Last updated: October 2026 | Researched and reviewed by Daniel Etheridge, CRNA
If you are considering UTHealth Houston’s CRNA program, this article covers cost, admission requirements, deadlines, clinical training, and outcomes.
The Cizik School of Nursing at UTHealth Houston runs a 36-month BSN to DNP nurse anesthesia program in the Texas Medical Center. One class starts each summer.
Applications for Summer 2028 are open now and due July 1, 2027.
Key Takeaways
- 36-month BSN to DNP, summer start
- Apply by July 1, 2027
- 100% first-time pass rate in 2026
- About $66K in-state (our estimate)
- GRE required
- ER experience counts
- Must live in Texas by day one
UTHealth Houston Nurse Anesthesia Program Quick Facts
| Degree | BSN to DNP, Nurse Anesthesia |
| Length | 36 months, 9 semesters, 112 credit hours |
| Location | Houston, TX (Texas Medical Center) |
| Format | Full-time, on campus |
| Class starts | Summer, once a year |
| Application deadline | July 1, 2027 (Summer 2028 class); open now |
| Cost | About $66K resident / $162K non-resident, tuition and required fees (our estimate, 2026-27 rates) |
| GRE | Required (competitive: 151 Verbal, 144 Quantitative, 3.5 Writing) |
| CCRN | Highly encouraged, not required (UTHealth catalog) |
| ICU experience | 1 year minimum, 2 preferred |
| Recent graduates | 29 in 2026 |
| Accreditation | Council on Accreditation (COA); next review May 2032 |
One of the CRNA Schools in Texas
UTHealth is one of the accredited CRNA programs in Texas. Baylor College of Medicine also trains nurse anesthetists in the Texas Medical Center.
UTMB is about an hour south in Galveston.
UTHealth Houston CRNA Program Overview
The program is a full-time, on-campus DNP. It runs nine straight semesters and 112 credit hours.
Students learn general, regional, and neuraxial anesthesia for patients of all ages. The DNP coursework also covers quality improvement and systems leadership.
The school has a new nurse anesthesia simulation center. It includes a simulated operating room with a high-fidelity manikin, a hybrid classroom, and a debriefing area.
The program is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA). Its next review is set for May 2032.
UTHealth Houston CRNA Program Admission Requirements
To apply to the UTHealth nurse anesthesia DNP, you will need:
- A BSN from an accredited program
- A GPA of at least 3.0
- A current, unencumbered Texas RN license
- At least 1 year of critical care experience (2 preferred)
- GRE scores from the last 5 years
- Organic chemistry or biochemistry, grade B or higher, in the last 5 years (at least 3 credit hours)
- Three letters of reference
- A CV or résumé
- A 500-word statement
You may apply before you reach a full year of ICU experience. The year must be done before you enroll.
The CCRN is not required, but UTHealth’s academic catalog says it is highly encouraged.
Accepted areas include the emergency room, CVICU, SICU, CCU, MICU, Level IV NICU, PICU, and trauma and burn ICUs. PACU and cath lab experience do not count.
Recent accepted classes averaged a 3.6 GPA, GRE scores of 151 Quantitative and 154 Verbal, and 2.5 years of ICU experience.
Selected applicants are invited to interview. Writing samples may be required on interview day.
Admitted students must live in Texas before the first day of class. BLS, ACLS, and PALS are required before enrollment.
Application Dates and Deadlines
The program admits one class each summer. The application for Summer 2028 is open now, and the deadline is July 1, 2027.
Applications are reviewed after the deadline. Interview and notification dates have not been posted yet.
UTHealth Houston CRNA Program Tuition and Cost
From UTHealth’s 2026-27 tuition tables:
- Texas resident tuition: $549 per credit hour
- Non-resident tuition: $1,405 per credit hour
- Nursing technology fee: $450 per semester
- Other required fees are smaller (portfolio, simulation, and liability insurance fees)
- A $200 seat deposit is applied to tuition if you enroll
Our estimate for 112 credit hours and 9 semesters: about $66,000 for Texas residents and $162,000 for non-residents. UTHealth does not publish a program total, and rates can rise during a three-year program.
Since every admitted student must live in Texas before classes start, ask the registrar how residency affects your tuition rate.
Nurse anesthetists earned a national mean of $248,320 a year as of May 2025 (BLS).
Pass Rates, Attrition, and Employment
From UTHealth’s outcomes by cohort:
| 2026 | 29 graduates; 100% first-time pass; 100% employed in 6 months |
| 2025 | 19 graduates; 95% first-time pass; 100% employed |
| 2024 | 19 graduates; 95% first-time pass; 100% employed |
| 2023 | 19 graduates; 100% first-time pass; 100% employed |
| 2022 | 24 graduates; 100% first-time pass; 100% employed |
| 2021 | 16 graduates; 100% first-time pass; 100% employed |
| 2020 | 18 graduates; 100% first-time pass; 100% employed |
The overall pass rate is 100% for every class from 2020 to 2026. The first-time pass rate for the classes of 2017 to 2026 is 98.36%.
Attrition was 0% for the Class of 2026 and is 1.98% among current students.
Clinical Rotations and Training Sites
Clinical training takes place at academic and community hospitals across the Houston area. Faculty assign students to COA-approved sites, and rotations require travel around the metro area.
UTHealth does not publish a named list of clinical sites. Ask for the current list at your interview.
Living in Houston While Attending UTHealth
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the U.S., and Texas has no state income tax.
Living near the Texas Medical Center keeps the campus commute short. Clinical rotations will still take you across the metro area, so plan on a car.
Is the UTHealth Houston CRNA Program Right for You?
UTHealth may be a good fit if you:
- Are a Texas resident
- Have ER, trauma, or burn ICU experience
- Want to train in the Texas Medical Center
- Are ready to take the GRE
- Can plan ahead for a summer 2028 start
Consider other options if you:
- Cannot live in Texas before classes start
- Want to skip the GRE
- Need to start before summer 2028
- Have NICU experience below Level IV
- Want a named clinical-site list before applying
Frequently Asked Questions
Is UTHealth Houston a good CRNA program?
Its published numbers: 100% first-attempt NCE pass rate for the Class of 2026, a 98.36% first-time pass rate across the classes of 2017 to 2026, 100% employment within six months for every cohort from 2020 to 2026, and 0% attrition in the Class of 2026.
How much does the UTHealth CRNA program cost?
At 2026-27 rates, tuition is $549 per credit hour for Texas residents and $1,405 for non-residents. Across 112 credit hours plus the $450 per-semester technology fee, we estimate about $66,000 in-state and $162,000 out-of-state. Rates may change before your class starts.
Does UTHealth require the GRE?
Yes. GRE scores from the last five years are required. Competitive scores are at least 151 Verbal, 144 Quantitative, and 3.5 Writing.
Does emergency room experience count at UTHealth?
Yes. UTHealth lists the emergency room as an accepted area, along with CVICU, SICU, CCU, MICU, Level IV NICU, PICU, and trauma and burn ICUs. PACU and cath lab experience do not count.
When is the UTHealth CRNA application deadline?
July 1, 2027 for the Summer 2028 class. The application is open now. The program admits one class a year, each summer.
Next Steps
If you are aiming for Summer 2028, schedule the GRE and check that your chemistry course is within its five-year window. If you live outside Texas, plan your move before the first day of class.
Compare all Texas CRNA programs, or see CRNA schools by state.
Contact the Program
Cizik School of Nursing at UTHealth Houston, Nurse Anesthesia
Program Director: Haley DeLaGarza, DNP, CRNA
Enrollment coaches: 713-500-2145 or soninfo@uth.tmc.edu
Registrar: 713-500-3361
Official page: UTHealth Nurse Anesthesia DNP
Outcomes: Outcomes by cohort
Cost: Tuition and fees