CRNA Programs in Philadelphia
There are 6 accredited CRNA programs in the Philadelphia area: Drexel University, La Salle University, St. Luke's University Health Network/DeSales University, Thomas Jefferson University, University of Pennsylvania, and Villanova University. In-state tuition runs $93,915 to $175,850 across the 6 programs that publish a number. 3 of the 5 programs that publish a GRE policy do not require it. Published minimum ICU experience ranges from 1 year to 2 years.
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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Philadelphia CRNA Programs at a Glance
Compare all 6 CRNA programs in Philadelphia
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 Programs that do not publish a value are shown as “Not published” and always sort last.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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drexel University | Philadelphia | DNP | 3 yr 3 mo | $158,220 | Not required | Required | 2 years | Dec 4, 2026 |
| La Salle University | Philadelphia | DNP | Not published | $93,915 | Not required | Not required | 1 year | Jan 15, 2027 |
| St. Luke's University Health Network/DeSales University | Center Valley | DNP | Not published | $175,850 | Not published | Not required | 1 year | Dec 1, 2026 |
| Thomas Jefferson University | Philadelphia | DNP | 3 yr | $169,185 | Required | Not required | 1 year | Dec 5, 2025 |
| University of Pennsylvania | Philadelphia | DNP | 3 yr | $102,030 | Not required | Not required | 2 years | Feb 1, 2027 |
| Villanova University | Springfield | DNP | 3 yr | $143,613 | Required | Required | 1 year | Sep 1, 2026 |
Data coverage: 6 of 6 publish in-state tuition; 4 of 6 publish a program length; 5 of 6 publish a GRE policy; 6 of 6 publish a CCRN policy; 6 of 6 publish a minimum GPA; 6 of 6 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 6 Philadelphia programs
Okay, so you've got the table above and all 6 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 Philadelphia programs can look nearly identical on paper and give you completely different two and a half years. These programs sit in Center Valley, Philadelphia, and Springfield, 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 $93,915 to $175,850 , 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 Philadelphia CRNA Programs
Compare 6 nurse anesthesia programs in the Philadelphia area. Click any card for full details.
Drexel University
La Salle University
St. Luke's University Health Network/DeSales University
Thomas Jefferson University
University of Pennsylvania
Villanova University
If 6 programs isn't enough
6 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 Philadelphia?
There are 6 accredited CRNA programs in the Philadelphia area: Drexel University, La Salle University, St. Luke's University Health Network/DeSales University, Thomas Jefferson University, University of Pennsylvania, and Villanova University. They sit across 3 cities (Center Valley, Philadelphia, and Springfield), so a program that looks like a commute on paper may not be one.
Which Philadelphia CRNA program is cheapest?
Of the 6 Philadelphia programs that publish in-state tuition, La Salle University in Philadelphia lists the lowest figure at $93,915. The highest in the metro is $175,850. 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 Philadelphia CRNA programs require the GRE?
Some do, some don't. 3 of the 5 Philadelphia programs that publish a policy do not require it: Drexel University, La Salle University, and University of Pennsylvania. The other 2 do. 1 program in the metro doesn't publish a policy at all. Waivers are common, so ask the program instead of writing one off.
Can I commute to a Philadelphia CRNA program?
Honestly, maybe. Campus is the easy part. These programs are spread across Center Valley, Philadelphia, and Springfield, 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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