Albany State, Phoebe launch evening nursing track for working adults

Albany State University and Phoebe Putney Health System are starting a new evening Associate of Science in Nursing track in January 2027 to help working adults earn a nursing degree in Southwest Georgia. The program adds financial support, mentoring and a built-in job pathway at Phoebe as regional demand for registered nurses continues to grow.

Why it matters: - The partnership is designed to make nursing school more accessible for adults who work during the day and want to change careers. - The program also aims to strengthen the registered nurse pipeline in Southwest Georgia, where healthcare employers continue to face staffing needs. - Graduates who complete the program and meet licensure requirements will have a direct path to employment at Phoebe Putney Health System.

What happened: - Albany State University and Phoebe Putney Health System announced an Associate of Science in Nursing evening track that will begin with a January 2027 cohort. - The evening track is built for working adults and lets students pursue the nursing degree on an evening schedule. - Students accepted into the program must agree to a two-year employment commitment with Phoebe after graduation. - Applications for the January 2027 cohort are due Nov. 1, 2026. - Students must first be accepted to Albany State University before they can submit the program application.

The details: - Phoebe will provide $10,000 in financial support to each participating student while they are in school. - Phoebe will also offer mentoring from nursing professionals and a pathway to employment after graduation and licensure. - Albany State will provide academic tutoring and success coaching for students in the track. - Students will have opportunities to serve as nurse externs at Phoebe. - Students will gain additional clinical and skills practice through Phoebe and ASU’s simulation resources. - Students will also work with Phoebe’s clinical education teams. - Phoebe will fund one full-time faculty position, one part-time faculty position and two clinical instructors for ASU. - The cohort will enroll up to 30 students. - Priority consideration will go to legal residents of Southwest Georgia counties, with additional applicants from other Southwest Georgia and North Florida counties considered if space remains. - The program can be completed in as little as five semesters. - Albany State says the ASN program has consistently produced one of the largest numbers of nursing graduates in Georgia. - Albany State was the first Historically Black College and University in Georgia to establish a nursing program. - ASU now offers nursing pathways across associate, bachelor’s and master’s degree levels, including RN-to-BSN, Healthcare Professional-to-RN Bridge, traditional and hybrid ASN, Generic and Accelerated BSN, and an MSN with nurse practitioner, nurse educator and nursing informatics concentrations. - Phoebe serves more than 600,000 residents across about 40 counties in southwest Georgia and beyond. - Phoebe is the region’s largest employer with more than 6,000 full-time, part-time and contract employees. - Phoebe includes four hospital campuses and a physician group with more than 350 physicians and advanced practice providers in nearly 50 clinics.

Between the lines: - The program blends education and workforce recruiting, giving Phoebe a way to build a talent pipeline while reducing barriers for students who need to keep working. - The focus on local residents suggests Phoebe and Albany State want graduates to stay in the region after licensure. - The partnership builds on a long-standing relationship between the university and health system, but adds more direct financial and employment support than a standard academic program. - Registered nurse demand remains a key backdrop; the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 5% employment growth for registered nurses from 2024 to 2034, faster than average for all occupations.

What's next: - Albany State and Phoebe will recruit and select students for the January 2027 cohort. - Accepted students will move into the evening track in spring semester timing tied to the new program launch. - The first cohort will help test whether the model can expand nursing access while filling local healthcare jobs.

The bottom line: - Albany State and Phoebe are turning a nursing degree into a paid, supported career pathway for working adults — and a staffing solution for Southwest Georgia's healthcare system.