Last updated: October 2026 | Researched and reviewed by Daniel Etheridge, CRNA
The Geisinger/Commonwealth University nurse anesthesia program is a 36-month, entry-level DNP run jointly by Commonwealth University’s Bloomsburg campus and Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, Pennsylvania.
It is a public university program with 15 seats a year, and it is one of the least expensive CRNA programs in the state for Pennsylvania residents.
If you have seen it listed as the Bloomsburg University program, that is the same program. Bloomsburg merged into Commonwealth University in July 2022, and the program kept its Geisinger partnership and its Danville home base.
Key Takeaways
- Accredited through October 2035
- In-state cost: about $115,000
- Year 1 online, years 2–3 in Danville
- CCRN required
- Next deadline: February 1, 2027
Geisinger/Commonwealth Nurse Anesthesia Program Quick Facts:
| Degree | DNP (entry level) |
| Length | 36 months, 9 semesters, 95 credits, full time |
| Location | Year 1 online; years 2–3 at Geisinger Medical Center, 100 N. Academy Ave., Danville, PA |
| Class starts | Summer (May) |
| Application deadline | February 1, 2027 for the Summer 2028 cohort (as posted on the program page in October 2026 — confirm with the program) |
| Class size | 15 students |
| Tuition + fees | In-state ≈ $115,000; out-of-state ≈ $124,000 (95 credits at posted per-credit rates plus $1,000-per-semester clinical fee; academic year not labeled on the university’s page) |
| GRE / CCRN | GRE not mentioned · CCRN mandatory |
| Outcomes | 87% first-time NCE (2025); 100% overall pass; 0% attrition; 100% employed within 6 months |
| Accreditation | COA accredited, 10 years effective October 2025 (next review October 2035); also CCNE |
This program is one of 15 CRNA programs in Pennsylvania. The nearest programs are Scranton, about 75 miles east, and York College/WellSpan, about 90 miles south.
Why Geisinger/Commonwealth Stands Out
Price is the first thing. As a public university program, Commonwealth charges $858 per credit for Pennsylvania residents. Most private CRNA programs in the state charge $1,300 to $1,620 per credit. Over 95 credits, that difference adds up to $40,000 or more.
Geisinger is the second thing. Geisinger Medical Center in Danville is the flagship hospital of a large rural health system, and the program is headquartered there. Years two and three are delivered in person at the hospital, and the university reported in 2023 that about 60% of graduates stay with Geisinger after graduation.
The third thing is the online first year. You can keep working ICU shifts during year one without moving to Danville. That is rare for a Pennsylvania program, and it lowers the real cost of the degree.
The program is small. Fifteen students a year means the faculty know everyone, and the Class of 2022 (13 students) posted a 100% first-time NCE pass rate with zero attrition.
Accreditation Update
The COA reviewed this program in 2025. The decision was deferred in May 2025 pending a progress report on protected time for faculty, then in October 2025 the COA granted continued accreditation for 10 years and stated the program was found in full compliance with the practice doctorate standards.
The next review is October 2035. That is the longest accreditation term the COA gives. If you were worried about the deferral, the outcome should settle it.
Geisinger/Commonwealth CRNA Program Admission Requirements
To be considered for the Geisinger/Commonwealth CRNA program, you will need:
- A BSN from a nationally accredited nursing program
- A cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher
- A current, unencumbered Pennsylvania RN license (you can apply with another state’s license, but acceptance is contingent on getting the PA license)
- At least one year of current, full-time critical care experience by the February 1 application date (the program names AICU, CCU, PICU, and NICU as examples)
- CCRN certification (the program’s word is “mandatory”)
- Current BLS, ACLS, and PALS
- Three recommendation forms
- At least eight hours of shadowing a CRNA, documented on the program’s Shadow Experience Form
- A resume, a narrative about your goals, official transcripts, and the program’s prerequisite course form
The CCRN is mandatory, not preferred. Do not apply without it.
Note that PICU and NICU are listed as acceptable experience, which is more flexible than most Pennsylvania programs. Emergency department experience is not mentioned either way, so ask.
The GRE does not appear anywhere on the program page.
Two rules that catch out-of-state applicants: you need a Pennsylvania RN license before you start, and the university requires all admitted students to reside in Pennsylvania before the program begins in year one, because of state authorization rules for the online coursework.
Interviews with the joint admissions committee are held in April.
Geisinger/Commonwealth CRNA Program Tuition and Cost
For Pennsylvania residents, plan on roughly $115,000 in tuition and mandatory fees for the full program. For out-of-state students, plan on roughly $124,000.
Here is how that breaks down at the per-credit rates posted on the university’s graduate tuition page:
- In-state tuition: $858 per credit, or $81,510 for 95 credits
- Out-of-state tuition: $944 per credit, or $89,680 for 95 credits
- Technology fee: $81 (in-state) or $97 (out-of-state) per credit, with no cap
- Academic enhancement, student services, and activity fees: $212 per credit combined, capped at 9 credits per semester
- Clinical fee: $1,000 per semester for nine semesters, or $9,000
- One-time registration fee: $30
Commonwealth does not label the academic year on its tuition page, and the program page’s cost estimator link was broken when we checked. Confirm the current rates with the school before you budget.
The gap between in-state and out-of-state tuition is about $9,700 over the whole program.
The cost table on our Pennsylvania CRNA schools guide shows the cost of every program in the state.
The national average CRNA salary is $248,320 (BLS, May 2025). In-state tuition and fees for this program come to about $115,000.
Pass Rates, Attrition, and Employment
The 2025 class had an 87% first-time NCE pass rate, a 100% overall pass rate, 0% attrition, and 100% employment within six months.
The program’s older outcomes page, which still carries the MSN-era title, shows first-time pass rates of 92% (2019), 78% (2020), 82% (2021), 100% (2022), and 80% (2023). Employment has been 100% every year. Attrition has been zero or one student per year.
The 2024 numbers are not published anywhere we could find. Ask the program for them.
With 15 students, one or two failed first attempts move the percentage a lot. Look at the overall pass rate and the employment rate as well as the first-time number.
Student Experience
The first year is online. You complete the foundational DNP coursework from home, and many students keep working in the ICU during that year. Check with the program before assuming you can keep a full-time schedule.
Years two and three are in person at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville. The program has advanced simulation equipment there, plus an Anatomage table and the nursing lab on the Bloomsburg campus.
You will complete 2,000 clinical hours. The program does not publish a list of clinical sites beyond Geisinger’s facilities, so ask about outside rotations and where students travel.
The program’s students won the PANA College Bowl in 2022, and the Class of 2024 built a podcast series for NCE and SEE prep that is still posted on the program page.
Living in Danville While Attending the Geisinger/Commonwealth CRNA Program
Danville is a small town in central Pennsylvania on the Susquehanna River. Geisinger Medical Center is the biggest employer for miles. Bloomsburg is 10 minutes east, and the two towns share most of the local housing market.
Rent is low compared to Philadelphia or Pittsburgh. A one-bedroom near Geisinger or in Bloomsburg is well under Philadelphia prices, and many students share houses in Bloomsburg near the campus.
I-80 runs just north of both towns, so Williamsport, State College, and Wilkes-Barre are each about an hour away. You will need a car for clinical.
Since year one is online, you only need to be near Danville for two of the three years.
Application Dates and Deadlines
The program page states that applications for the Summer 2028 cohort are due in the graduate office by February 1, 2027, with interviews in April 2027. That is a 15-month gap between the deadline and the start date, which is unusual but not unheard of in Pennsylvania. Confirm the cycle with the program before you plan around it.
If you are targeting Summer 2028:
18 months out (now): Be working full time in an ICU. The full year must be complete by February 1, 2027. Get eight hours of CRNA shadowing done and signed on the program’s form.
12 months out: Pass the CCRN. It is mandatory. If you live out of state, start your Pennsylvania RN license application and plan your move, since residency is required before year one.
6 months out: Line up three recommenders, write your narrative around a specific ICU patient, complete the prerequisite course form, and submit before February 1. Interviews are in April.
The Interview
Interviews are conducted by the joint admissions committee, which includes both Commonwealth faculty and Geisinger anesthesia staff. Expect detailed questions about your ICU patients: hemodynamics, drips, ventilator management, and the reasoning behind your decisions.
Ask about outside clinical rotations, since the program does not publish a site list. Ask what the 2024 outcomes were. Both answers will help you decide.
Clinical Rotations and Training Sites
The program is headquartered at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, and years two and three are delivered there. The program describes rotations through “Geisinger’s varied facilities” but does not publish a list of sites. Students complete 2,000 clinical hours.
Ask the program for the current site list and the typical case count for recent graduates before you commit.
Is the Geisinger/Commonwealth CRNA Program Right for You?
Geisinger/Commonwealth is a great fit if you:
- Are a Pennsylvania resident who wants the lowest-cost route to a CRNA degree in the state
- Want to keep working during the online first year
- Want to train inside a large health system with a clear path to a job there
- Want a small program with 15 students per class
- Already work for Geisinger or want to work there after graduation
- Have your CCRN and a year of adult, pediatric, or neonatal ICU experience
- Want a program that just earned a 10-year accreditation term
Consider other options if you:
- Cannot establish Pennsylvania residency before the program starts
- Want a big-city training environment, since Danville is a small town
- Want a published clinical site list before you commit
- Want the 2024 outcomes before you apply, since they are not posted
- Do not have your CCRN and cannot get it before February 1
- Want to start sooner than Summer 2028, since that is the cohort currently accepting applications
- Prefer a large cohort with more classmates
In summary, this is a low-cost, well-accredited program at a serious hospital, with an online first year that makes the total cost even lower. The trade-offs are a small-town location, a long wait between application and start, and less published detail about rotations and 2024 outcomes than we would like.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Geisinger/Commonwealth CRNA program a good program?
Yes. The 2025 class had an 87% first-time NCE pass rate, 100% overall pass rate, 0% attrition, and 100% employment within six months, and the COA granted the program 10 years of continued accreditation in October 2025. It is also one of the least expensive CRNA programs in Pennsylvania.
How much does the Geisinger/Commonwealth CRNA program cost?
Roughly $115,000 in tuition and mandatory fees for Pennsylvania residents and roughly $124,000 for out-of-state students, based on 95 credits at the per-credit rates posted on the university’s tuition page plus a $1,000-per-semester clinical fee. Books, housing, and equipment are extra.
Is the Geisinger/Commonwealth CRNA program online?
Partly. The first year of coursework is delivered online. Years two and three are in person at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, Pennsylvania.
Does the Geisinger/Commonwealth CRNA program require the GRE or CCRN?
The CCRN is mandatory. The GRE is not mentioned on the program page. You will also need BLS, ACLS, and PALS, a 3.2 GPA, one year of full-time critical care experience, three recommendation forms, and eight hours of documented CRNA shadowing.
When is the Geisinger/Commonwealth CRNA application deadline?
The program page lists February 1, 2027 as the deadline for the Summer 2028 cohort, with interviews in April. Confirm the cycle with the program, since the gap between deadline and start is longer than most programs.
Next Steps
If you are targeting Summer 2028, the deadline is February 1, 2027. Get your CCRN, complete your shadowing form, and start your Pennsylvania license application if you live out of state. Questions can go to the program director, Dr. Debra Minzola, at 570-271-6763.
If you want to compare programs first, start with the full Pennsylvania CRNA program list. Scranton is the closest alternative. You can also compare programs in every state on our CRNA Schools by State page.
Contact the program
Geisinger/Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania – Bloomsburg Nurse Anesthesia Program
Program Director: Debra Minzola, PhD, MSN, MBA, CRNA (dminzola@commonwealthu.edu · 570-271-6763)
Geisinger Medical Center, 100 N. Academy Ave., Danville, PA 17822
Graduate Nursing Department: 570-389-4609 · Commonwealth University, Bloomsburg campus
Official page: commonwealthu.edu — Nursing (DNP): Nurse Anesthesia
Tuition: Graduate tuition and fees
Accreditation: Council on Accreditation (COA) · Salary data: BLS OEWS (May 2025)