CRNA Programs in Knoxville
There are 3 accredited CRNA programs in the Knoxville area: Lincoln Memorial University, South College DNP, and University of Tennessee Knoxville. In-state tuition runs $120,536 to $169,469 across the 3 programs that publish a number. 1 of the 3 programs that publish a GRE policy do not require it. Every program that publishes a minimum asks for 1 year of critical care experience.
Every figure on this page is computed from our verified program database. Where a program does not publish a number, we say so instead of estimating.
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Knoxville CRNA Programs at a Glance
Compare all 3 CRNA programs in Knoxville
Click a column heading to sort. Programs that do not publish a value are shown as “Not published” and always sort last.
| Program | City | Degree | Length | Tuition (in-state) | GRE | CCRN | Min ICU experience | Application deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln Memorial University | Harrogate | DNP | 3 yr | $123,255 | Required | Not required | 1 year | Sep 15, 2026 |
| South College DNP | Knoxville | DNP | 3 yr | $169,469 | Not required | Required | 1 year | Not published |
| University of Tennessee Knoxville | Knoxville | DNP | 3 yr 2 mo | $120,536 | Required | Not required | 1 year | Sep 1, 2026 |
Data coverage: 3 of 3 publish in-state tuition; 3 of 3 publish a program length; 3 of 3 publish a GRE policy; 3 of 3 publish a CCRN policy; 3 of 3 publish a minimum GPA; 2 of 3 publish an application deadline. Tuition figures are reported as each program publishes them — some quote per-year cost and others quote total program cost, so confirm before comparing.
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How to actually choose between 3 Knoxville programs
Okay, so you've got the table above and all 3 of these programs are within driving distance of you. That's a good problem. But the stuff in that table is not what's going to separate them.
I did a terrible job when I was looking for CRNA programs. And the thing I've watched people skip over, every single time, is the thing that ends up mattering most day to day: clinical sites.
Two Knoxville programs can look nearly identical on paper and give you completely different two and a half years. These programs sit in Harrogate and Knoxville, and their clinical rotations fan out from there in different directions. One might keep you at a big level 1 trauma center with hearts and complex regional. Another might rotate you through five community sites plus a rural block three hours away. Neither one is wrong. They just produce different new grads.
So the questions I want you asking each program in this metro, out loud, on the phone:
Number one, name every clinical site and how far the farthest one is. Number two, how many hearts, peds, OB and regional cases does a typical student actually get, not the minimum. Number three, is any rotation a required relocation. Number four, do students work during the program, and honestly, does anyone pull it off.
And listen, tuition here spans $120,536 to $169,469 , which is real money. But a cheaper program in a metro where you already have housing, family, and a job you can keep until start date can beat a pricier one three states away. I'm not saying cost doesn't matter. It matters a lot. I'm saying it's one piece of the puzzle, not the whole puzzle.
It is your responsibility to reach out to these programs and get these answers yourself, because none of it lives on a website. We've got a longer walkthrough of how to weigh all of this in how to choose a CRNA program, and if you want to see how these stack up against programs nationally, that's the best CRNA schools breakdown.
Explore Knoxville CRNA Programs
Compare 3 nurse anesthesia programs in the Knoxville area. Click any card for full details.
Lincoln Memorial University
South College DNP
University of Tennessee Knoxville
If 3 programs isn't enough
3 programs in one metro is a thin list to apply to. Most people who get in applied to more than that, and reapplying is not failing, it's just what the majority of applicants end up doing. So widen the net before you narrow it.
Start with the full state list, then go by drive time from where you live.
Frequently Asked Questions
Click a question to see the answer.
How many CRNA programs are in Knoxville?
There are 3 accredited CRNA programs in the Knoxville area: Lincoln Memorial University, South College DNP, and University of Tennessee Knoxville. They sit across 2 cities (Harrogate and Knoxville), so a program that looks like a commute on paper may not be one.
Which Knoxville CRNA program is cheapest?
Of the 3 Knoxville programs that publish in-state tuition, University of Tennessee Knoxville in Knoxville lists the lowest figure at $120,536. The highest in the metro is $169,469. And sticker price isn't cost. Programs quote it differently, some per year and some for the whole thing, so confirm with the program before you rank anything on this.
Do Knoxville CRNA programs require the GRE?
Some do, some don't. 1 of the 3 Knoxville programs that publish a policy does not require it: South College DNP. The other 2 do. Waivers are common, so ask the program instead of writing one off.
Can I commute to a Knoxville CRNA program?
Honestly, maybe. Campus is the easy part. These programs are spread across Harrogate and Knoxville, so measure from your actual address, not from the middle of the metro. But clinical rotations are the thing that wrecks commute math. Programs send students to sites that can be an hour or more out, sometimes for months at a time, and a few require temporary relocation for a rural or specialty rotation. That is not on most program websites. So ask admissions two specific questions: where are your clinical sites, and how far is the farthest one students are assigned to. I'm not saying you can't commute, plenty of students do it. Just get the real answer before you sign a lease.
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