There is no official national acceptance rate for CRNA school, and most programs do not publish one. The few programs that share their numbers admit roughly 1 applicant in 5 to 1 in 10, so expect strong competition.
This page shows what is publicly known, how to read a program's numbers and what you can do to improve your chances.
Why there is no single acceptance rate
No national body publishes admissions data across all programs. The COA requires programs to publish attrition, employment and first-time pass rates each year. It does not require them to publish how many people applied or were accepted.
Some websites list acceptance rates for every program. Treat those with caution unless they link to the program's own data. Many applicants also apply to several programs, so a single program's rate does not tell you your overall odds.
Programs that publish their numbers
A handful of programs post their admissions numbers. These figures come straight from their websites:
| Program | Applicants | Admitted | Approximate rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wake Forest (2026 admission year) | 142 | 30 | About 21% |
| Edgewood University (2026) | 113 | 17 | About 15% |
| Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University (last cycle) | 318 | 40 | About 13% |
The rates in the last column are our arithmetic from the published counts. Some programs describe their competition in other ways:
- Goldfarb School of Nursing at Barnes-Jewish College says it gets about 7 to 10 applications per seat. It interviews 30 to 35 people and selects 15 to 20.
- Webster University says 60 to 80 applicants complete the process each year, 45 to 50 are interviewed and up to 24 are admitted.
- Medical University of South Carolina says it receives more than 200 applicants a year and invites about 60 to interview.
These are a small sample, so don't assume every program looks the same.
How to read a program's competitiveness
When a program does not publish a rate, look at these signs instead.
Seats per year
Cohort sizes vary a lot. Cleveland Clinic says it accepts 15 to 20 students a year, while Augusta lists 60 students per cohort. A larger class may not mean easier entry. Small classes, though, leave little room.
Published averages for admitted students
Many programs share the GPA and ICU experience of their recent class. If the average GPA is 3.7 and yours is 3.2, you know where you stand. Wake Forest, Edgewood, Augusta and Oakland all publish averages like this.
How many applicants get an interview
An interview usually means you meet the bar on paper. York College says it invites about 3 times as many applicants as it has seats. MUSC's figures suggest about 1 in 4 or fewer applicants get an interview.
Requirements above the minimum
Asking for 2 or more years of ICU time, a CCRN or the GRE signals a high bar. Newer programs are worth a look too, though they can still be selective. See easiest CRNA schools to get into.
How to improve your odds
- Strengthen your ICU experience. High-acuity adult ICU work keeps the most doors open. Learn to manage vasoactive drips, ventilators and invasive lines confidently.
- Raise your academic record. If your GPA or science GPA is low, take recent graduate-level science courses and earn strong grades.
- Earn your CCRN. Some programs require it, and others treat it as a plus. A few ask for your score report.
- Shadow a CRNA. Many programs require documented hours. Use what you see in your essay and interview.
- Take on leadership. Charge nurse, preceptor, unit committees and quality projects are common among admitted students. MUSC says most of its admitted students have held roles like these.
- Prepare hard for the interview. Expect pharmacology, physiology and clinical scenario questions. Use our CRNA interview questions guide.
- Apply to enough programs. Compare deadlines, costs and requirements across the full program list, then apply to several that fit.
- Apply early. Some programs review applications on a rolling basis or have priority deadlines. Check deadlines by program.
If you are not accepted
A rejection is not the end of the road. Ask the program whether it gives feedback, but expect that some will not. Goldfarb, for example, suggests reapplicants build more critical care experience.
Then fix the specific gaps. More ICU time, a better science GPA, a CCRN or more shadowing are the usual changes.
FAQ
What is the average acceptance rate for CRNA school?
There is no verified national average. The few programs that publish data admit roughly 13% to 21% of applicants, based on their own counts.
Is CRNA school harder to get into than medical school?
They are hard to compare. The applicant pools, requirements and data sources are different, and CRNA programs rarely publish full admissions data.
How many people start CRNA school each year?
AANA says about 3,000 RNs and APRNs become nurse anesthesia residents each year, and more than 2,400 graduate annually.
Does applying to more programs help?
It can, as long as each application is strong and you meet each program's requirements. Applications cost time and fees, so choose programs that fit your background.
Sources
- COA Standards for Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Programs, Practice Doctorate (effective January 2026)
- AANA: CRNA fact sheet
- Wake Forest University School of Medicine nurse anesthesia program
- Edgewood University DNP nurse anesthesia
- Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University nurse anesthesia
- Goldfarb School of Nursing at Barnes-Jewish College DNP nurse anesthesia
- Webster University DNAP
- Medical University of South Carolina nurse anesthesia
- Cleveland Clinic School of Nurse Anesthesia
- Augusta University nurse anesthesia
- Oakland University DNP nurse anesthesia
- York College of Pennsylvania DNP nurse anesthetist