Otterbein University CRNA School: Closure Notice & 2026 Update

Last updated: May 9, 2026  |  Originally published: April 18, 2026  |  By Daniel Etheridge, CRNASchool.com

The End of an Era in Central Ohio CRNA Education

For decades, the Otterbein–OhioHealth Grant Medical Center Nurse Anesthesia Program was one of the best-kept secrets in Ohio CRNA education. A perfect 10-year COA accreditation, a five-year attrition rate of 0%, and consistently strong first-time NCE pass rates earned it a quietly elite reputation.

That chapter is now closing.

Otterbein has confirmed the voluntary closure as part of a broader academic realignment tied to the university’s affiliation with the Coalition for the Common Good.

The final cohort graduates in May 2026, and the program formally winds down on June 1, 2026.

This page preserves the program’s legacy, documents what made it distinctive, and points you to the CRNA programs in Ohio and surrounding states that are still actively admitting students.

Key Takeaways for the 2026 Applicant

• No new applications are being accepted — the Class of 2026 is the final cohort.
• The program officially closes June 1, 2026 per the COA’s March 6, 2026 LOAP.
• Closure is part of a wider Otterbein realignment tied to the Coalition for the Common Good, not an accreditation issue.
• Current SRNAs remain fully credentialed — graduates are NCE-eligible and licensable nationwide.
• Director on record with COA: Brian Garrett, DNP, CRNA.
• Closest replacements in central Ohio: The Ohio State University and Ohio University–OhioHealth.
• If you valued the OhioHealth Grant clinical pipeline, Ohio University’s program preserves much of that network.
• Ohio still has multiple actively enrolling CRNA programs across the state.

Program Information at a Glance (Historical)

• Institution: Otterbein University, Westerville, OH (in partnership with OhioHealth Grant Medical Center, Columbus)
• Degree Awarded: Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), Entry Level
• Program Length: 36 months
• Start Date: May (annual)
• Distance Education: Yes (per COA LOAP)
• Initial Accreditation Date: June 2016
• Next Review Date (now closure): June 2026
• Final Cohort: Class of 2026
• Closure Date: June 1, 2026 (Voluntary Program Closure)

Why the Program Is Closing

Otterbein University’s official program pages now state, “We are no longer accepting applications. The Class of 2026 will be our final class as part of the joint Otterbein and OhioHealth CRNA program.”

Otterbein attributes the closure to “the realignment of programs since joining the Coalition for the Common Good,” a multi-institution affiliation that has reshaped the university’s graduate nursing portfolio.

The closure is voluntary and not the result of any COA accreditation deficiency. The program has held continuous COA accreditation throughout its life.

Accreditation Status

Per the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs List of Accredited Programs (March 6, 2026):

• Date of Last Review (DLR): June 2016
• Next Review Date (NRD): June 2026
• Status: Voluntary Program Closure 6/1/2026
• Degree: DNP, Entry Level — 36 months — Distance Education: Yes

Through closure, Otterbein graduates remain eligible to sit the NBCRNA National Certification Examination and to obtain CRNA licensure in any U.S. state.

What Made the Otterbein–OhioHealth Grant CRNA Program Distinctive

Three structural features set Otterbein apart from most CRNA programs nationally.

1. A True University–Hospital Partnership

Most CRNA programs sit inside a college of nursing with clinicals scattered across affiliated hospitals. Otterbein operated as a genuine joint venture between Otterbein University and OhioHealth Grant Medical Center — sharing curriculum design, faculty, and clinical governance.

That structural intimacy between classroom and clinical site is hard to replicate.

2. The Columbus + Dayton Dual-Cohort Model

Few CRNA programs run two geographic cohorts simultaneously. Otterbein did — basing students in either Columbus or Dayton, with Dayton students connecting to the Columbus classroom virtually while completing clinicals at Miami Valley Hospital, Soin Medical Center, Grandview, and Southview.

3. The “5 Pillars for Success” Admissions Philosophy

Otterbein’s admissions process screened beyond GPA and ICU experience. Faculty explicitly evaluated character traits — composure under pressure, collaboration, communication, ethical grounding, and resilience — packaged as the program’s “5 Pillars for Success.”

That emphasis on the human side of anesthesia likely contributed to the program’s 0% attrition rate.

Historical Admission Statistics

For the students who got in — and the many more who didn’t — here’s what the pool typically looked like:

• Applicants per year: 100+
• Interviews offered: 50–60
• Seats: up to 24 (split between Columbus and Dayton)
• Average GPA of admitted students: 3.4–4.0
• Average ICU experience of admitted students: 2–6 years
• GRE: encouraged (not required) for applicants with GPA below 3.5
• CCRN: required by the application deadline
• ACLS: required
• Stats course: B or higher (B- not accepted)
• Shadowing: optional Verification of Observation form

The historical acceptance rate hovered in the 20–25% range — competitive but more accessible than Cleveland Clinic or Ohio State, which made Otterbein an attractive “realistic reach” for many Midwest applicants.

Clinical Sites (Historical)

Otterbein’s quiet strength was the breadth of clinical exposure. Students rotated through 15+ sites:

• OhioHealth Grant Medical Center (primary)
• Nationwide Children’s Hospital (pediatrics)
• Mount Carmel Grove City
• OhioHealth Marion General Hospital
• Knox Community Hospital
• Adena Regional Medical Center
• OhioHealth Berger Hospital
• OhioHealth Doctor’s Hospital
• OhioHealth O’Bleness Hospital (Athens)
• OhioHealth Med Central Hospital
• The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
• Springfield Regional Medical Center
• Dayton-area sites: Miami Valley Hospital, Soin Medical Center, Grandview, Southview

That mix — major metropolitan, pediatric specialty, Level 1 trauma, and small rural community hospitals — produced unusually well-rounded case logs heading into the NCE.

What the Otterbein Closure Means for You

If you’re a pre-CRNA RN who was planning to apply

You’ll need to pivot. Ohio still has multiple actively enrolling CRNA programs, each with distinct strengths in cost, format, and clinical focus.

Start evaluating those programs against your criteria — geography, tuition, residency requirements, and clinical mix — using our state guide linked below.

If you’re a current Otterbein SRNA

The program remains fully accredited by COA through closure, and your degree carries the same weight as every Otterbein cohort before yours.

Class of 2026 graduates are eligible to sit the NBCRNA NCE on the standard timeline and to be licensed as CRNAs nationwide.

If you’re a hiring manager or anesthesia group

The last Otterbein-trained CRNAs enter the workforce in summer 2026. After that, Ohio-trained graduates will come from the remaining programs in the state directory.

Ohio CRNA School Alternatives (Currently Enrolling)

Ohio has a deep bench of nurse anesthesia programs. Each is profiled in detail in the state directory:

• The Ohio State University CRNA Program — new (launched 2024), highly competitive, ~15-seat class, Big Ten resources
• University of Cincinnati CRNA Program — Ohio’s oldest CRNA program with the longest established track record
• Cleveland Clinic / Case Western CRNA Program — top-tier name recognition; clinical immersion at one of the world’s leading academic medical centers
• University of Akron CRNA Program — frequently cited as Ohio’s best-value path; strong tuition profile
• Youngstown State University / SEHC CRNA Program — long-established cooperative DNP with the St. Elizabeth Health Center school
• Ohio University–OhioHealth CRNA Program — newer program serving central/southern Ohio with the OhioHealth network
• Ursuline College CRNA Program — smaller private institution in northeast Ohio
• Lourdes University CRNA Program — northwest Ohio, serving the Toledo region

➡️ See the full CRNA Schools in Ohio comparison.

Where Should Former Otterbein Applicants Apply Instead?

The honest answer depends on what drew you to Otterbein in the first place.

• If you valued the OhioHealth Grant Medical Center clinical pipeline: Look at Ohio University’s OhioHealth-affiliated program. Same clinical network, different academic home.
• If you wanted central Ohio / Columbus area: The Ohio State University has the most direct geographic overlap, though it’s brand new and fiercely competitive.
• If you wanted a smaller private-university feel: Ursuline College or Lourdes University most closely match Otterbein’s institutional size.
• If you wanted a Dayton-based option: Indiana and Kentucky programs may offer the closest geographic fit; this is the hardest geographic replacement inside Ohio.
• If you wanted the best in-state value: The University of Akron has consistently been Ohio’s most affordable path.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Otterbein University’s CRNA program still open?

No. The Otterbein–OhioHealth Grant Medical Center Nurse Anesthesia Program is undergoing a voluntary program closure effective June 1, 2026, per the Council on Accreditation’s official record.

The Class of 2026 is the final cohort, and no new applications are being accepted.

Why did Otterbein’s CRNA program close?

The closure is voluntary and tied to “the realignment of programs since joining the Coalition for the Common Good,” per Otterbein University’s official statements. It is not an accreditation action — the program held continuous COA accreditation throughout its life.

Will my Otterbein DNP still be valid?

Yes. The program was COA-accredited throughout its life, and graduates — including the final Class of 2026 — are fully eligible to sit the NBCRNA National Certification Examination and practice as CRNAs nationwide.

What’s the closest CRNA school to Westerville now?

The Ohio State University in Columbus (about 15 miles south) and Ohio University’s OhioHealth-partnered program are the two closest geographic options.

What if I was planning to apply to Otterbein for the Class of 2027?

You’ll need to apply elsewhere. Every other COA-accredited CRNA program in Ohio is profiled in the state directory linked above, with application windows and program-specific details on each school’s dedicated page.

Can current Otterbein SRNAs transfer to another program?

The program is operating normally through May 2026 graduation, so transfer is generally not necessary or advisable. Students with specific concerns should contact program leadership directly.

Where can I read Otterbein’s official closure statement?

Otterbein’s nurse anesthesia program page carries the current notice, and the closure flag appears on the COA’s List of Accredited Programs.

Additional Resources

• Otterbein’s Official Program Page (closure notice)
• COA Accreditation Record
• AANA — American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology
• Ohio Association of Nurse Anesthetists
• NBCRNA Certification Board
• Start Here: How to Become a CRNA
• What Is a CRNA?

Disclaimer: Information is for educational purposes only.

Program details verified against Otterbein University’s official program page and the Council on Accreditation (coacrna.org) List of Accredited Programs (March 6, 2026) as of May 2026. For the most current information, contact Otterbein University and the COA directly.