CRNA Programs That Accept NICU Experience
Yes, NICU nurses can become CRNAs. 89 CRNA programs accept NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) experience as qualifying critical care experience. While most programs prefer adult ICU, these 89 programs recognize the complexity of neonatal critical care.
We found 89 programs matching this filter across 41 states. In-state tuition ranges from $18,000 to $287,904.
Requirements verified against each program’s own site — 1 of 89 programs on this page carry a source-linked verification, most recently . How we source our data
CRNA Club Snapshot
At a Glance
89 Total Programs
$18,000 – $287,904 Tuition Range
41 States Represented
67 DNP, 22 DNAP Degree Breakdown
All 89 Programs
| Program | City | State | Degree | Tuition | GRE | Min GPA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samford University | Birmingham | Alabama | DNP | $107,856 | Yes | 3.00 |
| University of Alabama at Birmingham | Birmingham | Alabama | DNP | $71,592 | Yes | 3.00 |
| Arkansas State University | Jonesboro | Arkansas | DNP | $45,000 | Yes | 3.25 |
| University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences | Little Rock | Arkansas | DNP | $71,037 | No | 3.00 |
| Loma Linda University | Loma Linda | California | DNP | $170,243 | No | 3.00 |
| Samuel Merritt University | Oakland | California | DNP | $203,624 | No | 3.25 |
| UC Davis | Sacramento | California | DNP | $154,998 | No | 3.00 |
| University of Southern California | Los Angeles | California | DNAP | $204,761 | No | 3.00 |
| Rocky Vista University | Englewood | Colorado | DNAP | $165,930 | Yes | 3.00 |
| Yale New Haven | New Haven | Connecticut | DNAP | $93,863 | No | 3.00 |
| AdventHealth | Orlando | Florida | DNAP | $126,025 | No | 3.20 |
| Barry University | Hollywood | Florida | DNP | $126,246 | No | 3.20 |
| Florida Gulf Coast University | Fort Myers | Florida | DNP | $48,650 | Yes | 3.00 |
| Florida State University | Panama City | Florida | DNAP | $92,595 | Yes | 3.00 |
| Keiser University | Naples | Florida | DNAP | $107,195 | No | 3.20 |
| University of North Florida | Jacksonville | Florida | DNP | $66,789 | Yes | 3.00 |
| Augusta University | Augusta | Georgia | DNP | $89,100 | Yes | 3.00 |
| Emory University | Atlanta | Georgia | DNP | $185,877 | No | 3.00 |
| Idaho State University | Meridian | Idaho | DNAP | $126,162 | No | 3.00 |
| Rosalind Franklin University | North Chicago | Illinois | DNP | $161,344 | No | 3.00 |
| University of Illinois Chicago | Chicago | Illinois | DNP | $150,192 | No | 3.00 |
| University of Evansville | Evansville | Indiana | DNAP | $153,550 | No | 3.00 |
| University of Iowa | Iowa City | Iowa | DNP | $85,553 | No | 3.00 |
| Bellarmine University | Louisville | Kentucky | DNP | $111,100 | No | 3.00 |
| University of Louisville | Louisville | Kentucky | DNP | $115,744 | Yes | 3.00 |
| Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University | Baton Rouge | Louisiana | DNP | $113,788 | No | 3.00 |
| University of New England | Portland | Maine | DNP | $147,855 | No | 3.00 |
| Johns Hopkins School of Nursing DNP | Baltimore | Maryland | DNP | $214,016 | No | 3.00 |
| Uniformed Services University | Bethesda | Maryland | DNP | Free | — | 3.00 |
| Boston College | Chestnut Hill | Massachusetts | DNP | $187,600 | Yes | 3.00 |
| Northeastern University | Boston | Massachusetts | DNP | $149,842 | Yes | 3.00 |
| Michigan State University | East Lansing | Michigan | DNP | $87,723 | No | 3.00 |
| Oakland University | Rochester | Michigan | DNP | $100,251 | No | 3.00 |
| University of Detroit Mercy | Detroit | Michigan | DNP | $109,299 | No | 3.00 |
| Mayo Clinic | Rochester | Minnesota | DNAP | $70,619 | No | 3.30 |
| Minneapolis School of Anesthesia | Saint Paul | Minnesota | DNP | $92,454 | No | 3.00 |
| Saint Mary's University of Minnesota | Minneapolis | Minnesota | DNP | $96,320 | No | 2.75 |
| University of Minnesota | Minneapolis | Minnesota | DNP | $101,200 | No | 3.00 |
| University of Southern Mississippi | Hattiesburg | Mississippi | DNP | $87,363 | Yes | 3.00 |
| Missouri State University | Springfield | Missouri | DNAP | $91,990 | No | 3.00 |
| University Health/Truman Medical Center | Kansas City | Missouri | DNP | $84,770 | No | 3.20 |
| Bryan College of Health Sciences | Lincoln | Nebraska | DNAP | $104,318 | Yes | 3.00 |
| Clarkson College | Omaha | Nebraska | DNP | $107,685 | No | 3.00 |
| Roseman University of Health Sciences | Henderson | Nevada | DNP | $169,600 | No | 3.20 |
| New Mexico State University | Las Cruces | New Mexico | DNP | $97,787 | No | 3.00 |
| SUNY Buffalo | Buffalo | New York | DNP | $159,815 | No | 3.00 |
| Duke University | Durham | North Carolina | DNP | $186,750 | No | 3.00 |
| UNC Greensboro | Greensboro | North Carolina | DNP | $65,490 | Yes | 3.20 |
| Wake Forest University | Winston-Salem | North Carolina | DNP | $287,904 | Yes | 3.00 |
| Western Carolina University | Asheville | North Carolina | DNP | $70,178 | Yes | 3.00 |
| University of North Dakota | Grand Forks | North Dakota | DNP | $114,960 | No | 3.00 |
| Lourdes University | Sylvania | Ohio | DNP | $111,150 | No | 3.00 |
| Ohio State University | Columbus | Ohio | DNP | $87,138 | No | 3.00 |
| Ursuline College | Pepper Pike | Ohio | DNP | $182,907 | No | 3.00 |
| University of Tulsa | Tulsa | Oklahoma | DNP | $131,542 | No | 3.00 |
| Duquesne University | Pittsburgh | Pennsylvania | DNP | $169,280 | No | 3.20 |
| Geisinger/Bloomsburg University | Danville | Pennsylvania | DNP | $102,030 | — | — |
| Independence Health System School of Anesthesia | Latrobe | Pennsylvania | DNAP | $109,598 | No | 3.00 |
| Thomas Jefferson University | Philadelphia | Pennsylvania | DNP | $169,185 | No | 3.20 |
| University of Pennsylvania | Philadelphia | Pennsylvania | DNP | $102,030 | No | 3.00 |
| UPMC Hamot/Gannon University | Erie | Pennsylvania | DNP | $102,060 | Yes | 3.00 |
| York College of Pennsylvania | York | Pennsylvania | DNP | $106,000 | No | 3.20 |
| InterAmerican University of Puerto Rico | Arecibo | Puerto Rico | DNAP | $18,000 | Yes | 3.00 |
| Professional University Dr. Carlos J. Borrero Ríos | Hato Rey | Puerto Rico | DNAP | $66,225 | No | 3.00 |
| University of Puerto Rico | San Juan | Puerto Rico | DNP | $56,800 | No | 3.00 |
| Rhode Island College | North Providence | Rhode Island | DNP | $106,652 | No | 3.00 |
| Medical University of South Carolina | Charleston | South Carolina | DNAP | $69,516 | Yes | 3.00 |
| University of South Carolina | Columbia | South Carolina | DNAP | $89,295 | Yes | 3.00 |
| Mount Marty University | Sioux Falls | South Dakota | DNAP | $253,376 | No | 3.00 |
| Lincoln Memorial University | Harrogate | Tennessee | DNP | $123,255 | Yes | 3.00 |
| Union University | Jackson | Tennessee | DNP | $133,659 | No | 3.00 |
| University of Tennessee at Chattanooga | Chattanooga | Tennessee | DNP | $87,912 | No | 3.00 |
| University of Tennessee Health Science Center | Memphis | Tennessee | DNP | $59,169 | No | 3.00 |
| Baylor College of Medicine | Houston | Texas | DNP | $242,857 | Yes | 3.00 |
| Texas Christian University | Fort Worth | Texas | DNAP | $115,000 | Yes | 3.00 |
| Texas Wesleyan University | Fort Worth | Texas | DNAP | $126,408 | Yes | 3.00 |
| U.S. Army | San Antonio | Texas | DNP | Free | No | 3.00 |
| University of Texas at Houston | Houston | Texas | DNP | $57,824 | Yes | 3.00 |
| University of Texas at Tyler | Tyler | Texas | DNP | $151,398 | No | 3.00 |
| University of Texas Medical Branch | Galveston | Texas | DNP | $235,110 | No | 3.00 |
| Westminster University | Salt Lake City | Utah | DNP | $147,600 | No | 3.00 |
| Mary Baldwin University | Fishersville | Virginia | DNP | $166,386 | No | 3.00 |
| Gonzaga University | Spokane | Washington | DNAP | $110,440 | No | 3.00 |
| Georgetown University | Washington | Washington DC | DNAP | $107,962 | — | 3.00 |
| University of Charleston West Virginia | Charleston | West Virginia | DNAP | $103,800 | No | 3.00 |
| Edgewood University | Madison | Wisconsin | DNP | $135,660 | No | 3.00 |
| Franciscan Healthcare School of Anesthesia | La Crosse | Wisconsin | DNP | $84,284 | No | 3.00 |
| Marquette University | Milwaukee | Wisconsin | DNP | $131,950 | No | 3.00 |
| University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh | Oshkosh | Wisconsin | DNP | $99,600 | No | 3.00 |
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Program Details
Samford University
Birmingham, Alabama
Deadline: 2026-05-01
DNP front-loaded
GPA Type
Cumulative Science Graduate Last 60
Quick Facts
$107,856
GRE
Prerequisites
Gen Chem Research
NICU experience: Accepted
Verified ·see the school’s wordshide
“Acceptable experiences include Cardiac Care Unit, Cardiovascular Recovery, Medical ICU, Neuro ICU, Neonatal ICU, Surgical ICU, Burn ICU, Trauma ICU and Pediatric ICU.”
Quoted from the program’s own page — source
Frequently Asked Questions
How many CRNA programs accept NICU experience?
There are currently 89 CRNA programs that accept NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) experience as qualifying critical care experience.
Is NICU experience accepted for CRNA school?
Yes, 89 CRNA programs accept NICU experience. However, most programs prefer adult ICU experience (MICU, SICU, CVICU). If you have NICU experience, these programs are a great fit.
Which states have CRNA programs that accept NICU experience?
States with the most NICU-accepting CRNA programs include: Pennsylvania (7), Texas (7), Florida (6), California (4), Minnesota (4).
What degrees do NICU-accepting CRNA programs offer?
Among CRNA programs that accept NICU experience, the degree breakdown is: DNP (67), DNAP (22).
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