Cornell University's student body will be larger for the upcoming spring semester. Sixty-two students from Puerto Rico will take classes on campus -- and seek refuge at the school in Ithaca.

Hurricane Maria hit the island in late September, and officials believe around 45 percent are still without power.  

Cornell is one of only four institutions -- the other three being New York University, Tulane University and Brown -- offering students a semester's worth of free tuition, room and board. Nearly $58,000 had been raised through the Cornell UPR Interuniversity Relief Program.

Students from Universidad De Puerto Rico have been arriving since late last week and will start classes Wednesday. Many have said they were blown away by the kindness and generosity of the community.

Many of the students say they're excited, but the hardest part of the experience was leaving their family and friends.

Hundreds of scarves, mittens and hats were donated to the students. Cornell will be providing them with free meal plans for the semester as well.