CRNA School Acceptance Rates: What 154 Programs Actually Publish (2026)

Sourced from every program's own website — 20 disclose, 133 don't

Last updated:

Quick Answer

What is the CRNA school acceptance rate?

Only 20 of 153 accredited CRNA programs publish how many people apply. Among schools that disclose both applicants and seats, acceptance rates run from 5.9% (Gonzaga University: 475 applicants, 28 seats) to 35.8% (University of Puerto Rico), with a median of 16.3%. Just 1 program publishes an acceptance rate itself. Every number below links to the school's own page and quotes it verbatim.
In This Article (7 sections)
20
of 153 programs disclose applicant counts
5.9%
most selective disclosed rate
16.3%
median of the 18 verifiable rates
1
program publishes a rate itself

Every CRNA program that publishes its acceptance numbers

Sorted most selective first. A School-stated rate means the program printed the percentage itself. A Computed rate means we divided the school's own two published numbers (seats ÷ applicants). Expand any row to read the verbatim quote we took the numbers from, then click through to the school's page and check it yourself.

School-stated Computed ≤ = school published a floor ("200+"), so the rate is a maximum
Program Rate Applicants Interviews Seats
Gonzaga University Nurse Anesthesia Program
Washington
Computed
Show the source quote
“As of the September 1, 2025, 475 professionals applied to the nurse anesthesia program, competing for just 28 spots in the first-year cohort.”

Computed from the school's own published applicant + cohort numbers.

Source: Program page ↗ · verified Jul 2026

5.9% 475 28
Rosalind Franklin University Nurse Anesthesia Program
Illinois
Computed
Show the source quote
“Class Size: 53. Number of Applicants: 793. GPA - Cumulative: 3.70. GPA - Natural Science: 3.60. GPA - Nursing: 3.69. In-State Residents (based on permanent address): 25%. Average Age (at matriculation): 30.”

Computed from the school's own published applicant + cohort numbers.

Source: Program page ↗ · verified Jul 2026

6.7% 793 53
Marquette University Nurse Anesthesia Program
Wisconsin
Computed
Show the source quote
“Year of Admission 2025 | Applications 187 | Admitted 15 | Nursing GPA 3.9 | Science GPA 3.7 | ICU Experience 5.23 years. Cohort 2025 | Attrition 1 | NCE Pass (1st Attempt) 100% | NCE Pass (Overall) 100% | Employment (6 months) 100%. Data updated 09/23/2025.”

Computed from the school's own published applicant + cohort numbers.

Source: Program page ↗ · verified Jul 2026

8% 187 15
Mount Marty University Nurse Anesthesia Program
South Dakota
Computed
Show the source quote
“We typically receive between 400-500 applications each year. ... BS to DNAP program will accept 40 students per year. MS to DNAP program will accept 5 students each year.”

Computed from the school's own published applicant + cohort numbers. Applicants: midpoint of 400-500.

Source: Program FAQ ↗ · verified Jul 2026

8.9% 400-500 40
Union University Nurse Anesthesia Program
Tennessee
Computed
Show the source quote
“On average, we receive 300 applications, interview approximately 100 students, and accept 30 to 34 students for each cohort.”

Computed from the school's own published applicant + cohort numbers. Seats: midpoint of 30-34.

Source: Program FAQ ↗ · verified Jul 2026

10.7% 300 ~100 30-34
University of Southern California
California
Computed
Show the source quote
“230 Total Applications; 26 Admitted Cohort Size; 3.71 Mean Undergraduate GPA; 3.64 Mean ICU Nursing Experience (years); 4.90 Mean RN Experience (years); 100% CCRN Credential Rate; 96% NCE First-Time Pass Rate; 100% Employment Within Six Months; 8.3% Attrition Rate (Class of 2025)”

Computed from the school's own published applicant + cohort numbers.

Source: Program page ↗ · verified Jul 2026

11.3% 230 26
Virginia Commonwealth University Nurse Anesthesia Program
Virginia
Computed
Show the source quote
“We just completed another record-breaking admissions cycle with more than 540 completed applications for our entry-to-practice doctoral program... This year, the program admitted 62 students, nearing its maximum capacity... The Class of 2024 achieved a 98% first-time pass rate on the National Certification Examination (NCE), which is up from 84% the previous year and well above the national average.”

Computed from the school's own published applicant + cohort numbers.

Source: Program page ↗ · verified Jul 2026

11.5% 540 62
University of North Dakota Nurse Anesthesia Program
North Dakota
Computed
Show the source quote
“UND receives approximately 200 applications to our program each year. The average class size is 25 students each year with classes beginning in August.”

Computed from the school's own published applicant + cohort numbers.

Source: Program page ↗ · verified Jul 2026

12.5% 200 25
Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University
Louisiana
Computed
Show the source quote
“318 Applications received; 115 Interviews offered; 40 Accepted; 3.33 Average overall grade point average for those accepted; 3.23 Average science grade point average for those accepted.”

Computed from the school's own published applicant + cohort numbers.

Source: Program page ↗ · verified Jul 2026

12.6% 318 115 40
Medical University of South Carolina Nurse Anesthesia Program
South Carolina
Computed
Show the source quote
“The program receives more than 200 applicants each year. Approximately 60 candidates are invited for in-person interviews. The program admits up to 40 students per year. ... First-time pass rate: 95%; Overall pass rate: 99%; National average: 86%; Attrition rate: 2.14%”

Computed from the school's own published applicant + cohort numbers. Applicants: school states "200+"; computed using 200.

Source: Program page ↗ · verified Jul 2026

≤20% 200+ ~60 40
Wake Forest University Nurse Anesthesia Program
North Carolina
Computed
Show the source quote
“Applicants: 142 | Admitted: 30 | Average GPA: 3.8 | Average Verbal GRE: 157 | Average Quantitative GRE: 155 | Average CCRN Score: 101.9 | Average RN Experience: 3.2 | Average ICU Experience: 3.2 (Class Profile, AY 2026); NCE First Time Pass Rate: 92% | NCE Overall Pass Rate: 100% | Attrition: 0 | Graduation Rate: 100% | Employment within 6 months of graduation: 100% (Program Outcomes, GY 2025)”

Computed from the school's own published applicant + cohort numbers.

Source: Program page ↗ · verified Jul 2026

21.1% 142 30
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Nurse Anesthesia Program
Tennessee
Computed
Show the source quote
“We receive over 120 applications each year. We invite 60-65 Chattanooga applicants and 12 to 20 Tupelo applicants for interviews. We traditionally accept approximately 24-30 students for each class.”

Computed from the school's own published applicant + cohort numbers. Applicants: school states "120+"; computed using 120. Seats: midpoint of 24-30.

Source: Program FAQ ↗ · verified Jul 2026

≤22.5% 120+ 60-65 Chattanooga applicants and 12-20 Tupelo applicants 24-30
University of Kansas Nurse Anesthesia Program
Kansas
Computed
Show the source quote
“Each year more than 150 applications are received. Currently, 36 students are admitted annually. The top 30 early-decision and the top 60 standard-decision applicants will interview each year.”

Computed from the school's own published applicant + cohort numbers.

Source: Program FAQ ↗ · verified Jul 2026

24% 150 90 36
Georgetown University Nurse Anesthesia Program
Washington DC
School-stated
Show the source quote
“Around 200 students apply... The admit rate is generally about 25% of applicants... 35 enrolled for the summer semester.”

School-stated: the program published this percentage itself. Their own applicant and seat counts compute to 17.5%.

Source: Program FAQ ↗ · verified Jul 2026

25% 200 35
Ohio University
Ohio
Computed
Show the source quote
“We anticipate over 100 applicants will apply. We anticipate 50-60 applicants are interviewed each year. Our Nurse Anesthesia program admits up to 25 students once per year. We anticipate 3.4 to 4.0 GPA for accepted applicants. We anticipate 2 to 6 years of critical care experience.”

Computed from the school's own published applicant + cohort numbers.

Source: Program FAQ ↗ · verified Jul 2026

25% 100 55 25
New Mexico State University
New Mexico
Computed
Show the source quote
“Already 450 professional nurses have expressed interest in the program, and out of the 70 qualified applicants, 24 were accepted to be the first cohort, which begins in the fall 2023 semester.”

Computed from the school's own published applicant + cohort numbers.

Source: Program page ↗ · verified Jul 2026

34.3% 70 24
Webster University Nurse Anesthesia Program
Missouri
Computed
Show the source quote
“Approximately 60 to 80 applicants complete the admissions process per year. The Admissions Committee invites 45 to 50 of the most qualified applicants for an on-campus interview. We admit up to 24 students each year.”

Computed from the school's own published applicant + cohort numbers.

Source: Program page ↗ · verified Jul 2026

34.3% 70 48 24
University of Puerto Rico Nurse Anesthesia Program
Puerto Rico
Computed
Show the source quote
“We receive anywhere from 40 – 55 applications, depending on the year. We admit a maximum of 17 students. ... 2025 (DNP-SA): Attrition 13% (2/16), Employment (6 mo.) 100%, NCE Pass Rate 100%”

Computed from the school's own published applicant + cohort numbers. Applicants: midpoint of 40-55.

Source: Program FAQ ↗ · verified Jul 2026

35.8% 40-55 17

Disclosed applicant numbers, but no honest rate can be computed

These programs publish applicant counts, but their seat numbers can't be divided into them cleanly (multiple degree tracks, or no cohort size published). We could guess. We don't.

Program Applicants Seats Source
Baylor College of Medicine Nurse Anesthesia Program
Texas
Show the source quote
“We receive approximately 120-140 applications each year. We admit 28 entry-in-practice students, plus up to 30 master's-prepared CRNAs.”
120-140 28 (BSN-DNP) + up to 30 (MS-DNP) Program page ↗
verified Jul 2026
Newman University Nurse Anesthesia Program
Kansas
Show the source quote
“We receive approximately 200 applications each year. We currently accept 20 to 25 students each year.”
200 Not published Program page ↗
verified Jul 2026

What is the average CRNA school acceptance rate?

There isn't a verifiable national average, and we're not going to invent one. Across the 18 programs whose numbers can be checked, the median acceptance rate is 16.3% and the full range runs from 5.9% to 35.8%. That spread is real and it's wide: the same applicant can be a long shot at one program and a strong candidate at another, which is why building a target list beats chasing an average.

Note what the median is not: it is not the national CRNA acceptance rate. It is the median of the handful of programs willing to publish enough to be measured, which is a self-selected group. Treat it as a floor for your realism, not a probability for your application.

Which CRNA schools are easiest to get into?

The honest answer: none of them are easy, and "easiest" is the wrong filter. Among programs that publish their numbers, the least selective disclosed rate on this page is 35.8% (University of Puerto Rico) — still roughly 1 seat for every 3 applicants, at a doctoral program with an ICU-experience floor.

What actually moves your odds is applying where your profile clears the published minimums. Programs with lower GPA floors, no GRE requirement, or a 1-year ICU minimum are where most applicants find their realistic list — and those are filters, not acceptance rates.

Why don't most CRNA schools publish acceptance rates?

133 of 153 programs publish no applicant count anywhere on their site. Three reasons, none of them sinister:

  • Nothing requires them to. The COA mandates public reporting of attrition, NCE first-time pass rates, and employment — not admissions selectivity. So the outcome data is standardized and the admissions data isn't.

  • The number cuts both ways. A 6% rate scares off qualified nurses who would have been admitted; a 30% rate reads as unselective to prospective employers and applicants alike.

  • The denominator is messy. Incomplete applications, multiple degree tracks, and rolling waitlists mean a program can honestly report several different "rates." Some just decline to pick one.

This is where other sites quietly fill the gap with estimates. We don't. If a school doesn't publish it, this page says "not published," and that's the end of it. When a program does release its numbers, we'll add them here with the quote and the link.

How competitive is CRNA school?

Competitive enough that disclosed rates cluster between roughly 6% and 25%, with programs like Gonzaga University taking 28 students from 475 applicants. But a program's acceptance rate is not your acceptance rate. Admissions committees screen on GPA (cumulative and science), ICU type and years, CCRN, and how your profile reads against that specific program's published minimums.

Find out where you actually stand

ReadyScore scores your stats against the real, published requirements of every accredited CRNA program — not against a national average nobody can verify. It tells you which programs you clear today, and exactly which number is holding you back.

Check my ReadyScore →

How we sourced these numbers

We reviewed the admissions, FAQ, and outcomes pages of every COA-accredited program in our database (153 programs in this dataset) and recorded a number only when the school published it on its own site. Aggregator sites, forums, and third-party rankings were excluded entirely. Each recorded number carries the source URL and the verbatim sentence it came from, both shown above.

Rates are computed as seats ÷ applicants × 100, rounded to one decimal. Where a school publishes a range ("400–500 applications"), we use the midpoint and say so. Where a school publishes a floor ("200+ applicants"), the resulting rate is a maximum and we mark it "≤". Where a school's seat count spans multiple degree tracks, we publish the applicant number and no rate at all. Last verified Jul 2026.

Full methodology: how we source our data →

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average CRNA school acceptance rate?

There is no published national CRNA acceptance rate, because most programs never release one. Across the 18 programs where a rate can be established from the school's own published numbers, the median is 16.3% and the range is 5.9% to 35.8%. Anyone quoting a single national figure is estimating. What we can say honestly: at the programs that do disclose, a few hundred applicants typically compete for 25–60 seats, and the most selective programs on this page admit fewer than 1 in 15 applicants.

Which CRNA schools are easiest to get into?

No CRNA program is easy to get into — all 153 are doctoral programs with ICU-experience floors. But selectivity does vary, and the least selective programs that publish their numbers sit near 35.8%. Rather than chase "easy," most applicants get further by targeting programs whose stated minimums they clearly clear. You can filter by the requirements that actually screen people out on our lower-GPA-requirement programs and no-GRE programs pages.

Why don't most CRNA schools publish acceptance rates?

133 of 153 programs don't publish applicant counts anywhere on their websites. There's no accreditation requirement to do so: the COA requires programs to report attrition, NCE first-time pass rates, and employment outcomes, but not admissions selectivity. Publishing a low acceptance rate can also deter qualified applicants, and a high one can look unselective — so most programs simply stay silent. We do not fill the gap with estimates. Where a school doesn't publish a number, we say so.

How competitive is CRNA school?

Competitive enough that the disclosed rates cluster in the 6–25% band, with a median of 16.3% among the 18 programs we can verify. But your odds are not the school's rate — they're your GPA, ICU type and years, CCRN status, and how well your profile matches a specific program's published minimums. That's exactly what ReadyScore measures: it scores your stats against the actual requirements of every accredited program instead of against a national average nobody can prove.

How many people apply to CRNA school each year?

We can only report what schools publish. Among the 20 programs that disclose applicant volume, counts range from roughly 47.5 to 793 applications per cycle. The largest disclosed pool on this page is Rosalind Franklin University (793 applicants for 53 seats). 16 programs also publish how many applicants they interview, which is often the more useful number: it tells you what share of applicants ever get in front of the committee.

Are computed acceptance rates the same as official ones?

No, and we label them differently. A school-stated rate means the program printed a percentage itself. A computed rate means we divided two numbers the school published on its own page — seats by applicants — and rounded to one decimal. Both carry a link and a verbatim quote so you can check them in one click. Where a school publishes a floor ("200+ applicants"), the computed rate is a maximum and we show it with a "≤". We never estimate a rate from numbers a school didn't publish.