Last updated: October 2026 | Researched and reviewed by Daniel Etheridge, CRNA
Texas has 9 accredited CRNA programs: two in Fort Worth, two in Houston, three in San Antonio, one in Galveston, and one in Tyler. Four of the nine earned initial accreditation since 2022, and one is the US Army’s own program, which pays its students a salary instead of charging tuition.
This guide compares all nine on cost, requirements, deadlines, and outcomes, and links to a full guide on each program.
Key Takeaways
- 9 accredited CRNA programs
- 4 new since 2022
- Est. cost: ≈$66K to ≈$174K
- Army program: no tuition + salary
- GRE required at 5 of 9
- Next deadline: Dec 1 (UTMB)
All 9 Texas CRNA Programs Compared
| School | City | Degree | Tuition + fees (est.) | GRE | Next deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TCU | Fort Worth | DNAP | Confirm with program | Required | May 2027 (opens Dec 2026) |
| Texas Wesleyan | Fort Worth | DNAP | ≈$134K | Required | November 1 (annual) |
| UTMB | Galveston | DNP | ≈$98K in / ≈$156K out | Not listed | December 1, 2026 |
| Baylor College of Medicine | Houston | DNP | $113,154 | Required | June 1, 2027 |
| UTHealth Houston (Cizik) | Houston | DNP | ≈$66K in / ≈$162K out | Required | July 1, 2027 |
| UT San Antonio | San Antonio | DNP | ≈$120K resident / ≈$200K non-resident | Required | January 2, 2027 |
| Incarnate Word (UIW) | San Antonio | DNP | ≈$141K | Not listed | January 15, 2027 |
| US Army (USAGPAN) | San Antonio (Fort Sam Houston) | DNP | No tuition; salary paid | Optional | August 1, 2027 (opens Nov 1, 2026) |
| UT Tyler | Tyler | DNP + AG-ACNP | ≈$87.5K in / ≈$174K out | Not required | January 15, 2027 |
All nine programs are 36 months. Cost figures are tuition plus mandatory fees at current published rates; where a school publishes per-credit or per-semester rates rather than a total, the figure is our estimate. UT San Antonio publishes a one-year cost sheet, and we estimate its full-program total from it. TCU publishes its costs in a format we could not total, so confirm that directly with the program. Full cost breakdowns are on each school’s page.
Four New Texas Programs Since 2022
The COA granted initial accreditation to UT Health San Antonio (now UT San Antonio) in October 2023, UTMB in Galveston in January 2024, UT Tyler in May 2025, and the University of the Incarnate Word in June 2026. San Antonio went from no civilian program to two, and East Texas got its first program.
TCU is due for its continued-accreditation review in fall 2026, a routine end-of-cycle review. The COA posts decisions after its fall meeting.
Four programs have no pass-rate data yet: UTMB, UT San Antonio, UT Tyler, and UIW graduate their first classes between 2027 and 2029.
The 9 Programs, Briefly
TCU (Fort Worth)
TCU accepts 65 to 75 students a year. Its most recent published first-time pass rate is 90% (2023). The GRE and CCRN are both required, plus 875 hours of critical care practice in the 12 months before you apply. The application opens in December 2026 for the January 2028 class, with a deadline in May 2027.
Texas Wesleyan (Fort Worth)
Part of Texas Wesleyan since 1982, with roots in a nurse anesthesia program founded at Harris Hospital in 1947, and classes that have historically topped 100 students. You spend the first year in Fort Worth, four months on campus or at your clinical site, then a 20-month residency at a clinical site in one of 8 states. About $134K in tuition and fees; GRE and CCRN required. Applications are due November 1 each year for the next year’s class. Full Texas Wesleyan breakdown here.
UTMB (Galveston)
Accredited in 2024, with clinical sites that include MD Anderson and Texas Children’s in Austin. Roughly $98K in-state by our estimate. The CCRN is required, and the GRE is not in the published requirements. Applications for Fall 2027 are due December 1, 2026. First outcomes are expected after the first class graduates in 2027. Full UTMB breakdown here.
Baylor College of Medicine (Houston)
A Texas Medical Center program with roots back to 1968 and 28 entry-level seats a year. Its first-time pass rate averaged 94.9% across 2023 to 2025. Tuition is a flat $90,000 ($113,154 with fees). The GRE is required and the CCRN is encouraged. Ben Taub rotations pay a $1,000 monthly stipend. The next deadline is June 1, 2027. Full Baylor breakdown here.
UTHealth Houston, Cizik School of Nursing (Houston)
Roughly $66K in-state by our estimate. The Class of 2026 passed at 100% on the first attempt, and graduates from 2017 to 2026 passed at 98.36%. The GRE is required. Its list of accepted ICU experience includes the emergency room. Admitted students must live in Texas before classes start. The next deadline is July 1, 2027, for the Summer 2028 class. Full UTHealth breakdown here.
UT San Antonio (San Antonio)
South Texas’s first civilian program, now under the merged University of Texas at San Antonio. About $120K in-state by our estimate. The GRE is required (with a 3.5 minimum on analytical writing), and documented shadowing is part of the application; the CCRN is not in the published criteria. First outcomes are expected after the first class graduates in 2027. Applications for Fall 2027 are due January 2, 2027. Full UT San Antonio breakdown here.
University of the Incarnate Word (San Antonio)
The newest program in Texas: initial accreditation in June 2026, with its first class starting in August 2026. Tuition is $14,000 a semester for nine semesters; with the CRNA fees, that is about $141K by our estimate. No GRE is listed; the CCRN is required, with a 3.2 GPA minimum. The application cycle closes January 15, 2027. Full UIW breakdown here.
US Army Graduate Program in Anesthesia Nursing (Fort Sam Houston)
Tuition is fully funded, students earn an Army officer’s salary, and graduates receive a Baylor University DNP and an Army CRNA job, in exchange for a five-year service commitment. It is open to civilian RNs as well as soldiers. The Class of 2026 had an 80% first-time pass rate (24 of 30) and 18.9% attrition. Applications for the 2028 class opened November 1, 2026, and close August 1, 2027.
UT Tyler (Tyler)
A 117-credit DNP that prepares graduates for both CRNA and AG-ACNP certification, built around East Texas hospitals. No GRE; the CCRN must be done before you apply, along with 40 hours of CRNA shadowing. Roughly $87.5K in-state by our estimate. Applications close January 15, 2027. Full UT Tyler breakdown here.
GRE, CCRN, and ICU Rules Across Texas Programs
Five of the nine Texas programs require the GRE. If you want to skip the test, your options are UT Tyler (not required), UTMB and UIW (not listed in requirements), and the Army (optional).
- GRE required: TCU, Texas Wesleyan, Baylor College of Medicine, UTHealth Houston, UT San Antonio
- CCRN required: TCU, Texas Wesleyan, UTMB, UIW, and UT Tyler (before application). Baylor and UTHealth (per its catalog) encourage it, UT San Antonio doesn’t list it, and the Army makes it optional
- ICU experience: every program requires at least one year, and most prefer two. UTHealth is the only Texas program that counts ER experience; UTMB and UTHealth accept NICU at Level IV only; UT Tyler excludes ER, OR, PACU, and flight nursing
- Shadowing: UT Tyler requires 40 documented hours; TCU, UT San Antonio, and UIW require documented shadowing without an hour count
How Much Do CRNA Schools in Texas Cost?
At current published rates, our tuition-and-fees estimates run from about $66,000 for Texas residents at UTHealth Houston to about $174,000 for non-residents at UT Tyler. The public schools (UTHealth, UTMB, UT Tyler, and UT San Antonio) charge residents much less than non-residents. The private schools (TCU, Texas Wesleyan, Baylor College of Medicine, and UIW) charge one rate.
The Army charges no tuition and pays its students, in exchange for five years of service.
Plan your financing early: federal graduate-loan rules changed on July 1, 2026, capping federal borrowing for CRNA students at $20,500 a year and $100,000 total. Most Texas programs’ estimated tuition and fees exceed that cap, so line up institutional aid, private loans, or employer agreements before you apply.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many CRNA schools are in Texas?
Texas has 9 COA-accredited entry-level nurse anesthesia programs: TCU, Texas Wesleyan, UTMB, Baylor College of Medicine, UTHealth Houston, UT San Antonio, the University of the Incarnate Word, the US Army’s USAGPAN, and UT Tyler. Four of the nine earned initial accreditation since 2022.
What is the cheapest CRNA program in Texas?
For Texas residents, UTHealth Houston, at roughly $66,000 in tuition and fees at 2026-27 rates by our estimate. UT Tyler (about $87,500) and UTMB (about $98,000) follow. The Army’s USAGPAN charges no tuition and pays a salary, but requires five years of service afterward.
Which Texas CRNA programs don’t require the GRE?
UT Tyler states the GRE is not required. UTMB and UIW don’t list it among their requirements, and the Army’s program makes it optional. TCU, Texas Wesleyan, Baylor College of Medicine, UTHealth Houston, and UT San Antonio require it.
Which Texas CRNA application deadlines are coming up?
Texas Wesleyan’s deadline is November 1 each year. UTMB’s Fall 2027 deadline is December 1, 2026. UT San Antonio closes January 2, 2027, and UIW and UT Tyler close January 15, 2027. Baylor’s next deadline is June 1, 2027, UTHealth’s is July 1, 2027, TCU’s is in May 2027, and the Army’s is August 1, 2027.
What are the pass rates at Texas CRNA schools?
UTHealth Houston’s Class of 2026 passed at 100% on the first attempt (98.36% for 2017 to 2026). Baylor College of Medicine averaged 94.9% across 2023 to 2025. TCU’s most recent published first-time rate is 90% (2023), Texas Wesleyan’s is 93% (2025), and the Army’s Class of 2026 passed at 80%. UTMB, UT San Antonio, UIW, and UT Tyler have not graduated a class yet.
Next Steps
UTMB’s December 1, 2026 deadline is next, followed by UT San Antonio on January 2, 2027, and UIW and UT Tyler on January 15, 2027. Texas Wesleyan’s November 1, 2026 deadline has passed. The Army’s application for the 2028 class opened November 1, 2026, and TCU’s opens in December 2026.
Read the program pages linked above, confirm current requirements on each school’s own site, and compare programs in every state on our CRNA Schools by State page.
Sources: Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (List of Accredited Programs, July 8, 2026) and each school’s official program, admissions, and cost pages (deadlines re-checked October 2026).