Samuel Merritt University

CRNA Program

Oakland, California
Degree: DNP Length: 3 yr Class Size: 27 GRE: Not Required

Program data last verified

Samuel Merritt University CRNA program: fast facts

Data last verified

Degree DNP
Type integrated
Length 3 yr
Class Size 27
Clinical Sites 40
Start September
Format Partially Online
Work During Not Allowed

What are Samuel Merritt University's admissions requirements?

Minimum GPA 3.25
Verified ·see the school’s words
“A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher.”

Quoted from the program’s own page — source

GRE Required No
CCRN Required Yes
Min ICU Experience 2 years
References 3
Shadowing Yes
Reference Requirements

Three letters of recommendation are required.

Verified ·source
GPA Types Considered
CumulativeScienceLast 60 credits
Verified ·source
GPA Notes

All three GPA minimums are 3.25 (cumulative; last 60 semester/90 quarter units; science coursework). Max 3 repeated science courses allowed; extra repeats are only aggregated into the GPAs; repeat coursework not accepted beginning 2028 cycle.

Verified ·see the school’s words
“If more than 3 courses are repeated, any additional repeated graded coursework will not replace previous coursework but will only be aggregated into cumulative, last 60 semesters/90 quarters, and science GPAs, if applicable.”

Quoted from the program’s own page — source

CCRN Details

CCRN (adult, pediatric, neonatal, or critical care) required at time of matriculation and throughout the program, along with BLS, ACLS, PALS; all certifications must be AHA-approved.

Verified ·see the school’s words
“BLS, ACLS, PALS, and CCRN (any of the following CCRN: adult, pediatric, neonatal, and critical care) These are all the certifications that are required at the time of matriculation and throughout the duration of the program. All certifications must be approved by the American Heart Association (AHA) and administered…”

Quoted from the program’s own page — source

What ICU experience does Samuel Merritt University accept?

NICU ✓
PICU ✓
ER ✗
Other critical care ✗

Flight nursing: not accepted

Verified ·source

What prerequisites does Samuel Merritt University require?

Statistics Not Required
Gen Chemistry Not Required
Organic Chemistry Not Required
Biochemistry Not Required
Anatomy Not Required
Physiology Not Required
Physics Not Required
Pharmacology Not Required
Microbiology Not Required
Research Not Required
Prerequisite Notes

All coursework must be completed before applying (in-progress coursework not considered). Maximum of 3 repeated science courses allowed; beginning with the 2028 admissions cycle, repeat coursework will not be accepted. Prerequisite self-evaluation tools are in the Pre-Application Guide available from the Admission Team.

Verified ·source

Coursework must come from a regionally accredited institution.

From the program’s own page

California RN license required and must remain continuous, active, unrestricted, unencumbered; must be actively practicing as an ICU nurse at application; BLS/ACLS/PALS/CCRN required at matriculation and throughout (AHA-approved); applicants previously/currently enrolled in a nurse anesthesia program are ineligible; $80 NursingCAS application fee; $1,500 non-refundable tuition deposit beginning 2027.

What are Samuel Merritt University's pass rates and outcomes?

92% NCE Pass Rate
Verified ·see the school’s words
“DNAP NCE First-time Pass Rates (NBCRNA) Class of 2025 - 92%…”

Quoted from the program’s own page — source

0% Attrition Rate

How long is Samuel Merritt University's CRNA program?

Samuel Merritt U in Oakland, California offers a DNP program. It is a Integrated program that starts in September. The GRE is not required and the program length is 36 months.

Clinical Sites

40

Clinical sites, from the program’s own page

41 Northern/Central California sites including 20 Kaiser Permanente medical centers, UCSF (Mission Bay, Parnassus, Mount Zion), UC Davis Medical Center, Stanford Medical Center, San Francisco General, Highland General (Oakland), SF and Fresno VA medical centers, David Grant Medical Center (Travis AFB), and community/regional hospitals; 24-month clinical residency across CRNA independent, care team, and medical direction practice models.

What does Samuel Merritt University ask in the essay?

The prompt, in the program’s own words

A written submission addressing the following: Professionalism: Please summarize your professional work experiences. We are particularly interested in recent (within the past five) experiences that are related to health care and have contributed to your interest in your chosen field of study (3000 character limit). Continued professional development: Please highlight any academic honors or awards received, relevant continuing education courses, publications, research, and other special or unique experiences that you would like the admissions committee to consider in evaluating your application (3000 character limit). Leadership experiences: Please list any leadership opportunities you have experienced and explain what you learned from those experiences (3000 character limit). Why do you wish to pursue a career as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA), and why do you feel Samuel Merritt University is the right place for you to achieve this goal? (4500 character limit)

How Samuel Merritt University compares to other California programs

Measure Samuel Merritt University Rest of California Difference
In-state tuition $203,624 $148,130 37% higher
Class size 27 28 1 smaller
NCE pass rate 92% 86% 6 points higher

We track 6 CRNA programs in California. See all 6 California programs .

Tuition is compared against the average of the other California programs that publish one. Class size and pass rate are compared against the median. Programs that don’t publish a figure are left out of that row.

Samuel Merritt University campus

Samuel Merritt U in Oakland, California offers a DNP program. It is a Integrated program that starts in September. The GRE is not required and the program length is 36 months.

Estimated Tuition

In-State $203,624
Verified ·see the school’s words
“Doctor of Nursing Practice – Anesthesia (DNAP) 94 $203,624…”

Quoted from the program’s own page — source

Out-of-State $203,624
Verified ·see the school’s words
“Doctor of Nursing Practice – Anesthesia (DNAP) 94 $203,624…”

Quoted from the program’s own page — source

Application Info

Applications Open 2025-08-15
Deadline 2025-10-15
Program Start September
Rolling Admissions No
Applies via NursingCAS Yes

Official Program Page

Visit Program Website

Every figure on this page is sourced from here — check it against the program directly.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What degree does Samuel Merritt University offer?

Samuel Merritt University offers a DNP (Doctor of Nursing Practice) degree.

How long is the Samuel Merritt University CRNA program?

The Samuel Merritt University CRNA program is 3 yr long.

Does Samuel Merritt University require the GRE?

No, Samuel Merritt University does not require the GRE for admission.

What is the minimum GPA for Samuel Merritt University?

Samuel Merritt University requires a minimum GPA of 3.25.

Does Samuel Merritt University accept NICU experience?

Yes, Samuel Merritt University accepts NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) experience.

What is the tuition at Samuel Merritt University?

Samuel Merritt University has in-state tuition of $203,624 and out-of-state tuition of $203,624.
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Program data·Verified ·verify on the program’s site

Every figure on this page comes from what Samuel Merritt University publishes on its own website — we don’t estimate, and where a program doesn’t publish something, we leave it blank rather than guess. Programs can change requirements at any time, so always confirm against the school before you apply. See how we source our data .