Nurse Hopefuls Can Train at Night and on Weekends at These Schools

For people who want to become nurses but work all day, the biggest obstacle to nursing school is often the clock. Northeast Mississippi Community College (NEMCC) is one of a growing number of schools trying to fix that, with a practical nursing program that holds classes in the evening and on Saturdays.

The Booneville school’s 12-month Practical Nursing program meets three nights a week from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., plus Saturday sessions from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., WTVA reported on September 28. The next cohort begins in Spring 2027; prospective students should check with NEMCC for the current application deadline.

NEMCC isn’t alone. From Michigan to Texas to Pennsylvania, community colleges and universities run evening and weekend tracks so working adults can earn a nursing credential without giving up their paychecks.

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Students in NEMCC’s program get classroom instruction, hands-on lab practice, and clinical training in healthcare settings, all on the nights-and-Saturdays schedule.

“So far we’ve had good success in the program and graduate a lot of practical nurses out in the field,” Kristen Montgomery, a class representative at NEMCC, told WTVA. “Nurses are in high demand. We encourage anyone to apply if they are interested in the nursing field.”

Which Other Nursing Schools Offer Night and Weekend Programs?

Evening and weekend tracks cover everything from LPN and LVN certificates to associate and bachelor’s degrees. Here are five more schools that let students train to become nurses after their 9-to-5.

Oakland Community College (Michigan)

Oakland Community College launched an evening associate degree in nursing at its Highland Lakes campus in Waterford in Fall 2025. Classes meet Monday evenings from 6 to 8 p.m., and clinicals take place on Saturdays and/or Sundays at McLaren Oakland Hospital.

The school says it is the only community college in Southeast Michigan with an evening nursing program, and the program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). The first cohort enrolled more than 20 students, and a second cohort started in August 2026.

“That’s why we expanded our program to offer evening classes and weekend clinicals, allowing students to balance work, family and earning a degree,” Dr. Tanya McFadden, executive director of health professions and dean of nursing, said in the school’s announcement.

Austin Community College (Texas)

Austin Community College runs an Evening & Weekend track in its Vocational Nursing certificate program at the Eastview Campus. Students are admitted in the fall only. The deadline for Fall 2027 admission is May 1, 2027, and applicants need a minimum 58.7% composite score on the TEAS exam before applying.

Clark State College (Ohio)

Clark State College in Springfield offers a part-time evening and weekend registered nursing Associate of Applied Science. The 65-credit program takes four years, and in-state tuition and fees total $14,687.45, not including textbooks. Applications are accepted December through February, and the school notes that space is limited.

Gwynedd Mercy University (Pennsylvania)

For people who already hold a bachelor’s degree in another field, Gwynedd Mercy University in Gwynedd Valley offers a weekend BSN. Classes meet Saturdays and Sundays during the day, plus some Friday evenings, with online coursework during two summers. Students can finish the 67-credit program in as few as three years, and the program enrolls a new class each fall.

Louisiana State University of Alexandria

Louisiana State University of Alexandria started offering some evening ASN courses in Spring 2025, and this fall expanded the option so students can complete the entire associate degree curriculum on an evening schedule. The first evening cohort is expected to graduate in Fall 2026, according to a statement from the school’s nursing director, Sarita James, DNP.

“Offering a full evening ASN pathway shows our commitment to meeting students where they are and responding to the healthcare workforce needs of our region,” James said in the statement.

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A flexible schedule doesn’t mean easier admission. Based on the programs above, here’s what future nurses, and the nurses who mentor them, should keep in mind:

• Application windows. Several programs admit one cohort a year, so a winter or spring deadline can mean a fall start.
• Prerequisites and entrance exams. Austin Community College requires a TEAS score, and Clark State requires non-nursing prerequisites before clinical coursework begins. Gwynedd Mercy requires a prior bachelor’s degree, and its science prerequisites must include hands-on lab work (virtual labs aren’t accepted).
• Total time. Part-time tracks, such as Clark State’s four-year program, trade speed for flexibility.
• Clinical hours. Even evening programs may require daytime or weekend clinicals, so check how much time off work you’ll need.

That last point is the biggest conflict for many students hoping for a true evening or weekend program. Be clear with your advisor about your work schedule and ask what clinical rotations will look like. Many nursing schools depend on clinical site and preceptor availability, which can be limited, so nights-and-weekends clinicals aren’t always guaranteed.

For practicing nurses, these programs matter too. They widen the pipeline of new LPNs, LVNs, and RNs at a time when schools say demand for nurses is high. They also open a door for CNAs, techs, and other healthcare workers who want to move up without leaving their jobs. And if you precept, you may find yourself working with more students who are balancing a full-time job alongside school.

🤔 Nurses, did you go to nursing school at night or on weekends? Tell us in the comments how you made it work, and what you’d tell someone considering it.