Last updated: October 2026 | Researched and reviewed by Daniel Etheridge, CRNA
The Thomas Jefferson University nurse anesthesia program is a 36-month, entry-level DNP based in Center City Philadelphia, with a second campus in Norristown and a third location opening in the Lehigh Valley.
It is one of the newer programs in the state. The first class started in 2016, and the outcomes have improved every year since the 2021 cohort.
If you are looking at Jefferson, there is one thing you should know before you read further. The program’s own admissions page does not currently list requirements or deadlines. Everything in this article about admissions comes from Jefferson’s published program documents, and you need to confirm the current cycle with admissions directly.
Key Takeaways
- 92.7% first-time pass rate in 2025
- 0% attrition, 100% employed
- Accredited through October 2029
- About $176,000 in tuition and fees
- Applications open each August
Jefferson Nurse Anesthesia Program Quick Facts:
| Degree | DNP (entry level) |
| Length | 36 months, 9 semesters, 85 credits, full time |
| Location | Center City Philadelphia (901 Walnut St.), plus Norristown (Montgomery County) and Center Valley (Lehigh Valley, pending federal financial aid approval) |
| Class starts | Fall (September) |
| Application window | Opens in August of the prior year; current deadline not posted — confirm with admissions |
| Class size | About 26 per cohort at Center City historically; current total across locations not published |
| Tuition + fees | $56,414 tuition + $2,237 in fees = $58,651 per year (2026-27); ≈$176,000 over three years at flat rates. Private, all states pay the same |
| GRE / CCRN | GRE not listed · CCRN not required (“include your CCRN if you have it”) |
| Outcomes | 92.7% first-time NCE (2025); 100% overall pass; 100% employed within 6 months |
| Accreditation | COA accredited (next review October 2029) |
Jefferson is one of 15 CRNA programs in Pennsylvania and one of four in Philadelphia, alongside Penn, Drexel, and La Salle.
Why Jefferson Stands Out
Jefferson publishes five years of outcomes on its program page, and the trend is the story.
The first-time NCE pass rate went from 72% for the 2021 cohort to 88% in 2022, 83.3% in 2023, 91.7% in 2024, and 92.7% in 2025. The overall pass rate has been 100% every year, and employment within six months has been 100% for the last four cohorts.
The 2025 cohort also had 0% attrition. Nobody left.
The other thing that sets Jefferson apart is location. Students train at 22 published clinical sites across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. Two of them, Wills Eye Hospital and the Jefferson Hospital for Neuroscience, are a few hundred feet from the classroom. CHOP and Methodist Hospital are two miles away.
Jefferson is also growing. The COA approved an additional location for the program in June 2026, and the Lehigh Valley site in Center Valley has its own simulation center and program director. Jefferson describes the Lehigh Valley location as pending Department of Education approval for financial aid, so ask about that if it is the site you want.
Jefferson CRNA Program Admission Requirements
Jefferson’s admissions page is currently blank apart from the contact information. The requirements below come from the program’s published information session materials and its systematic evaluation plan. They are the most recent requirements Jefferson has put in writing, but confirm them with admissions before you apply.
- A BSN with a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher
- A cumulative science GPA of 3.0 or higher
- A current, active RN license
- At least one year of critical care (ICU) experience
- Three letters of recommendation
- Current BLS, plus ACLS or PALS
- Prerequisite courses in statistics, health assessment, and nursing research
- A $75 application fee
The CCRN is not required. Jefferson’s language is “include your CCRN if you have it.” That is unusual for a Philadelphia program. Penn and La Salle both require it.
The GRE does not appear anywhere in Jefferson’s published requirements.
Interviews are offered to selected candidates and begin in the fall. Some clinical sites, including ChristianaCare, require a second interview after you have been accepted.
One more requirement that catches people off guard: Jefferson students must hold active Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware nursing licenses before starting clinical, and keep all three current.
Jefferson CRNA Program Tuition and Cost
Jefferson lists program tuition of $56,414 for 2026-27, plus an IT fee of $664, a library fee of $477, and a department fee of $1,096. That comes to $58,651 for the year.
Over a three-year program, plan on roughly $176,000 in tuition and fees if rates stayed flat. They will not, so budget a little more. Jefferson does not publish a per-credit rate for this program, and it does not publish a program total.
Jefferson is a private university, so there is no in-state discount. The cost table on our Pennsylvania CRNA schools guide shows how Jefferson compares to Penn, Drexel, and the rest of the state.
Jefferson’s tuition page notes that “other out-of-pocket student expenses will apply.” You will need to budget for three state nursing licenses, travel to clinical sites up to 89 miles away, books, board review, the NCE fee, and Center City housing.
The national average CRNA salary is $248,320 (BLS, May 2025), so the math still works. It just works faster at a cheaper program.
Pass Rates, Attrition, and Employment
Here is Jefferson’s published performance table:
| Graduate year | Attrition | First-time NCE pass | Employed within 6 months |
| 2025 | 0% | 92.7% | 100% |
| 2024 | 7.7% | 91.7% | 100% |
| 2023 | 3.9% | 83.3% | 100% |
| 2022 | 3.9% | 88% | 100% |
| 2021 | 3.9% | 72% | 96% |
The 2021 number is low. A 72% first-time pass rate would concern me at any program. The four years since show a program that fixed the problem, and the overall pass rate was 100% even in 2021, so every graduate eventually passed.
Ask the program what changed after 2021. It is a fair question, and the answer will tell you a lot about how the faculty operates.
Student Experience
Jefferson is a full-time, on-campus program. The first two semesters are didactic, with a six-week simulation boot camp before clinical rotations start in the third semester.
You will complete more than 2,000 clinical hours and administer more than 650 anesthetics. That case count is lower than what some Pennsylvania programs publish, so ask about the case mix and the typical numbers for recent graduates.
The program has three locations, each with its own director. Bimpe Adenusi, PhD, CRNA, chairs the program. Robin Birchenough directs the Center City location, Michael Kost directs Montgomery County, and Jill Hanisak directs the Lehigh Valley site.
Living in Philadelphia While Attending the Jefferson CRNA Program
The main campus is at 901 Walnut Street in Center City, a few blocks from Jefferson Station and the Market-Frankford Line. If you live anywhere on SEPTA, you can get to class without a car.
You will need a car for clinical, though. Jefferson’s travel requirements page lists sites from 341 feet away (the neuroscience hospital) to 89 miles away (Morristown Medical Center in New Jersey), and the program states that all students are required to travel to some of the listed sites.
Center City rent is the highest in the region. Many students live in South Philadelphia, Fishtown, or across the river in New Jersey. The Norristown campus at 1330 Powell Street is a cheaper option if you are assigned there, and the Lehigh Valley site in Center Valley sits about 15 minutes from Cedar Crest and the DeSales program.
Application Dates and Deadlines
Jefferson’s application opens in August of the year before you would start. The last published cycle had a priority deadline in mid-November and a final deadline in mid-February, but those dates are from an older cycle and the current page does not list any.
Email enroll@jefferson.edu or call 215-951-2800 and get the current deadline in writing before you plan around it.
If you are planning for fall 2027 or later:
18 months out: Get into an adult ICU and stay there. Jefferson’s minimum is one year, but a 92.7% pass rate means the applicant pool is competitive.
12 months out: Take the CCRN even though Jefferson does not require it. It strengthens your file, and the other Philadelphia programs do require it. Check that your statistics, assessment, and research courses are on your transcript.
6 months out: Confirm the deadline with admissions, line up three recommenders, and get your New Jersey and Delaware license applications started so they are not a problem later.
The Interview
Jefferson interviews selected candidates in the fall. Expect clinical questions about your ICU patients, drips, and ventilator management, along with the standard questions about why you want to be a CRNA and why Jefferson.
Bring two questions of your own: what changed after the 2021 pass rate, and how students are assigned across the three locations. Both answers will help you decide.
Clinical Rotations and Training Sites
Jefferson publishes its site list with driving distances. The 22 sites include:
- Wills Eye Hospital and the Jefferson Hospital for Neuroscience (on campus)
- Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and Methodist Hospital (2 miles)
- Shriners Hospital for Children (4 miles)
- Einstein Medical Center Philadelphia and Fox Chase Cancer Center
- Jefferson Abington, Jefferson Torresdale, and Jefferson Washington Township
- Einstein Medical Center Montgomery in Norristown
- ChristianaCare and Nemours Children’s (AI duPont) in Delaware
- Deborah Heart and Lung Center, Inspira Vineland, AtlantiCare, and Jersey Shore Medical Center in New Jersey
- Lehigh Valley Hospital, Lancaster General, and Morristown Medical Center
The mix covers pediatrics, eye surgery, neurosurgery, cardiac, cancer, and community hospital cases across three states.
Is the Jefferson CRNA Program Right for You?
Jefferson is a great fit if you:
- Want a Philadelphia program with published outcomes that have improved four years running
- Do not have your CCRN yet and want a program that does not require it
- Want pediatric, eye, and neuro cases at dedicated specialty hospitals
- Live on SEPTA and want a Center City campus
- Want a September start
- Are interested in the Lehigh Valley or Norristown locations
- Want a program that publishes attrition and employment data, not just pass rates
Consider other options if you:
- Want the requirements and deadline posted before you apply, since Jefferson’s admissions page is currently empty
- Are choosing mainly on price (see the Pennsylvania cost table)
- Do not want to hold three state nursing licenses
- Want to limit driving, since clinical travel up to 89 miles is required
- Want a higher published case minimum than 650
- Are concerned about the 2021 pass rate and want to see two more years of data first
- Need a program with a published class size
In summary, Jefferson’s outcomes are strong and getting stronger, its clinical network is one of the best in the city, and it is expanding. The open question is administrative. The program has not posted current requirements or deadlines, and you should not apply to a $176,000 program without them in writing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Jefferson a good CRNA program?
Yes, based on published outcomes. The 2025 cohort had a 92.7% first-time NCE pass rate, 0% attrition, and 100% employment within six months. The overall pass rate has been 100% every year since 2021, and the first-time rate has improved from 72% in 2021.
How much does the Jefferson CRNA program cost?
Jefferson lists $56,414 in tuition plus $2,237 in fees for 2026-27, which is $58,651 per year. Over the 36-month program, budget roughly $176,000 in tuition and fees, plus books, three state licenses, clinical travel, and Philadelphia housing.
Does Jefferson CRNA require the GRE or CCRN?
Neither appears in Jefferson’s published requirements. The program’s language is “include your CCRN if you have it,” and the GRE is not listed. Confirm with admissions, since the current admissions page does not list requirements.
What ICU experience does Jefferson require?
At least one year of critical care (ICU) experience, plus a BSN with a 3.2 GPA and a 3.0 science GPA. Jefferson has not published unit exclusions, so ask admissions whether your unit qualifies.
Where are Jefferson’s CRNA program locations?
Center City Philadelphia at 901 Walnut Street, Montgomery County at 1330 Powell Street in Norristown, and a Lehigh Valley location at 3900 Sierra Circle in Center Valley. The COA approved an additional location in June 2026, and Jefferson lists the Lehigh Valley site as pending federal financial aid approval.
Next Steps
If you want to apply for fall 2027, email enroll@jefferson.edu now and ask for the current deadline and requirements in writing. Then get your CCRN, pull transcripts, and contact three recommenders.
If you want to compare programs first, the full Pennsylvania CRNA program list covers all 15, including Penn and Drexel nearby. You can also compare programs in every state on our CRNA Schools by State page.
Contact the program
Thomas Jefferson University, Jefferson College of Nursing — DNP Nurse Anesthesia Program
Chair and Program Administrator: Bimpe Adenusi, PhD, CRNA, APRN, CNE, FAANA, FNAP, FAAN (Bimpe.Adenusi@jefferson.edu)
Health Professions Academic Building, 8th Floor, 901 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107
Admissions: enroll@jefferson.edu · 215-951-2800
Official page: jefferson.edu — DNP Nurse Anesthesia
Accreditation: Council on Accreditation (COA) · Salary data: BLS OEWS (May 2025)