Choosing Which
Schools to Apply To

Deciding which CRNA programs to apply to is one of the most important decisions you will make in this process. Every program has a different culture, different clinical sites, different costs, and different expectations. Applying blindly to schools based only on rankings or proximity is a mistake.

I applied to five schools. That number felt right for me, but your situation might call for more or fewer applications depending on your qualifications, your budget, and how flexible you are with location. What matters is that you research each program thoroughly and apply to schools where you can genuinely see yourself succeeding.

Location matters more than you think.

CRNA school is intense. You will be there for three years, often with limited time to travel home. If you have family ties, a partner, or obligations that require you to stay within a certain region, factor that in from the beginning. Trying to maintain a long-distance relationship or manage family responsibilities from across the country while in a doctoral program is harder than most people anticipate.

I moved about four hours from home for school. That distance felt manageable. I could drive home if I needed to, but I was far enough away to fully immerse myself in the program without constantly being pulled back. Think about what distance works for you and be honest about what you can handle.

Clinical sites shape your training.

Look closely at where each program places students for clinical rotations. Are the clinical sites high-volume hospitals with diverse case loads? Do students rotate through different specialties like cardiac, neuro, pediatrics, and OB? Are the sites all in one city or spread across a wide region? Another important interview question to ask is whether Anesthesiologist Assistants (AAs) also rotate at the same clinical sites. If they do, you want to get an idea of how many AAs versus CRNA students are at each site, as this affects the competition for cases and how many hands-on opportunities you will actually get.

Clinical training is where you will develop your skills as a CRNA. Programs that rotate students through strong clinical sites with experienced preceptors give you better preparation than programs that struggle to secure quality placements. Ask current students about their clinical experiences. Ask where they did their rotations and whether they felt adequately supported.

Tuition and cost of living.

CRNA school is expensive. Tuition varies widely between programs, and cost of living in different cities can make a huge difference in your total debt load. A program with lower tuition in an expensive city might end up costing more than a higher-tuition program in an affordable area once you factor in rent, food, and transportation.

I recommend creating a realistic budget for each program you are considering. Include tuition, fees, rent, utilities, food, gas, and any other regular expenses. Then multiply that by three years. That number is what you are really looking at in terms of cost. For the program I am going to, I might have to move in my second or third year if my clinical site is in another state. Moving costs can add up quick, so make sure you are willing to relocate for clinicals if needed. Research whether the program requires out-of-state rotations and factor those moving expenses into your budget.

Some students take out the maximum loan amount and live off loans for the entire program. Others work part-time for a portion of the program or have financial support from family. Some programs do not let you work at all for the entirety of the program, while other programs are structured where they may be online and asynchronous for the first year, so they expect you to work part-time or full-time during that period. It all depends on the program. This is also something to consider if you want to keep working for financial reasons during the first year. Know what your situation is and plan accordingly. Graduating with manageable debt versus crushing debt will affect your career decisions for years.

Pass rates and job placement.

Almost every accredited CRNA program publishes their board pass rates and job placement data. Look at these numbers carefully. Programs with consistently high first-time pass rates are doing something right. Programs with lower pass rates might have weaker curricula, inadequate support systems, or poor clinical training. Also check the attrition rate if it is available. If it is not included on their website, it might be valuable to ask during the interview or email them prior about it.

Job placement rates matter too, though most CRNAs find jobs relatively easily given the demand for the profession. Still, programs with strong alumni networks and good reputations in their regions can make the job search smoother.

Program culture and support.

This is harder to quantify but just as important. Some programs are known for being collaborative and supportive. Others have reputations for being cutthroat or disorganized. Talk to current students if you can. Attend open houses or virtual info sessions. Pay attention to how the faculty interact with prospective students and whether the program feels like a place where you could thrive.

You will spend three years in this program. The culture matters. A supportive environment can make the hard days manageable. A toxic one can make even the good days feel unbearable.

How many schools to apply to.

There is no magic number. Some applicants apply to three schools. Others apply to ten. It depends on how competitive your application is, how geographically flexible you are, and how much you can afford to spend on application fees.

I recommend applying to at least a few programs to give yourself options, but do not apply to schools you would not actually attend. Every application costs money and time. Focus on programs that genuinely fit your needs rather than applying everywhere just to see what happens. This is why going to information sessions is really important. A lot of schools have virtual information sessions available now, and for me, I went to all of the information sessions for every school I applied to. In the information sessions, there are faculty from the school that come and talk, such as the program director and other professors you may be taking classes with. The info sessions give you a really good idea to see if you like the faculty and really see yourself fitting in with the program culture.