50+ CRNA Schools For 2021

By: Kathleen Gaines MSN, RN, BA, CBC

If you’re reading this article, you’re probably thinking about, or on your way to becoming a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, the highest-paid nursing profession out there! We know it’s no easy feat, so congrats to you for taking this first step! One of the biggest decisions you have to make in this process is choosing a program! Do you go for an MSN or a DNP, online or in-person, etc?

To help you with this decision, we’ve rounded up a list of accredited CRNA schools by state for 2021, including the program cost, the type of degree offered, and whether the program is private or public, so you can easily find the right program for you!

Alabama

Samford University
Birmingham, AL
Program Cost: $10,485 per semester  (3 terms per year)
Degree offered: MSN
School Type: Private

University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, AL
Program Cost: $572 per credit
Degree offered: DNP
School Type: Public

Arizona

Midwestern University
Glendale, AZ
Program Cost: $47,419 per year
Degree offered: MSN
School Type: Private

University of Arizona
Tucson, AZ
Program Cost: $1,200 per credit
Degree offered: DNP
School Type: Public

Arkansas

Arkansas State University
Jonesboro, AR
Program Cost: $30,600 per year
Degree offered: DNP
School Type: Public

California

National University
Fresno, CA
Program Cost: $75,690
Degree offered: DNP
School Type: Private

Loma Linda University
Loma Linda, CA
Program Cost: $138,152
Degree offered: DNP
School Type: Private

Samuel Merritt University
Oakland, CA
Program Cost: $1,353 per unit
Degree offered: MSN
School Type: Private

University of Southern California (USC)
Los Angeles, CA
Program Cost: $1,928 per unit
Degree offered: DNP
School Type: Private

Connecticut

Central Connecticut State University
Hartford, CT
Program Cost:  $6,178 per term
Degree offered: DNP
School Type: Public

Quinnipiac University
Hamden, CT
Program Cost:  $1,050 per credit
Degree offered: DNP
School Type: Private

Yale University - New Haven Hospital
New Haven, CT
Program Cost:  $32,377 per year
Degree offered: DNP
School Type: Private

District of Columbia

Georgetown University
Washington, DC
Program Cost:  $81,933 year 1, $39,697 year 2, $24,882 year 3
Degree offered: DNP
School Type: Private

Florida

Adventist University of Health Sciences
Orlando, FL
Program Cost:  $16,000/trimester
Degree offered: DNP
School Type: Private

Barry University
Hollywood, FL
Program Cost:  $98,000
Degree offered: DNP
School Type: Private

Florida Gulf Coast University
Fort Myers, FL
Program Cost:  $17,592 per semester
Degree offered: DNP
School Type: Public

Florida International University
Miami, FL
Program Cost:  $79,372
Degree offered: DNP
School Type: Public

Florida State University
Panama City, FL
Program Cost:  $9,500.44/semester
Degree offered: MSN
School Type: Public

University of North Florida
Jacksonville, FL
Program Cost:  $67,000
Degree offered: DNP
School Type: Public

Georgia

Iowa

Iowa University
Iowa City IA
Program Cost: $22,296 per year
Degree offered: DNP
School Type: Public

Illinois

Northshore University
Evanston, IL
Program Cost: $708 per credit
Degree offered: DNP
School Type: Private

Rosalind Franklin University
North Chicago, IL
Program Cost: $9,377 per semester
Degree offered: DNP
School Type: 

Rush University
Chicago, IL
Program Cost: $1,110 per credit
Degree offered: DNP
School Type: Private

Southern Illinois University
Edwardsville, IL
Program Cost: $61,993
Degree offered: DNP
School Type: Public

Millikin University
Decatur, IL
Program Cost: $983 per credit
Degree offered: DNP
School Type: Private

Indiana

Marian University
Indianapolis, IN
Program Cost: $1,450/credit
Degree offered: DNP
School Type: Private

University of Saint Francis
Fort Wayne, IN
Program Cost: $1,000/credit
Degree offered: DNP
School Type: Private

Kansas

University of Kansas
Kansas City, KS
Program Cost: $412.89/credit
Degree offered: DNP
School Type: Public

Kentucky

Murray State University
Madisonville, KY
Program Cost: $700 per credit
Degree offered: MSN
School Type: Public

Northern Kentucky University
Highland Heights, KY
Program Cost: $673 per credit
Degree offered: DNP
School Type: Public

Louisiana

Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University
Baton Rouge, LA
Program Cost: $97,187.66
Degree offered: DNP
School Type: Private

Louisiana State University
New Orleans, LA
Program Cost: $3,584.20 per semester
Degree offered: DNP
School Type: Public

Maine

Maryland

Uniformed Services University
Bethesda, MD
Program Cost: Free w/ 7years active duty
Degree offered: DNP
School Type: Public

University of Maryland
Baltimore, MD
Program Cost: $824 per credit
Degree offered: DNP
School Type: Public

Massachusetts

Michigan

Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI
Program Cost:  $755.50 per credit
Degree offered: MSN
School Type: Public

Oakland University Beaumont
Royal Oak, MI
Program Cost:  $775 per credit
Degree offered: DNP
School Type: Public

The University of Michigan Flint
Flint, MI
Program Cost: $828 per credit
Degree offered: DNP
School Type: Public

University of Detroit Mercy
Detroit, MI
Program Cost: $108,000
Degree offered: MSN
School Type: Private

Wayne State University
Detroit, MI
Program Cost: $871.74 per credit
Degree offered: MSN
School Type: Private

Minnesota

Mayo School of Health Sciences
Rochester, MN
Program Cost: $685 per credit
Degree offered: DNP
School Type: Private

Missouri

Truman Medical Center School of Nurse Anesthesia
Kansas City MO
Program Cost:  $499.70 per credit
Degree offered: DNP
School Type: Public

Mississippi

University of Southern Mississippi
Hattiesburg, MS
Program Cost: $7,610 per term
Degree offered: DNP
School Type: Public

North Carolina

University of North Carolina Charlotte
Charlotte, NC
Program Cost: $542.13 per credit
Degree offered: MSN
School Type: Public

East Carolina University
Greenville, NC
Program Cost: $2374.50 per term
Degree offered: MSN
School Type: Public

Raleigh School of Nurse Anesthesia
Raleigh, NC
Program Cost: $4023.50 per semester
Degree offered: DNP
School Type: Public - through University of North Carolina Greensboro

Western Carolina University
Asheville, NC
Program Cost: $7,350.50 per credit
Degree offered: MSN
School Type: Public

North Dakota

University of North Dakota
Grand Forks, ND
Program Cost: $857 per credit
Degree offered: DNP
School Type: Public

Nebraska

Bryan College of Health Sciences
Lincoln, NE
Program Cost: $1,016 per credit
Degree offered: DNP
School Type: Private

Clarkson College
Omaha, NE
Program Cost: $960 per credit
Degree offered: MSN
School Type: Private

New Jersey

Rutgers School of Nursing
Newark, NJ
Program Cost: $10,884
Degree offered: DNP
School Type: Private

New York

Albany Medical College
Albany, NY
Program Cost: $68,856
Degree offered: MSN
School Type: Private

State University of New York at Buffalo
Buffalo, NY
Program Cost: $12,560
Degree offered: DNP
School Type: Public

Ohio

Cleveland Clinic School of Anesthesia - Case Western Reserve University
Cleveland, OH
Program Cost: $1010 per credit
Degree offered: MSN
School Type: Private

Lourdes University
Sylvania, OH
Program Cost: $10,500 per semester
Degree offered: MSN
School Type: Private

University of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, OH
Program Cost: $13,578.25 per term
Degree offered: DNP
School Type: Public

Oregon

Oregon Health and Science University
Portland, OR
Program Cost: $761 per credit
Degree offered: MSN
School Type: Public

Pennsylvania

La Roche College
Pittsburgh, PA
Program Cost: $928 per credit
Degree offered: MSN
School Type: Private

Villanova University - Crozer Chester Medical Center
Springfield, PA
Program Cost: $1,300 per credit
Degree offered: DNP
School Type: Private

Drexel University
Philadelphia, PA
Program Cost: $1,002 per credit
Degree offered: MSN
School Type: Private

La Salle University - Einstein Medical Center
Norristown, PA
Program Cost:  $1,040 per credit
Degree offered: DNP
School Type: Private

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania - Geisinger Health
Danville, PA
Program Cost: $593 per credit
Degree offered: MSN
School Type: Public

University of Scranton
Scranton, PA
Program Cost: $1,200 per credit
Degree offered: MSN
School Type: Private

Thomas Jefferson University Jefferson
Philadelphia, PA
Program Cost: $47,250 per year
Degree offered: DNP
School Type: Private

University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA
Program Cost: $211,633
Degree offered: DNP
School Type: Public

University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA
Program Cost: $27,590 per year
Degree offered: DNP
School Type: Public

South Carolina

Medical University of South Carolina
Charleston, SC
Program Cost: $28,195 per year
Degree offered: MSN
School Type: Private

University of South Carolina
Columbia, SC
Program Cost:  $7,500/semester
Degree offered: MSN
School Type: Public

South Dakota

Mount Marty College
Sioux Falls, SD
Program Cost: $1,025 per credit
Degree offered: DNP
School Type: Private

Tennessee

Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia
Madison, TN
Program Cost: $19,604 per year
Degree offered: DNP
School Type: Private

University of Tennessee
Knoxville, TN
Program Cost: $6,542 per semester
Degree offered: MSN
School Type: Public

University of Tennessee Chattanooga - Erlanger Health
Chattanooga, TN
Program Cost: $722 per credit
Degree offered: MSN
School Type: Public

University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Memphis, TN
Program Cost: $17,155 per year
Degree offered: DNP
School Type: Public

Union University
Jackson, TN
Program Cost: $28,095/year
Degree offered: DNP
School Type: Private

Texas

Baylor College
Houston, TX
Program Cost: $111,836
Degree offered: DNP
School Type: Private

Texas Christian University
Fort Worth, TX
Program Cost: $101,080
Degree offered: DNP
School Type: Private

Texas Wesleyan University
Forth Worth, TX
Program Cost: $1,198 per credit
Degree offered: DNP
School Type: Private

University of Texas at Houston Health Science Center
Houston, TX
Program Cost: $13,688 per year
Degree offered: DNP
School Type: Public

US Army Graduate Program in Anesthesia Nursing - Northeastern University
San Antonio, TX
Program Cost: Paid w/ Enlistment
Degree offered: DNP
School Type: Public - Military

Utah

Westminster College
Salt Lake City, UT
Program Cost: $1,257 per credit
Degree offered: MSN
School Type: Private

Virginia

Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, VA
Program Cost: $522 per credit
Degree offered: DNP
School Type: Public

Washington

Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
Oshkosh, WI
Program Cost: $85,000
Degree offered: DNP
School Type: Public

Nurse Anesthetist Schools By State

>> Show Me CRNA Programs

Should You get an MSN or DNP to Become a CRNA?

If you’re a registered nurse and thinking about entering this lucrative specialty, there are currently two different education paths you may follow: Masters of Science in Nursing (MSN) or Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP). Though, the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Education (COA) is transitioning to new requirements for entry into practice.

By January 1, 2022, all Nurse Anesthesia programs must be doctoral degrees in order to maintain accreditation. Despite this deadline, the Council has extended the deadline to 2025 in order for CRNA programs to develop the proper curriculum that adheres to all national standards. Since MSN programs take over 2 years to complete, 2019 cohorts will likely be the last MSN-educated CRNAs in the field. 

Programs are continuing to transition to awarding doctoral degrees. As of July 15, 2019, there are 92 nurse anesthesia programs approved by the COA to offer entry-level doctoral degrees and 25 programs approved to offer post-master’s doctoral degree completion programs. Currently, there are 29 programs that remain to be approved to award doctoral degrees. 

Nurse Anesthesia Programs Awarding Master’s and Doctoral Degrees for Entry into Practice

Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Education

Doctoral Degrees in Nurse Anesthesia

There are two common types of doctoral degrees for aspiring CRNAs: the Doctorate of Nurse Practice (DNP) and the Doctorate of Nursing Anesthesia Practice (DNAP). Most doctoral-level degrees require around 100 credits and take about 36 months to complete. 

The main difference between these two degrees is that some institutions do not recognize the DNAP as a terminal degree - meaning they don’t consider it the highest degree in the field. A DNP is considered a terminal degree for any advanced practice nursing field. 

The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) accredited DNP programs while the Nurse Anesthetists Council for Accreditation (NACA) approves DNAP programs, which are specially designed for nurse anesthetist students.

This primarily affects those who wish to obtain a university faculty position, as this may have a bearing on tenure eligibility. If you’re seeking to use your doctorate for practice, however, this shouldn’t hinder your career prospects.

>> Show Me CRNA Programs

CRNA Program Tuition

Nursing programs differ in how they charge/display costs for tuition. Some universities choose to display costs by credit, some by semester, and others by course.

As a general rule, public schools offer lower tuition rates than private ones. It’s also important to note that in-state resident tuition is often much less than for out-of-state residents.

To get started, here’s a list of COA accredited, programs for nurse anesthesia. Program costs reflect in-state tuition for the 2018-2019 academic year. They also do not reflect miscellaneous fees including books, technology fees, lab fees, and other miscellaneous costs.

It is important to note, that there are programs that offer CRNA classes but are NOT accredited by the COA. These programs will not allow students to sit for their certifications and therefore be unable to practice. 

CRNA Application Requirements 

Regardless of which path you decide to take, there are several requirements that CRNA programs require from their applicants. It is important to have the needed requirements as schools will reject the application. These include:

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
• Registered Nurse License (RN)
• Critical Care/ICU Experience
  • Cardiac Catheterization Lab, Long Term Acute Care Hospital, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Post Anesthesia Care Unit do NOT count towards ICU experience
• GPA of 3.0 or higher (Each school has a different minimum requirement but 3.0 is the lowest accepted GPA)
• Life Support Certifications (BLS, ACLS, PALS)
• Resume
• Combined minimum GRE of 300 or better
• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) if applicable
• Shadow experience of a CRNA and an accompanying essay
• Nursing Certifications (CCRN, RNC)
• Personal Essay and Interview

FAQs: 

• How long are Nurse Anesthetist programs? 
  • Programs are typically 27-30 months long. Students will typically go to school for 3 years with short breaks between terms. 
• What are the basic educational/experience requirements to become a CRNA? 
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
  • Registered Nurse License (RN)
  • Critical Care/ICU Experience (minimum of 2-3 years)
  • Cardiac Catheterization Lab, Long Term Acute Care Hospital, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Post Anesthesia Care Unit do NOT count towards ICU experience
  • GPA of 3.0 or higher (Each school has a different minimum requirement but 3.0 is the lowest accepted GPA)
  • Life Support Certifications (BLS, ACLS, PALS)
  • Combined minimum GRE of 300 or better
• What is a CRNA salary?
  • Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports the average income of a nurse anesthetist to be $169,450 per year, with some CRNAs earning over $252,000.
• Can you become a Nurse Anesthetist online? 
  • No. Some programs offer didactic coursework in an online format but all students must attend in-person skills fairs. Furthermore, CRNA school requires practicums which must be completed in person.
• What’s the difference between a CRNA and Anesthesiologist? 
  • An anesthesiologist receives medical education and is an M.D. while CRNAs receive nursing education.