Last updated: October 2026 | Researched and reviewed by Daniel Etheridge, CRNA
Tennessee has 9 accredited CRNA programs in 2026, more than at any point in the state’s history.
They run from Memphis to the Tri-Cities and cost about $66,000 to about $185,000 in tuition and fees. Two are brand new: Carson-Newman earned accreditation in October 2025 and Vanderbilt in January 2026.
I practice as a CRNA in Tennessee, so this page gets extra attention. Every program below is checked against the COA’s official list (July 8, 2026 edition) and each school’s own published requirements.
Key Takeaways
- 9 accredited programs in 2026
- 2 new: Vanderbilt, Carson-Newman
- About $66K to $185K in cost
- MTSA: up to 75 per class
- UTK is the only 38-month program
All 9 Tennessee CRNA Programs Compared
| School | City | Degree | Length | Tuition + Fees | Class Size | Next Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UT Chattanooga / Erlanger | Chattanooga | DNP | 36 mo | ≈$66K in-state / ≈$105K out-of-state (est.) | 24–30 | Opens mid-Jan 2027 |
| Lincoln Memorial | Harrogate | DNP | 36 mo | $37,992/yr (≈$114K est.) | Small cohorts | Rolling; Sept 15 priority |
| Union University | Jackson | DNP | 36 mo | $45,528/yr (≈$136K est.) | 30–34 | Jan 15, 2027 (final) |
| Carson-Newman | Jefferson City | DNAP | 36 mo | ≈$127.5K tuition + ≈$3K fees | Not published | Opens ~March 2027 |
| South College | Knoxville | DNAP | 36 mo | $155,280 | Not published | Priority through Nov 1, 2026 |
| UT Knoxville | Knoxville | DNP | 38 mo | ≈$97K in-state / ≈$185K out-of-state (est.) | 17 | Sept 1, 2027 |
| MTSA | Madison | DNAP | 36 mo | $156,670 (Jan 2027 cohort) | Up to 75 | Jan 14, 2027 (open now) |
| UT Health Science Center | Memphis | DNP | 36 mo | ≈$66K in-state / ≈$145K out-of-state (est.) | Not published | Opens March 15, 2027 |
| Vanderbilt | Nashville | DNP | 36 mo | $2,057/credit (≈$185K est.) | Up to 30 | May 15, 2027 (opens 3/1) |
Cost figures are tuition plus mandatory fees at each school’s most recently posted rates. “Est.” marks totals we calculated from per-semester, per-year, or per-credit rates because the school publishes no program total. Details and sources are on each school’s page.
New Programs and Recent Changes in Tennessee
Tennessee’s CRNA landscape changed more in the last year than in the previous decade. Here is what is new:
- Vanderbilt University earned COA initial accreditation effective January 21, 2026, and its first cohort started classes April 27, 2026. First outcomes arrive around 2029.
- Carson-Newman University in Jefferson City earned COA initial accreditation effective October 21, 2025. Its first class has not graduated yet, so outcomes are a few years out.
- South College is changing its degree from DNP to Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP), approved by the COA. The program is the same; the DNAP is awarded beginning in 2027.
- Lincoln Memorial University asked the COA to approve an additional location (earlier announced as Tampa, Florida). The COA deferred that decision at its June 2026 meeting; the Harrogate program continues unchanged.
- MTSA celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2025 and is in its routine COA continued-accreditation review, with a decision expected in spring 2027.
The 9 Tennessee CRNA Programs
UT Chattanooga / Erlanger Health System — Chattanooga
A 36-month DNP partnered with the region’s Level I trauma center, with a separate clinical track in Tupelo, Mississippi. It asks for two years of ICU experience, the only Tennessee program above one. In-state cost is among the lowest in the state, and the 2025 cohort passed the NCE at 94.7% first-time. Read the full UTC review.
Lincoln Memorial University — Harrogate
A 36-month, 109-credit DNP at the Cumberland Gap, with rolling admission, a September 15 priority date, and clinical sites in several states. Tuition and program fees are $37,992 a year for 2026–27. LMU reports first-time pass rates of 58% for 2023, 67% for 2024, and 83% for 2025.
Union University — Jackson
A 36-month, 97-credit DNP between Memphis and Nashville: 93% first-time pass rate for the Class of 2025 and 100% employment. The filter is at the front door — CCRN required at application plus 40 documented shadowing hours, the heaviest shadowing requirement in the state. Read the full Union review.
Carson-Newman University — Jefferson City
A 36-month, 102-credit DNAP accredited in October 2025, with 11 named clinical sites across East Tennessee and tuition of $1,250 per credit. Its first class has not graduated yet, so pass rates and outcomes are a few years out. Read the full Carson-Newman review.
South College — Knoxville
A 36-month DNAP with a hybrid first year and no relocation, then an assigned clinical satellite — one of 12 across 10 states — for years two and three. Your admission offer names your satellite. Its first two graduating classes posted first-time pass rates of 67.6% (2024) and 82.1% (2025), with 97.1% and 100% passing overall. Read the full South College review.
University of Tennessee, Knoxville — Knoxville
The state’s smallest and longest program: 17 students per cohort across 38 months, with 100%, 100%, and 93.7% first-time pass rates the last three years. The ICU rule is adult-only — PICU does not count — and the reference list includes an attending physician who works with you. Read the full UT Knoxville review.
Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia — Madison
The nation’s only standalone accredited nurse anesthesia school, training anesthetists since 1950. Cohorts run up to 75 — Tennessee’s largest — with 25 clinical affiliates including Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Tuition and fees total $156,670 for the cohort starting January 2027, and every applicant must take the GRE. Read the full MTSA review.
UT Health Science Center — Memphis
A 36-month, 100-credit DNP at Tennessee’s academic health science center: about $7,386 per semester in-state, with Memphis rents near $905. The May 2026 class posted 0% attrition and 100% employment. CCRN, ACLS, and PALS are all required before you apply. Students without APRN licensure must live in Tennessee, Mississippi, or Arkansas, and do their clinicals there. Read the full UTHSC review.
Vanderbilt University — Nashville
The newest program in the state, accredited January 2026 and trained entirely inside Vanderbilt’s health system — the academic medical center, the children’s hospital, and nine more facilities. Tuition is $2,057 per credit, and every full-time DNP student receives scholarship support. First outcomes arrive around 2029. Read the full Vanderbilt review.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many CRNA schools are in Tennessee?
Nine accredited entry-level programs as of the COA’s July 2026 list: UT Chattanooga/Erlanger, Lincoln Memorial, Union, Carson-Newman, South College, UT Knoxville, MTSA, UT Health Science Center in Memphis, and Vanderbilt. Carson-Newman and Vanderbilt earned accreditation within the last year.
What is the cheapest CRNA program in Tennessee?
For Tennessee residents, UTHSC in Memphis and UT Chattanooga both work out to roughly $66,000 in tuition and mandatory fees at current rates, and UT Knoxville to roughly $97,000. Private programs run from about $114,000 (Lincoln Memorial) to about $185,000 (Vanderbilt).
Which Tennessee CRNA programs don’t require the GRE?
UT Chattanooga, Union, South College, and Vanderbilt do not require it, and Carson-Newman and UTHSC do not list it. UT Knoxville requires it only if your nursing GPA is below 3.3. MTSA requires the GRE of every applicant, and Lincoln Memorial requires it only if your cumulative GPA is below 3.4.
Which Tennessee CRNA programs accept NICU or PICU experience?
UT Chattanooga, Union, UTHSC, and Vanderbilt all accept pediatric and neonatal ICU experience; Union also counts flight nursing. Lincoln Memorial prefers adult critical care. UT Knoxville explicitly excludes PICU — its requirement is adult ICU only.
How much do CRNAs make in Tennessee?
Nurse anesthetists earned a national average of $248,320 per year as of May 2025 (BLS). Tennessee pay varies by market — Nashville, Memphis, and the rural hospitals that rely heavily on CRNAs each pay differently.
Which Tennessee CRNA applications are open right now?
As of October 2026: South College’s priority window runs through November 1, 2026 (January 2028 cohort); MTSA is open through January 14, 2027 (January 2028 cohort); Union’s final deadline is January 15, 2027; and Lincoln Memorial reviews applications on a rolling basis. Always confirm dates with the program.
Next Steps
Start with the program pages linked above. Each one covers cost, requirements, deadlines, outcomes, and an honest fit assessment.
If you are comparing across state lines, Tennessee borders eight states. The closest out-of-state options are in Kentucky, Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi. You can compare programs in every state on our CRNA Schools by State page.
Sources: COA List of Accredited Programs (July 8, 2026) · COA accreditation decisions · each school’s official program pages (linked on the individual reviews) · BLS OEWS, May 2025.