CRNA School Rankings

CRNA school rankingsCRNA School Rankings help prospective nurse anesthesia students evaluate which CRNA programs to apply and submit applications.  However, it’s important to consider multiple data points and rankings to get a full comprehensive view on a CRNA school.  We provide three types of CRNA School rankings.  The first, we organize CRNA Schools by Rank using the criteria of average number of anesthesia cases per student.  The second, we rank CRNA Schools by first time NCE test taker pass rate.  Third, we systematically rank all CRNA schools based on attrition.  We believe these three factors provide an objective factual perspective of all the CRNA Schools by Rank.  This will help you evaluate the best CRNA school for you.

CRNA School Rankings by Anesthesia Case Exposure

CRNA School Ranking Anesthesia CasesAnesthesia Cases are important for prospective CRNA students because of the certification eligibility criteria as well as having ample clinical experience for the job once you graduate.  The Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA) established the minimum total case number requirement of 600 cases for all nurse anesthetists.  (COA recently increased this from 550 cases.) This is an especially important number.

The purpose of CRNA anesthesia cases is so nurse anesthetist students are well trained and confident in real life situations without additional support.  This was one of the numerous points of complaints from nurse anesthetists in our Best CRNA Schools feedback that many graduates did not seem to be on par when they started working.  You’re paying a lot of money for tuition.  This is in addition to spending two to three years of your life invested in the program.  Therefore, make sure you have the opportunity to take advantage and be the best nurse anesthetist you can be.  After all, people’s lives depend on it!

CRNA Schools by Rank – Anesthesia Cases Metric

Of the 124 CRNA schools in total, 87 schools publish the average number of anesthesia cases completed.  Meanwhile, 37 nurse anesthetist schools do not release any information.  The average number of anesthesia cases at CRNA programs is 889 cases.  The maximum number of cases is Barry University Nurse Anesthesia Program (1,225 cases), followed by University of Iowa CRNA (1,173 cases) and Missouri State University CRNA (1,171 cases).  Usually, schools that require more cases from their SRNAs will have a reputation for being more rigorous academically and are also better at preparing their graduates with professional real-life experience.

Cases RankingAll CRNA SchoolsAnesthesia Cases
1Barry University Nurse Anesthesia Program1,225
2University of Iowa CRNA1,173
3Missouri State University CRNA1,171
4Murray State CRNA1,120
5Midwestern University CRNA1,107
6ASU CRNA1,079
6Bryan College CRNA1,079
8National University CRNA1,072
8UPMC Hamot1,072
10Newman CRNA1,050
11Duke CRNA Program1,047
12Mount Marty CRNA1,042
13Lincoln Memorial University CRNA Program1,036
14Rush University CRNA1,035
15TCU CRNA1,033
16UNF CRNA1,032
17Buffalo CRNA Program1,031
18Clarkson College CRNA1,025
19FSU CRNA1,017
20UTC CRNA998
21Mayo Clinic Health System995
22SIUE CRNA994
23Westminster CRNA993
24Northshore CRNA977
25Samuel Merritt CRNA964
26Gonzaga CRNA960
27KU CRNA Program954
28Quinnipiac CRNA Program950
29Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia940
30Union University CRNA939
31University of Akron CRNA936
32University of Pittsburgh CRNA930
33University of Arizona CRNA925
34U of M CRNA Program924
35AdventHealth CRNA917
36Oakland University CRNA Program905
37Military CRNA900
38Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes899
39University of Cincinnati CRNA899
40Army CRNA898
41OHSU Nursing896
42LSU CRNA Program888
43UNE CRNA Program880
44Truman CRNA Program879
45Minneapolis School of Anesthesia870
46University of Maryland CRNA862
47Antillean Adventist University851
48Fairfield CRNA850
49Raleigh School of Nurse Anesthesia838
50Drexel CRNA835
51Webster University Nurse Anesthesia Program825
52Villanova CRNA program818
53Rosalind Franklin CRNA817
54La Roche CRNA815
55Lourdes University CRNA814
56ECU CRNA809
57FranU CRNA808
58Bloomsburg CRNA806
59Charleston Area Medical Center805
60FIU CRNA Program804
60UAB CRNA804
60USM CRNA Program804
63UND CRNA Program803
64Millikin CRNA801
65Kaiser CRNA800
65Northeastern CRNA800
65Rutgers CRNA800
65Wake Forest CRNA800
69Mayo Clinic CRNA797
70University of Scranton CRNA794
71Albany Medical College CRNA Program772
72University of Tennessee Health Science Center768
73University of Minnesota CRNA766
74USF CRNA Program761
75Baylor College of Medicine CRNA761
76York College CRNA759
77Integrated Anesthesia Associates744
78Saint Marys CRNA735
79Samford CRNA727
80UM CRNA Program725
81UNC CRNA Program719
82Yale CRNA707
83USC CRNA School700
84Inter American University700
85Loma Linda CRNA688
86University of Puerto Rico669
87Columbia University CRNA652
N/ABoston College CRNAN/A
N/ACase Western CRNAN/A
N/ACedar Crest CRNAN/A
N/ACleveland Clinic CRNA programN/A
N/ADetroit Mercy CRNAN/A
N/AEmory CRNAN/A
N/AExcela Health School of AnesthesiaN/A
N/AFlorida Gulf Coast University CRNAN/A
N/AGeorgetown CRNAN/A
N/AGoldfarb CRNAN/A
N/AJefferson CRNA ProgramN/A
N/AJohns Hopkins CRNAN/A
N/AKeiser University CRNAN/A
N/ALa Salle CRNA programN/A
N/AMarian University CRNAN/A
N/AMarquette CRNAN/A
N/AMichigan State University CRNAN/A
N/AMUSC CRNA ProgramN/A
N/ANKU CRNAN/A
N/AOld Dominion University CRNAN/A
N/AOtterbein CRNAN/A
N/ASaint Francis CRNAN/A
N/ASaint Joseph HospitalN/A
N/ASt Elizabeth Health CenterN/A
N/ATexas Wesleyan University CRNAN/A
N/AUAMS CRNA ProgramN/A
N/AUniversity of South Carolina CRNAN/A
N/AUniversity of Tulsa NursingN/A
N/AUniversity of Wisconsin Oshkosh CRNAN/A
N/AUPenn CRNAN/A
N/AUT Houston CRNAN/A
N/AUTK CRNA ProgramN/A
N/AVCU CRNA ProgramN/A
N/AWayne State CRNAN/A
N/AWestern Carolina University CRNAN/A
N/AWVU CRNA programN/A
N/AAugusta CRNA ProgramN/A

15 Worst CRNA Schools based on Anesthesia Cases Metric

The minimum average number of cases amongst the 87 schools is Columbia University CRNA at 652 cases, University of Puerto Rico (669 cases) and Loma Linda CRNA (688 cases).

Worst CRNA Schools Anesthesia CasesAnesthesia Cases
Columbia University CRNA652
University of Puerto Rico669
Loma Linda CRNA688
Inter American University700
USC CRNA School700
Yale CRNA707
UNC CRNA Program719
UM CRNA Program725
Samford CRNA727
Saint Marys CRNA735
Integrated Anesthesia Associates744
York College CRNA759
Baylor College of Medicine CRNA761
USF CRNA Program761
University of Minnesota CRNA766

CRNA School Rankings by NCE Pass Rate

CRNA school ranking pass rateFirst time NCE Pass Rate is an especially important metric in evaluating CRNA Schools by Rank because it shows the quality of education and how relevant the school’s classroom and clinical training is towards the ultimate NCE exam.  Of the 124 CRNA Schools, surprisingly only 96 CRNA Schools publish this First Time Pass Rate statistic. Meanwhile, 28 CRNA Schools do not release any information.  If a CRNA School was an MSN degree and recently changed its program to DNP, we did not include the first-time test taker pass rate. In addition, if the CRNA school you are considering does not publicize the first-time test taker pass rate, you should inquire about this because it is a particularly important statistic to consider.

CRNA Schools By Rank – First Time Pass Rate

The average CRNA first time test taker pass rate is 88%.  If the CRNA school is below this average rate, you may need to look more closely at the class size.  Although not a generalization, one trend we realized is schools with larger class sizes tend to do slightly worse than CRNA schools with smaller class sizes.  This is because there are more students and thus more variability.

Pass Rate RankingAll CRNA SchoolsFirst Time Test Taker Pass Rate
1Army CRNA100%
1Georgetown CRNA100%
1Integrated Anesthesia Associates100%
1Loma Linda CRNA100%
1OHSU Nursing100%
1Quinnipiac CRNA Program100%
1Rush University CRNA100%
1UNC CRNA Program100%
1University of Akron CRNA100%
1University of Minnesota CRNA100%
1University of Tennessee Health Science Center100%
1USC CRNA School100%
1Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes100%
1Wake Forest CRNA100%
15UT Houston CRNA99%
16TCU CRNA98%
16USF CRNA Program98%
18Gonzaga CRNA97%
18Military CRNA97%
18York College CRNA97%
21Rutgers CRNA96%
21UPenn CRNA96%
23Kaiser CRNA95%
23University of Maryland CRNA95%
25Columbia University CRNA94%
25Minneapolis School of Anesthesia94%
25Murray State CRNA94%
25Truman CRNA Program94%
25VCU CRNA Program94%
30Baylor College of Medicine CRNA93%
30Buffalo CRNA Program93%
30FranU CRNA93%
30MUSC CRNA Program93%
30NKU CRNA93%
35Charleston Area Medical Center92%
35Mayo Clinic Health System92%
35UTC CRNA92%
35Webster University Nurse Anesthesia Program92%
39Lourdes University CRNA91%
39Oakland University CRNA Program91%
39Old Dominion University CRNA91%
39Raleigh School of Nurse Anesthesia91%
39Samford CRNA91%
44Barry University Nurse Anesthesia Program90%
44KU CRNA Program90%
44La Salle CRNA program90%
44U of M CRNA Program90%
44University of Iowa CRNA90%
49ASU CRNA89%
49Villanova CRNA program89%
51Duke CRNA Program88%
51Samuel Merritt CRNA88%
51University of Cincinnati CRNA88%
54Bryan College CRNA87%
54Lincoln Memorial University CRNA Program87%
54St Elizabeth Health Center87%
54UAB CRNA87%
54Yale CRNA87%
59Fairfield CRNA86%
59LSU CRNA Program86%
59Western Carolina University CRNA86%
62AdventHealth CRNA85%
62Drexel CRNA85%
62Midwestern University CRNA85%
65FIU CRNA Program84%
65Mayo Clinic CRNA84%
65Mount Marty CRNA84%
65Union University CRNA84%
65University of Pittsburgh CRNA84%
70Albany Medical College CRNA Program83%
70SIUE CRNA83%
70Westminster CRNA83%
73Bloomsburg CRNA82%
73Clarkson College CRNA82%
73FSU CRNA82%
73Northshore CRNA82%
73Rosalind Franklin CRNA82%
73University of Arizona CRNA82%
79Augusta CRNA Program81%
79La Roche CRNA81%
81Saint Joseph Hospital80%
81Saint Marys CRNA80%
81UNE CRNA Program80%
81UNF CRNA80%
81USM CRNA Program80%
86National University CRNA78%
86Newman CRNA78%
88Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia76%
89Missouri State University CRNA73%
89UM CRNA Program73%
91University of Puerto Rico71%
92Jefferson CRNA Program70%
93UPMC Hamot69%
94Millikin CRNA62%
95Antillean Adventist University60%
96Inter American University38%
N/ABoston College CRNAN/A
N/ACase Western CRNAN/A
N/ACedar Crest CRNAN/A
N/ACleveland Clinic CRNA programN/A
N/ADetroit Mercy CRNAN/A
N/AECU CRNAN/A
N/AEmory CRNAN/A
N/AExcela Health School of AnesthesiaN/A
N/AFlorida Gulf Coast University CRNAN/A
N/AGoldfarb CRNAN/A
N/AJohns Hopkins CRNAN/A
N/AKeiser University CRNAN/A
N/AMarian University CRNAN/A
N/AMarquette CRNAN/A
N/AMichigan State University CRNAN/A
N/ANortheastern CRNAN/A
N/AOtterbein CRNAN/A
N/ASaint Francis CRNAN/A
N/ATexas Wesleyan University CRNAN/A
N/AUAMS CRNA ProgramN/A
N/AUND CRNA ProgramN/A
N/AUniversity of Scranton CRNAN/A
N/AUniversity of South Carolina CRNAN/A
N/AUniversity of Tulsa NursingN/A
N/AUniversity of Wisconsin Oshkosh CRNAN/A
N/AUTK CRNA ProgramN/A
N/AWayne State CRNAN/A
N/AWVU CRNA programN/A

CRNA Schools with 100% First Time Pass Rate

The below 14 CRNA schools have exceptional programs with a 100% first time pass rate.  Overall, this is a very impressive achievement for these nurse anesthetist programs.

CRNA Schools 100% Pass RateFirst Time Test Taker
Army CRNA100%
Georgetown CRNA100%
Integrated Anesthesia Associates100%
Loma Linda CRNA100%
OHSU Nursing100%
Quinnipiac CRNA Program100%
Rush University CRNA100%
UNC CRNA Program100%
University of Akron CRNA100%
University of Minnesota CRNA100%
University of Tennessee Health Science Center100%
USC CRNA School100%
Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes100%
Wake Forest CRNA100%

16 Worst CRNA Schools based on First Time Pass Rate Metric

These CRNA schools all have NCE first time pass rates at 80% or below 80%, which is a red flag.  If you are interested in applying to these CRNA programs, we suggest inquiring more with the program directors on the reason for the low pass rates.  All of the CRNA programs in Puerto Rico have pass rates below 80%, which is concerning.  Two larger outliers are InterAmerican University which had a 37.5% pass rate and Antillean Adventist University at a 60% pass rate.

Worst CRNA Schools Pass RateFirst Time Test Taker
Inter American University38%
Antillean Adventist University60%
Millikin CRNA62%
UPMC Hamot95%
Jefferson CRNA Program70%
University of Puerto Rico71%
Missouri State University CRNA73%
UM CRNA Program73%
Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia76%
National University CRNA78%
Newman CRNA78%
Saint Joseph Hospital80%
Saint Marys CRNA80%
UNE CRNA Program80%
UNF CRNA80%
USM CRNA Program80%

CRNA Schools Rankings by Attrition

CRNA school ranking attritionAttrition means the percentage of students that for whatever reason, did not graduate from the CRNA program.  Attrition is an important factor for ranking CRNA schools because it shows how the school’s program is manageable by the average SRNA student.  To clarify, the higher the attrition % is bad because it shows the school may not be too difficult & strict and / or failing borderline students.

CRNA Schools By Rank – Attrition

The average attrition for all 96 CRNA programs was 6%.  Attrition statistics were not available at 28 CRNA Schools due to either:

  1. The CRNA Schools not providing the information
  2. CRNA program changing from MSN to DNP
  3. The CRNA program is newly accredited.

Nonetheless, it is a good question to ask in the CRNA Interview, what factors have caused the attrition rate of the school.

Attrition RankingAll CRNA SchoolsAttrition
1AdventHealth CRNA0%
1Augusta CRNA Program0%
1Charleston Area Medical Center0%
1Drexel CRNA0%
1Duke CRNA Program0%
1Integrated Anesthesia Associates0%
1Mayo Clinic CRNA0%
1Mayo Clinic Health System0%
1Minneapolis School of Anesthesia0%
1Missouri State University CRNA0%
1Oakland University CRNA Program0%
1OHSU Nursing0%
1Rush University CRNA0%
1Saint Joseph Hospital0%
1Samford CRNA0%
1Samuel Merritt CRNA0%
1St Elizabeth Health Center0%
1Truman CRNA Program0%
1University of Akron CRNA0%
1University of Arizona CRNA0%
1University of Cincinnati CRNA0%
1University of Minnesota CRNA0%
1USC CRNA School0%
1USF CRNA Program0%
1USM CRNA Program0%
1Wake Forest CRNA0%
1Westminster CRNA0%
1Yale CRNA0%
29Mount Marty CRNA1%
29Raleigh School of Nurse Anesthesia1%
29Rutgers CRNA1%
29Saint Marys CRNA1%
33Bloomsburg CRNA2%
33Newman CRNA2%
33York College CRNA2%
35FIU CRNA Program3%
35Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia3%
35Midwestern University CRNA3%
35UPMC Hamot3%
39Bryan College CRNA4%
39FSU CRNA4%
39Georgetown CRNA4%
39Jefferson CRNA Program4%
39Kaiser CRNA4%
39La Salle CRNA program4%
39Military CRNA4%
39MUSC CRNA Program4%
39SIUE CRNA4%
39UAB CRNA4%
39UNC CRNA Program4%
39University of Maryland CRNA4%
39Villanova CRNA program4%
39Webster University Nurse Anesthesia Program4%
53KU CRNA Program5%
53Northshore CRNA5%
53U of M CRNA Program5%
53University of Iowa CRNA5%
53UPenn CRNA5%
58Buffalo CRNA Program6%
58Clarkson College CRNA6%
58Columbia University CRNA6%
58Murray State CRNA6%
58NKU CRNA6%
58University of Tennessee Health Science Center6%
64Baylor College of Medicine CRNA7%
64Fairfield CRNA7%
64Millikin CRNA7%
64UNF CRNA7%
64University of Pittsburgh CRNA7%
69Albany Medical College CRNA Program8%
69Union University CRNA8%
69UTC CRNA8%
69ASU CRNA9%
69Lourdes University CRNA9%
69Quinnipiac CRNA Program9%
69UM CRNA Program9%
77Gonzaga CRNA10%
78Loma Linda CRNA11%
78National University CRNA11%
79Old Dominion University CRNA12%
79UNE CRNA Program12%
79UT Houston CRNA12%
82Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes13%
82Western Carolina University CRNA13%
85LSU CRNA Program14%
85Rosalind Franklin CRNA14%
87Barry University Nurse Anesthesia Program15%
87FranU CRNA15%
89Antillean Adventist University16%
89VCU CRNA Program18%
91La Roche CRNA20%
91TCU CRNA20%
93Inter American University24%
93Lincoln Memorial University CRNA Program24%
95Army CRNA28%
96University of Puerto Rico36%
N/ABoston College CRNAN/A
N/ACase Western CRNAN/A
N/ACedar Crest CRNAN/A
N/ACleveland Clinic CRNA programN/A
N/ADetroit Mercy CRNAN/A
N/AECU CRNAN/A
N/AEmory CRNAN/A
N/AExcela Health School of AnesthesiaN/A
N/AFlorida Gulf Coast University CRNAN/A
N/AGoldfarb CRNAN/A
N/AJohns Hopkins CRNAN/A
N/AKeiser University CRNAN/A
N/AMarian University CRNAN/A
N/AMarquette CRNAN/A
N/AMichigan State University CRNAN/A
N/ANortheastern CRNAN/A
N/AOtterbein CRNAN/A
N/ASaint Francis CRNAN/A
N/ATexas Wesleyan University CRNAN/A
N/AUAMS CRNA ProgramN/A
N/AUND CRNA ProgramN/A
N/AUniversity of Scranton CRNAN/A
N/AUniversity of South Carolina CRNAN/A
N/AUniversity of Tulsa NursingN/A
N/AUniversity of Wisconsin Oshkosh CRNAN/A
N/AUTK CRNA ProgramN/A
N/AWayne State CRNAN/A
N/AWVU CRNA programN/A

CRNA Schools with 0% Attrition Rates

In addition, amongst the 96 CRNA programs, 28 Schools had excellent 0% Attrition Rates.  Overall, this is a super impressive achievement for these nurse anesthetist schools.

CRNA Schools 0% AttritionAttrition
AdventHealth CRNA0%
Augusta CRNA Program0%
Charleston Area Medical Center0%
Drexel CRNA0%
Duke CRNA Program0%
Integrated Anesthesia Associates0%
Mayo Clinic CRNA0%
Mayo Clinic Health System0%
Minneapolis School of Anesthesia0%
Missouri State University CRNA0%
Oakland University CRNA Program0%
OHSU Nursing0%
Rush University CRNA0%
Saint Joseph Hospital0%
Samford CRNA0%
Samuel Merritt CRNA0%
St Elizabeth Health Center0%
Truman CRNA Program0%
University of Akron CRNA0%
University of Arizona CRNA0%
University of Cincinnati CRNA0%
University of Minnesota CRNA0%
USC CRNA School0%
USF CRNA Program0%
USM CRNA Program0%
Wake Forest CRNA0%
Westminster CRNA0%
Yale CRNA0%

10 Worst CRNA Schools by Attrition

The below CRNA Schools had attrition of 15% or more.  Attrition rates between 20-30% mean 1 out of every 3 or 1 out of every 5 students who begin the program do not graduate.  These results are very poor.  If you are interested in these nurse anesthetist schools, you should reach out to the program director and current students for further due diligence.  Again, all 3 of the CRNA schools in Puerto Rico have attrition rates above 15%.

Worst CRNA Schools AttritionAttrition
University of Puerto Rico36%
Army CRNA28%
Inter American University24%
Lincoln Memorial University CRNA Program24%
La Roche CRNA20%
TCU CRNA20%
VCU CRNA Program18%
Antillean Adventist University16%
Barry University Nurse Anesthesia Program15%
FranU CRNA15%

Best CRNA Schools

best crna schoolsWe spent hundreds of hours studying all CRNA schools and interviewing over 125 nurse anesthetists to create our exclusive list of Best CRNA Schools.  So now you know the CRNA School Rankings by factual data points (attrition, first time pass rate, anesthesia case exposure), your next research is to compare the Best CRNA programs with the CRNA School Rankings to see what is the best CRNA school for you.

Map of CRNA Schools Rankings

To complement the CRNA School rankings, please find the map illustration to help in your study exploring CRNA schools.

AL AK AZ AR CA CO CT DE FL GA HI ID IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MD MA MI MN MS MO MT NE NV NH NJ NM NY NC ND OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VT VA WA WV WI WY DC

Notes:
The darker the blue color equivocates to more CRNA Schools in the State.
Tier 1 = 6 or more CRNA Schools
2nd Tier = 3 to 5 CRNA Schools
Tier 3 = 1 or 2 CRNA Schools
White means no CRNA schools in the State.
Data source: everythingCRNA

CRNA Salary

CRNA Starting SalaryAs you’re interested in CRNA rankings of different schools, be sure to check out our CRNA Salary Guide and CRNA Starting Salary.  This is especially important if you plan on working in the same state you go to school in afterwards.  If you are still a student or if you’re wondering how much a fresh CRNA can make right out of nurse anesthesia school, this information will be especially helpful.  You might be surprised too!  We spent hundreds of hours researching salary information from the BLS, the AANA CRNA survey from over 5,000 actual nurse anesthetists as well as from my own CRNA job offers after I graduated.  In addition, different states have different demand and supply economics for nurse anesthetists, so our CRNA Salary by State Guide will help you see which States are the best fit for you.

Conclusion

In conclusion, anesthesia cases, NCE pass rate and attrition are the three best objective criteria in CRNA school rankings.  These methodologies are based on factual data.  This is important as the CRNA profession is one that requires a high degree of technical knowledge, training and expertise.  In addition, there are new nurse anesthetist programs recently which may not be worth investing your future in. Considering different data points, including discussions with alumni is required when deciding which CRNA schools are the best fit.  I hope the CRNA schools by rank in each category help provide an additional perspective on finding the right school.  Be sure to check out our Best CRNA Schools article where over 100 professional nurse anesthetists ranked all the CRNA schools in the country.

What did you think of the CRNA School rankings?  Let us know your feedback in the comments below.  Click on the image gallery to learn more about CRNA School Rankings.

 

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