide a well-rounded education for nursing students.

Officials say the program is needed because nurses are in great demand in the region. They hope to fill the void left in the field when the College of New Rochelle closed its doors last year.

“When that went out of business, one of the major pipelines for nurses in Westchester County ended,” says Provost Louise Feroe.

However, this isn’t the first time Manhattanville College has considered a nursing program.

"We once had a nursing program in the 1940s during the Second World War. It was a response to a nursing shortage, similar as the response is today," says Manhattanville school of nursing former dean, Dr. Debra Simons.

She also went on to mention the high demand for nurses, saying in part, there’s “...a 15% increase in jobs for nurses right now.”

Dr. Debra Simons was rehired to spearhead the new program.

The institution is taking applications now for its higher degree program, which begins in May. The four-year bachelor's program starts in August.            

They are anticipating about 160 students to enroll in its inaugural class.