Last updated: October 2026 | Researched and reviewed by Daniel Etheridge, CRNA
If you are considering the University of Tennessee Health Science Center’s CRNA program, this article covers what you need to know: cost, admission requirements, deadlines, and outcomes.
UTHSC’s Nurse Anesthesia concentration is a 36-month entry-level DNP in Memphis. For Tennessee residents, tuition and fees run $7,386 per semester at Fall 2026 rates.
The most recent class graduated in May 2026 with 0% attrition, an 89% first-time pass rate, and 100% employment within six months.
Key Takeaways
- 36-month DNP, starts each summer
- $7,386 a semester in-state
- CCRN, ACLS and PALS to apply
- NICU and PICU nurses qualify
- Apply Mar 15 – Aug 15, 2027
- May 2026 class: 89% first-time pass
- 0% attrition, 100% employed
UTHSC Nurse Anesthesia Program Quick Facts:
| Degree | DNP (post-BSN or post-MSN), Nurse Anesthesia concentration |
| Length | 36 months, 9 terms, full-time |
| Location | Memphis, TN |
| Class starts | Summer |
| Application window | March 15 – August 15 (priority July 15) |
| Class size | Not published. Ask the program. |
| Cost | $7,386 per semester in-state, $16,141 out-of-state (Fall 2026) |
| GRE / CCRN | GRE not listed. CCRN required to apply. |
| ICU requirement | 1 year full-time within the last 2 years; adult, pediatric, or neonatal ICU |
| Residency | Live in TN, MS, or AR while enrolled |
| Accreditation | COA-accredited through Fall 2029 |
One of 9 CRNA Schools in Tennessee
UTHSC is one of 9 accredited CRNA programs in Tennessee and the only one in Memphis.
The University of Tennessee system has three separately accredited nurse anesthesia programs: UTHSC in Memphis, UT Knoxville, and UT Chattanooga. Each has its own application, requirements, and deadlines.
UTHSC CRNA Program Overview
UTHSC is the University of Tennessee’s health science campus. Its colleges of medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, and nursing sit in the Memphis medical district.
The program runs nine terms. The first four terms are classroom work. Clinical experiences start in the fifth term alongside coursework, and the final four terms are clinical.
The program is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA) through Fall 2029. The DNP program holds CCNE accreditation through December 31, 2034.
In May 2026, the concentration also received continued recognition from the International Federation of Nurse Anesthetists (IFNA).
UTHSC CRNA Program Admission Requirements
To be considered for the UTHSC nurse anesthesia concentration, you will need:
- A BSN or MSN from a regionally accredited school
- An unencumbered Tennessee RN license or multistate privilege
- A cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 on all college work
- At least one year of full-time ICU experience within the last 2 years, caring for critically ill adults, children, or newborns
- Current CCRN certification
- Current BLS, ACLS, and PALS
- At least two recommendation forms from doctorally prepared nurses or faculty
- An essay submitted through NursingCAS
- An online KIRA interview plus an in-person interview
The ICU rule counts adults, children, and newborns. NICU and PICU nurses qualify on the same footing as adult ICU nurses.
The recency rule is two years. If you have stepped away from the bedside, check your dates before you apply.
All four certifications, including PALS, are required at the time you apply. Schedule those courses early.
The GRE is not listed in the DNP admission requirements.
Where You Must Live
Students who are not already APRNs must live in Tennessee, Mississippi, or Arkansas while enrolled and complete clinical training in those states.
If you live outside that three-state area, plan to move before the program starts.
Application Dates and Deadlines
Applications go through NursingCAS on the same calendar each year:
- Application opens: March 15
- Priority deadline: July 15
- Final deadline: August 15
- Class starts: summer
The next window opens March 15, 2027. UTHSC does not print the start year next to the dates, so confirm which summer class your application is for with the College of Nursing at nursing@uthsc.edu.
Applicants who meet the minimum requirements are not guaranteed an interview. Apply well before the priority date.
UTHSC CRNA Program Tuition and Cost
UTHSC publishes its rates on its fee schedules, with a separate table for DNP Nurse Anesthesia. Effective Fall 2026, per semester at a full-time load:
- In-state: $7,386 in tuition and fees
- Out-of-state: $16,141, which adds an $8,755 out-of-state differential
- Estimated program total: about $66,000 in-state and $145,000 out-of-state over nine semesters
UTHSC does not publish a program total. Those figures are our estimate from the per-semester rates, and rates reset each year.
Budget separately for books, equipment, board review, and the certification exam fee.
Accepted nurse anesthesia students also pay a $1,500 nonrefundable enrollment deposit within 30 days of acceptance. It is applied to the first term.
Nurse anesthetists earned a national average of $248,320 per year as of May 2025 (BLS).
Clinical Rotations and Training Sites
UTHSC says the program is completed on campus and at nearby clinical agencies. It does not publish a named list of clinical sites.
Ask at your interview for the current list of sites, the case mix, and any travel expectations.
Pass Rates, Attrition, and Employment
The program page reports these results for the class that graduated in May 2026:
- Attrition: 0%
- First-time pass rate: 89%
- Pass rate within 60 days of graduation: 96%
- Employment within six months: 100%
UTHSC posts one year of outcomes at a time. Ask the program for the prior two years to see the trend.
Living in Memphis While Attending UTHSC
One-bedroom apartments in Memphis rent for about $900 a month (Zumper, October 2026).
The UTHSC campus is in the medical district just east of downtown.
Is the UTHSC CRNA Program Right for You?
UTHSC is a good fit if you:
- Qualify for Tennessee in-state tuition
- Come from a NICU or PICU
- Already hold the CCRN, ACLS, and PALS
- Live in Tennessee, Mississippi, or Arkansas
- Want a summer start at an academic health science center
Consider other options if you:
- Cannot finish the CCRN, ACLS, and PALS before you apply
- Have ICU experience older than two years
- Cannot line up two doctorally prepared recommenders
- Cannot live in TN, MS, or AR during the program
- Want a published class size and clinical site list before you apply
Frequently Asked Questions
Is UTHSC a good CRNA program?
The May 2026 class finished with 0% attrition, an 89% first-time pass rate on the certification exam (96% within 60 days), and 100% employment within six months. The program is COA-accredited through Fall 2029.
How much does the UTHSC CRNA program cost?
At Fall 2026 rates, Tennessee residents pay $7,386 per semester in tuition and fees, or about $66,000 over nine semesters. Out-of-state students pay $16,141 per semester, or about $145,000. These totals are estimates built from the per-semester rates.
Does UTHSC require the GRE or CCRN?
The GRE is not listed in the admission requirements. The CCRN is required to apply, along with BLS, ACLS, and PALS.
What ICU experience does UTHSC accept?
You need at least one year of full-time experience within the last two years caring for critically ill adults, children, or newborns in an intensive care setting. Adult ICU, PICU, and NICU all count.
When is the UTHSC CRNA application deadline?
The application opens March 15. The priority deadline is July 15 and the final deadline is August 15. Classes start in the summer.
Next Steps
If you are targeting the next cycle, finish the CCRN, ACLS, and PALS first. Then have your NursingCAS file ready when the application opens March 15, and aim for the July 15 priority date.
You can compare all Tennessee CRNA programs on our state page, or browse programs in every state on our CRNA Schools by State page.
Contact the Program
UTHSC College of Nursing
874 Union Avenue, Memphis, TN 38163
Phone: 901-448-6128 · Toll free: 800-733-2498
Email: nursing@uthsc.edu
Program page: UTHSC Nurse Anesthesia DNP
Admission requirements: UTHSC DNP admission requirements
Fee schedules: UTHSC fee information
Accreditation: Council on Accreditation (COA) · Salary data: BLS OEWS, May 2025