Ursuline College in Pepper Pike, Ohio offers a Doctor of Nursing Practice with a major in Nurse Anesthesia.
The program runs in partnership with the Somnia Nurse Anesthesia Program (SNAP) and is designed for the BSN-prepared registered nurse who wants to become a CRNA.
This guide is written for prospective applicants nationwide. You do not have to live in Ohio to apply.
Key Takeaways for the 2026 Applicant
- Degree: Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), entry-level
- Length: 36 months, full-time, integrated format
- Format: Hybrid — distance education with required on-campus skills intensives once a year
- Start month: January (annual cohort)
- Next intake: January 2028 cohort — application opens October 2026
- Accreditation: Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA), next review October 2029
- Open to applicants from any U.S. state: Yes
- Minimum critical care: 1 year of full-time adult ICU experience at the time of application
Program Overview
The Ursuline College with Somnia Nurse Anesthesia Program is a full-time, 36-month integrated DNP curriculum.
It prepares baccalaureate-educated registered nurses to sit for the National Certification Examination (NCE) administered by the NBCRNA.
Ursuline College partnered with Somnia Nurse Anesthesia Program, LLC in 2022 to launch the program.
Somnia is a privately owned nurse anesthesia education company that runs continuing education and workshops nationwide.
Format and Schedule
Most coursework is delivered remotely through a mix of asynchronous and synchronous distance learning.
Students travel to the Pepper Pike campus once each year for intensive skills instruction and competency assessments.
Clinical training takes place in hospital settings, similar to traditional in-person CRNA programs.
Where the Program Lives
Address: 2550 Lander Road, Pepper Pike, OH 44124.
Program contact: 440-646-8146 or graduateadmissions@ursuline.edu.
Accreditation Status
The program is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA).
Initial accreditation was granted effective November 9, 2023. The next scheduled review is October 2029.
That is a standard six-year accreditation cycle, the longest cycle the COA awards on initial review.
Note: at its October 2025 meeting, the COA deferred a decision on a programmatic change request related to a change in control and program name.
The program remains fully accredited under its current name while that review continues. Always confirm current status on the official COA list of accredited programs before applying.
Admission Requirements
Academic Prerequisites
- Baccalaureate or graduate degree in nursing from a regionally accredited university
- Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
- Minimum prerequisite GPA of 3.2 across Chemistry, Statistics, and Anatomy & Physiology
- At least one course from each prerequisite category completed within the past 10 years
Licensure and Certifications
- Current, unencumbered RN license in any of the 50 states or U.S. Territories
- Eligibility to obtain Ohio RN licensure for clinical placement
- Current AHA Basic Life Support (BLS)
- Current AHA Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS)
- Current AHA Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
Critical Care Experience
A minimum of one year of full-time critical care experience as a registered nurse is required at the time of application.
Ursuline follows the COA definition of a critical care area — a unit where the RN routinely manages invasive hemodynamic monitors, cardiac assist devices, mechanical ventilation, and vasoactive infusions.
The following units are not considered competitive for this requirement: PACU, Emergency Department, Cardiac Catheterization Lab, and Step-down units.
Application Materials
- Completed Ursuline College Graduate Admission application with $50 fee
- Personal essay
- Two recommendations using the program’s required form
- Official transcripts from every college and university attended
- Curriculum vitae or resume detailing education, work, and clinical experience
- Interview with the Admissions Committee (by invitation)
- Physical health assessment, immunizations, federal background check, and drug screen on acceptance
- TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo for international applicants whose first language is not English
Application Timeline
The January 2027 cohort application cycle has closed.
The application for the January 2028 cohort opens in October 2026 on the Ursuline graduate admission portal.
Accepted students must submit a $2,000 non-refundable deposit; $500 is applied to tuition and $1,500 is forfeit if the student withdraws.
Curriculum and Clinical Training
Coursework
The curriculum integrates advanced science (anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, biochemistry) with anesthesia principles, professional role development, and DNP-level project work.
Distance learning is delivered through both asynchronous modules and synchronous live sessions.
On-Campus Skills Intensives
Students return to the Pepper Pike campus annually for hands-on skills instruction and competency check-offs.
These on-site intensives cover airway management, regional anesthesia techniques, simulation-based scenarios, and crisis resource management.
Clinical Rotations
Clinical placements take place in partnered hospital settings.
Rotations expose students to general, regional, obstetric, pediatric, cardiac, and trauma anesthesia, consistent with COA case-experience requirements for entry into practice.
Tuition, Fees, and Cost of Attendance
Ursuline does not currently publish a flat program total for the DNP Nurse Anesthesia track on the public program page.
Applicants should request a current cost of attendance worksheet from the Office of Graduate Admission before committing.
Known Up-Front Costs
- $50 graduate application fee
- $2,000 enrollment deposit on acceptance ($500 credited to tuition, $1,500 retained on withdrawal)
- Travel and lodging for the annual on-campus intensive
- Books, equipment, professional liability insurance, and certification testing fees
Graduate financial aid is administered through the Ursuline Office of Financial Aid.
Federal Direct Unsubsidized and Graduate PLUS loans are typically the primary funding source for full-time CRNA students.
Faculty and Program Leadership
Program Administrator: Stephanie Woodruff, DNP, CRNA, CHSE.
Dean of the Breen School of Nursing & Health Professions: Patricia Sharpnack, DNP, RN, CNE, NEA-BC, ANEF, FAAN.
SNAP supplies a national network of CRNA faculty and clinical preceptors who teach asynchronous and synchronous course content.
Career Outcomes
Graduates earn a DNP and are eligible to sit for the NBCRNA National Certification Examination.
Per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, nurse anesthetists earn a median annual wage well into six figures, with strong projected job growth through the next decade.
Because the first cohort began in January 2024, Ursuline does not yet have a published NCE first-time pass rate or attrition history. Watch the COA student outcomes page for updates as cohorts complete.
How Ursuline Compares to Other Ohio CRNA Programs
Ursuline is one of several CRNA programs in Ohio. Each has a distinct format, length, and entry pathway.
See our full guide to CRNA schools in Ohio to compare Ursuline against Case Western, Cleveland Clinic, Ohio State, Akron, Cincinnati, Lourdes, Otterbein, Ohio University, and Youngstown State.
Ursuline’s defining feature is the hybrid distance-education model paired with annual on-campus skills weeks — a structure not offered by most Ohio peers.
Who This Program Is Best Suited For
Applicants who already have at least one year of high-acuity adult ICU experience and want to pursue an entry-level DNP without relocating full-time to Ohio.
Self-directed learners who can manage asynchronous coursework and travel to Pepper Pike for the required annual on-campus intensives.
RNs licensed in any U.S. state — Ursuline does not require Ohio residency to apply, only eligibility to obtain Ohio licensure for clinical placements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to live in Ohio to apply?
No. Applicants are accepted from across the United States.
You do need an active, unencumbered RN license and the ability to obtain Ohio licensure for clinical rotations.
How long is the program?
The program is 36 months of full-time study, beginning in January each year.
Is the program accredited?
Yes. The program holds initial accreditation from the COA effective November 9, 2023, with the next review scheduled for October 2029.
What kind of nursing experience do I need?
A minimum of one year of full-time critical care experience as an RN at the time of application.
PACU, ER, Cath Lab, and Step-down units do not count toward this requirement under COA standards.
Is there a GRE requirement?
Ursuline’s public DNP Nurse Anesthesia admission page does not list a GRE requirement.
Confirm the most current testing policy directly with the Office of Graduate Admission before submitting.
When does the next cohort start, and when can I apply?
The next cohort begins January 2028.
The application for that cohort opens in October 2026 through the Ursuline graduate admission portal.
How much does the program cost?
Ursuline does not publish a flat program total on the public DNP Nurse Anesthesia page.
Request a current cost of attendance worksheet from the Office of Graduate Admission and factor in the $2,000 deposit, books, certifications, and annual travel for on-campus intensives.
What does the “deferred decision” from COA mean?
The COA deferred a decision on a programmatic change request related to a change in control and program name at its October 2025 meeting.
The program remains fully accredited under its current name while that review is pending.