Last updated: June 2026 | Researched and reviewed by Daniel Etheridge, CRNA
Colorado finally has a CRNA program of its own.
The Rocky Vista University Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) program earned initial accreditation from the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA) in January 2025, ending Colorado’s long run as the largest western state without an in-state path to becoming a nurse anesthetist.
The program is growing fast: RVU is now recruiting its third cohort, which begins in June 2027.
This guide covers verified costs, requirements, and how to apply, plus a straight answer to the question Colorado ICU nurses ask most: what about CU Anschutz?
Key Takeaways
- Colorado has 1 COA-accredited CRNA program:
- It is a 36-month, full-time doctoral program
- Tuition is $50,000 per year (2025-26 rate)
- RVU still requires the GRE (combined 300) plus CCRN
Rocky Vista University Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP)
Rocky Vista University is a private health-sciences university best known for its osteopathic medical school.
Its Colorado campus sits at 8401 S. Chambers Road in the southeast Denver metro (the COA lists the address as Englewood; RVU describes the campus as Parker, about 20 miles southeast of Denver).
The DNAP is the university’s first nursing program, and students share the campus’s medical simulation facilities with DO and physician assistant students.
Program facts (verified June 2026)
| Degree | Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) |
| Length | 36 months, full time, cohort-based (no transfer credits accepted) |
| Accreditation | COA initial accreditation January 2025; next review October 2030 |
| Next cohort | June 2027 (applications open now via NursingCAS) |
| Tuition | $50,000 per year (2025-26 published rate) |
| Location | 8401 S. Chambers Road, Englewood, CO 80112 (Parker area, southeast Denver metro) |
| Admissions contact | (303) 373-2008 |
| Program Director | Craig Atkins, DNP, CRNA |
What it costs
RVU publishes tuition at $50,000 per year for 2025-26.
Across the 36-month program that works out to roughly $150,000 in tuition alone ($50,000 x 3 years), and annual rates can rise between cohorts.
On top of tuition, budget for RVU’s required student health insurance ($5,310 per year unless you waive in with equivalent coverage), a $1,000 seat deposit that is credited to tuition at matriculation, plus background check, drug screen, immunization tracking, books, and certification renewals.
The program does not publish a cohort size; ask admissions directly.
Admission requirements
RVU’s published requirements: a BSN from an accredited institution, a current unencumbered RN or APRN license, at least one year of U.S. critical care experience managing invasive monitors, ventilators, and vasoactive infusions, ACLS, BLS, and PALS, plus CCRN or another specialty certification (ER or PACU certifications are accepted).
Academically you need a 3.0 minimum GPA, an organic chemistry or biochemistry course completed within five years with a B or better, and a combined GRE score of 300.
The application also requires two letters of recommendation from healthcare professionals, a personal statement, a documented 16 hours of shadowing with a CRNA or physician anesthesiologist, an interview, and a criminal background check.
Two things stand out from a CRNA’s perspective.
First, the GRE requirement: most nurse anesthesia programs have dropped the GRE, so build prep time into your plan if Colorado is your target.
Second, the explicit acceptance of ER and PACU specialty certifications alongside CCRN is more flexible than many programs; your ICU experience itself still has to meet the critical care definition.
Are there any other CRNA programs in Colorado?
Not accredited ones based in the state. Two situations cause confusion.
First, the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus offers well-regarded DNP degrees. But none of them is a COA-accredited nurse anesthesia program, and only graduates of COA-accredited programs can sit for the National Certification Examination to become CRNAs.
A general DNP from Anschutz will not make you a nurse anesthetist.
Second, Rosalind Franklin University, an Illinois program, received COA approval in December 2023 to operate an additional training location in Colorado. That is a pathway through an Illinois-based program, not a separate Colorado school.
When in doubt, verify any program against the COA’s official list before applying.
Colorado CRNA salary and outlook
Nationally, nurse anesthetists earn a median annual wage of $212,650 (BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2023).
Colorado’s surgical volume is concentrated along the Front Range, and until now every CRNA working in the state trained somewhere else.
With RVU’s first graduates expected around 2027-2028, Colorado is beginning to grow its own anesthesia workforce, and nurses with Colorado roots no longer have to leave to train.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many CRNA schools are in Colorado?
Colorado has one COA-accredited CRNA program: the Rocky Vista University Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice program in the southeast Denver metro, which earned initial accreditation in January 2025.
Does CU Anschutz have a CRNA program?
No. CU Anschutz offers DNP degrees, but none is a COA-accredited nurse anesthesia program, which is the only pathway to CRNA certification.
Colorado’s only accredited program is at Rocky Vista University.
How much does CRNA school cost in Colorado?
RVU’s published tuition is $50,000 per year (2025-26), or roughly $150,000 over the 36-month program, plus required health insurance of $5,310 per year, a $1,000 seat deposit, and standard out-of-pocket costs.
Does the Rocky Vista CRNA program require the GRE?
Yes. RVU requires a combined GRE score of 300, which makes it one of the relatively few nurse anesthesia programs that still requires the exam.
CCRN or an equivalent specialty certification is also required.
When does the Rocky Vista DNAP program start?
The next cohort begins in June 2027, and RVU is accepting applications now through NursingCAS. The program runs 36 months full time.
Related Resources
Planning your applications? Start with our guide on when to apply to CRNA school.
Comparing nearby states? See CRNA programs in New Mexico, Kansas, Arizona, and Nebraska.
Or browse every state in our CRNA Schools by State hub.
Disclaimer: Information is for educational purposes only. Verify accreditation status against the COA’s published List of Accredited Educational Programs and confirm all costs, requirements, and dates with the program before applying.