Prairie State College Nursing Program Launches Successful New Evening Cohort

CHICAGO HEIGHTS, Ill. — Prairie State College (PSC) has expanded its nursing program to better serve working adults and meet growing community demand for healthcare professionals.

PSC launched its first-ever evening nursing cohort this semester, allowing students to attend classes during the evening and complete clinicals on weekends. The program, designed for students with daytime work or family commitments, filled all 22 available spots in its first semester. The evening option provides students with more flexibility without compromising the quality of instruction or clinical training. Instructors in the evening cohort bring the same level of expertise and rigor as those in the daytime program.

PSC Director of Nursing Antigone Kokalias said the new cohort is a direct response to community feedback.

“Adding an evening option gives more people the chance to enter the nursing field who might not have been able to before,” said Kokalias. “The demand clearly shows this was the right move.”

With the new cohort, the program’s total capacity has increased by 25%, resulting in 110 available seats per graduating class. With the addition of the cohort, PSC aims to build upon already robust numbers within the department.

PSC’s nursing program has also shown strong performance over the past school year:

• 94% first-time NCLEX pass rate
• 100% overall NCLEX pass rate for the most recent graduating class
• No waitlist for program entry
• A goal of at least 85% employment within a year of graduation

For those interested in prerequisite courses, Spring 2026 registration opens on October 27. Learn more about the PSC Nursing Program here.