Best degree programs for Nurse Anesthetists, ranked by enrollment
1 college programs and 72 schools train Nurse Anesthetists. Compare graduates per year, cost and pay, $236,590 median wage, 51,840 U.S. jobs. Federal data.
1 college programs at 72 schools train nurse anesthetists, graduating 2,183 people a year (IPEDS completions). The largest is Nurse Anesthetist. The job pays a median of $236,590 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
About nurse anesthetists
Administer anesthesia, monitor patient's vital signs, and oversee patient recovery from anesthesia. May assist anesthesiologists, surgeons, other physicians, or dentists. Must be registered nurses who have specialized graduate education.
A nurse anesthetist is an advanced practice nurse who administers anesthesia for surgery or other medical procedures. They are involved in the administration of anesthesia in a majority of countries, with varying levels of autonomy, which may include some or all anesthesia services before, during, and after surgery. They are also concerned with patient advocacy, safety and professional development. In some localities, nurse anesthetists provide anesthesia to patients independently; in others they do so under the supervision of physicians. The International Federation of Nurse Anesthetists was established in 1989 as a forum for developing standards of education, practice, and a code of ethics.
Read more on Wikipedia →Fields of study that lead to this job
Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level, the tier our program pages are built on. Numbers are graduates per year.
1 degree programs that lead to this job
Ranked by graduates per year (IPEDS completions). Graduate earnings and debt are College Scorecard figures for people who finished the program, reported at the 4-digit CIP level, so specializations within one field share a figure. That is a different measurement from the occupation-wide wages further down this page.
| # | Program | Graduates / yr | Share of pipeline | Schools | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CIP 51.3804 | 2,183 | 100.0% | 72 | $71,623 | $25,750 |
Top 50 schools by graduates into this job
Counting every feeder program a school offers, not just its largest one.
| # | School | Graduates / yr | Top feeder program | Grad rate | Net price | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Professional University Dr. Carlos J. Borrero Rios Hato Rey, PR Private for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 219 | Nurse Anesthetist | — | — | 100% |
| 2 | Texas Wesleyan University Fort Worth, TX Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 95 | Nurse Anesthetist | 32% | $21,036 | 69% |
| 3 | Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia Inc Madison, TN Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 88 | Nurse Anesthetist | — | — | — |
| 4 | Texas Christian University Fort Worth, TX Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 83 | Nurse Anesthetist | 86% | $25,823 | 44% |
| 5 | Missouri State University - Springfield Springfield, MO Public · 1 feeder programs | 68 | Nurse Anesthetist | 58% | — | 91% |
| 6 | Midwestern University - Glendale Glendale, AZ Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 61 | Nurse Anesthetist | — | — | — |
| 7 | Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, VA Public · 1 feeder programs | 50 | Nurse Anesthetist | 63% | — | 93% |
| 8 | Dewey University - Hato Rey Hato Rey, PR Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 39 | Nurse Anesthetist | 54% | $5,184 | — |
| 9 | Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University Baton Rouge, LA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 38 | Nurse Anesthetist | 45% | $17,925 | 99% |
| 10 | Mount Marty University Yankton, SD Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 38 | Nurse Anesthetist | 52% | $22,972 | 43% |
| 11 | Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science North Chicago, IL Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 38 | Nurse Anesthetist | — | — | — |
| 12 | Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale Fort Lauderdale, FL Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 37 | Nurse Anesthetist | 61% | $35,483 | 97% |
| 13 | University of Kansas Lawrence, KS Public · 1 feeder programs | 36 | Nurse Anesthetist | 69% | — | 93% |
| 14 | University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh, PA Public · 1 feeder programs | 35 | Nurse Anesthetist | 85% | — | 58% |
| 15 | Marian University Indianapolis, IN Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 34 | Nurse Anesthetist | 67% | $23,371 | 95% |
| 16 | South College Knoxville, TN Private for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 34 | Nurse Anesthetist | 42% | $20,346 | — |
| 17 | Central Connecticut State University New Britain, CT Public · 1 feeder programs | 32 | Nurse Anesthetist | 48% | — | 73% |
| 18 | University of South Carolina - Columbia Columbia, SC Public · 1 feeder programs | 32 | Nurse Anesthetist | 79% | — | 60% |
| 19 | Baylor University Waco, TX Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 31 | Nurse Anesthetist | 80% | $35,682 | 51% |
| 20 | Case Western Reserve University Cleveland, OH Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 31 | Nurse Anesthetist | 87% | $27,976 | 37% |
| 21 | Samford University Birmingham, AL Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 31 | Nurse Anesthetist | 77% | $28,160 | 82% |
| 22 | Medical University of South Carolina Charleston, SC Public · 1 feeder programs | 30 | Nurse Anesthetist | — | — | — |
| 23 | AdventHealth University Orlando, FL Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 29 | Nurse Anesthetist | 39% | $31,894 | — |
| 24 | Florida State University Tallahassee, FL Public · 1 feeder programs | 29 | Nurse Anesthetist | 86% | — | 24% |
| 25 | Georgetown University Washington, DC Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 29 | Nurse Anesthetist | 95% | $22,242 | 13% |
| 26 | Saint Vincent College Latrobe, PA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 29 | Nurse Anesthetist | 69% | $21,124 | 62% |
| 27 | Arkansas State University Jonesboro, AR Public · 1 feeder programs | 28 | Nurse Anesthetist | 55% | — | 82% |
| 28 | Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science Rochester, MN Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 28 | Nurse Anesthetist | — | — | 39% |
| 29 | University of Michigan - Flint Flint, MI Public · 1 feeder programs | 28 | Nurse Anesthetist | 40% | — | 70% |
| 30 | Baylor College of Medicine Houston, TX Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 27 | Nurse Anesthetist | — | — | — |
| 31 | Northeastern University Boston, MA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 27 | Nurse Anesthetist | 91% | $18,925 | 5% |
| 32 | Union University Jackson, TN Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 26 | Nurse Anesthetist | 66% | $25,882 | 60% |
| 33 | University at Buffalo Buffalo, NY Public · 1 feeder programs | 25 | Nurse Anesthetist | 75% | — | 74% |
| 34 | Albany Medical College Albany, NY Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 24 | Nurse Anesthetist | — | — | — |
| 35 | Duke University Durham, NC Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 24 | Nurse Anesthetist | 97% | $16,260 | 6% |
| 36 | Fairfield University Fairfield, CT Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 24 | Nurse Anesthetist | 84% | $36,845 | 33% |
| 37 | National University San Diego, CA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 24 | Nurse Anesthetist | 43% | $31,817 | — |
| 38 | Otterbein University Westerville, OH Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 24 | Nurse Anesthetist | 68% | $20,150 | 85% |
| 39 | University of North Florida Jacksonville, FL Public · 1 feeder programs | 24 | Nurse Anesthetist | 69% | — | 53% |
| 40 | Webster University Saint Louis, MO Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 24 | Nurse Anesthetist | 64% | $25,090 | 86% |
| 41 | Westminster University Salt Lake City, UT Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 24 | Nurse Anesthetist | 64% | $23,154 | 67% |
| 42 | Bryan College of Health Sciences Lincoln, NE Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 23 | Nurse Anesthetist | 70% | $25,346 | 67% |
| 43 | La Salle University Philadelphia, PA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 23 | Nurse Anesthetist | 57% | $21,997 | 97% |
| 44 | University of Cincinnati - Main Campus Cincinnati, OH Public · 1 feeder programs | 23 | Nurse Anesthetist | 75% | — | 85% |
| 45 | University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 23 | Nurse Anesthetist | 97% | $22,055 | 5% |
| 46 | Gannon University Erie, PA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 22 | Nurse Anesthetist | 66% | $21,409 | 74% |
| 47 | University of Scranton Scranton, PA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 22 | Nurse Anesthetist | 80% | $25,834 | 81% |
| 48 | Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Winona, MN Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 21 | Nurse Anesthetist | 66% | $18,163 | 93% |
| 49 | Youngstown State University Youngstown, OH Public · 1 feeder programs | 20 | Nurse Anesthetist | 50% | — | 84% |
| 50 | Hofstra University Hempstead, NY Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 19 | Nurse Anesthetist | 69% | $34,539 | 68% |
What nurse anesthetists earn
What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.
Top-paying states
Top-paying metro areas
Job outlook
Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.
Where the jobs are, state by state
Pick a state for in-state pay, the schools there, and the programs they run.
| State | Median pay | Jobs | Concentration | Schools | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | $244,990 | 4,060 | 0.86× | 5 | 255 |
| Pennsylvania | $221,530 | 2,500 | 1.24× | 8 | 182 |
| Tennesseemoderate | $211,450 | 1,690 | 1.55× | 4 | 151 |
| Floridamoderate | $210,570 | 4,600 | 1.39× | 4 | 119 |
| Missourimoderate | $242,630 | 1,550 | 1.58× | 3 | 102 |
| Ohiomoderate | $231,810 | 2,300 | 1.24× | 4 | 98 |
| New Yorkmoderate | $321,030 | 2,450 | 0.76× | 3 | 68 |
| South Carolinalimited | $265,480 | 1,010 | 1.31× | 2 | 62 |
| Arizonalimited | $248,660 | 310 | 0.28× | 1 | 61 |
| Michiganmoderate | $247,010 | 2,300 | 1.57× | 3 | 61 |
| Connecticutlimited | $236,960 | 480 | 0.86× | 2 | 56 |
| Kansaslimited | $212,090 | 910 | 1.90× | 2 | 55 |
| Illinoislimited | $286,830 | 1,140 | 0.56× | 2 | 52 |
| Indianalimited | — | 600 | 0.56× | 2 | 50 |
| Virginialimited | $252,110 | 700 | 0.51× | 1 | 50 |
| Minnesotalimited | $266,190 | 2,130 | 2.16× | 2 | 49 |
| Alabamalimited | $190,300 | 1,810 | 2.57× | 2 | 43 |
| Californialimited | $292,410 | 2,230 | 0.37× | 2 | 43 |
| North Carolinalimited | $224,610 | 3,340 | 2.03× | 2 | 39 |
| Nebraskalimited | $246,730 | 430 | 1.26× | 2 | 39 |
| Louisianalimited | $222,130 | 900 | 1.39× | 1 | 38 |
| South Dakotalimited | $263,930 | 400 | 2.62× | 1 | 38 |
| Arkansaslimited | $224,280 | — | — | 1 | 28 |
| Massachusettslimited | $295,550 | 500 | 0.41× | 1 | 27 |
| Utahlimited | $126,600 | — | — | 1 | 24 |
| Washingtonlimited | $274,390 | 760 | 0.64× | 1 | 16 |
| Georgialimited | $224,630 | 1,170 | 0.72× | 1 | 15 |
| Oklahomalimited | $156,830 | 990 | 1.75× | 1 | 15 |
| West Virginialimited | $278,530 | 740 | 3.18× | 1 | 15 |
| Iowalimited | $273,070 | 380 | 0.74× | 1 | 13 |
| Oregonlimited | $272,330 | 370 | 0.56× | 1 | 13 |
| Rhode Islandlimited | — | 120 | 0.74× | 1 | 9 |
Skills and tools
From O*NET, the U.S. Department of Labor's occupational database. Importance is a 1 to 5 scale.
What they do day to day
- Manage patients' airway or pulmonary status, using techniques such as endotracheal intubation, mechanical ventilation, pharmacological support, respiratory therapy, and extubation.
- Respond to emergency situations by providing airway management, administering emergency fluids or drugs, or using basic or advanced cardiac life support techniques.
- Monitor patients' responses, including skin color, pupil dilation, pulse, heart rate, blood pressure, respiration, ventilation, or urine output, using invasive and noninvasive techniques.
- Select, order, or administer anesthetics, adjuvant drugs, accessory drugs, fluids or blood products as necessary.
- Select, prepare, or use equipment, monitors, supplies, or drugs for the administration of anesthetics.
- Assess patients' medical histories to predict anesthesia response.
- Perform or manage regional anesthetic techniques, such as local, spinal, epidural, caudal, nerve blocks and intravenous blocks.
- Develop anesthesia care plans.
Skills
- Critical Thinking4.1
- Reading Comprehension4.1
- Active Learning4.0
- Active Listening4.0
- Monitoring4.0
- Speaking4.0
- Science3.9
- Learning Strategies3.4
Knowledge areas
- Medicine and Dentistry4.8
- Customer and Personal Service4.6
- Biology4.6
- Chemistry4.3
- Education and Training4.3
- Mathematics4.3
Abilities
- Problem Sensitivity4.8
- Oral Comprehension4.1
- Information Ordering4.1
- Written Comprehension4.1
- Deductive Reasoning4.0
- Inductive Reasoning4.0
Core activities
- Assisting and Caring for Others4.8
- Getting Information4.7
- Documenting/Recording Information4.7
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge4.7
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems4.6
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events4.6
Tools and technology
hotmarks an O*NET hot technologyHow to get in
How to become a Nurse Anesthetist
Job zone 5 of 5 · SVP 8.0 and above- Typical entry education
- Master's degree
Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Every major mapped to this job
The official federal mapping behind the rankings above.
All 1 majors mapped to Nurse Anesthetists1 of them graduated someone in the latest IPEDS year. NCES CIP 2020 → SOC 2018 crosswalk.+
- 51.3804Nurse Anesthetist
Related careers
Jobs O*NET identifies as close to this one, with their own pay and outlook.
Common questions
What degree do you need to become a Nurse Anesthetist?+
Master's degree is the typical entry-level education BLS reports for this occupation. The most common program people actually graduate from is Nurse Anesthetist, which awarded 2,183 degrees in 2024-25, 100.0% of everyone graduating from a program that feeds this career.
Which college majors lead to becoming a Nurse Anesthetist?+
The NCES CIP-to-SOC crosswalk maps 1 programs to this occupation. The largest are Registered Nursing. Together they graduate about 2,183 people a year.
How much do nurse anesthetists earn?+
The median is $236,590 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). The middle range runs from $155,250 at the 10th percentile to $339,500 at the 90th. This is pay for people already working in the occupation, not the same thing as graduate earnings one year after finishing a degree.
Is demand for nurse anesthetists growing?+
BLS projects a +8.6% change in employment between 2024 and 2034, much faster than average, with roughly 2,700 openings a year nationally once retirements and job changes are counted.
How many schools offer programs for this career?+
72 institutions reported graduates from at least one of the 1 programs that feed this occupation in IPEDS 2024-25. Rankings on this page use graduates per year, because the federal data publishes no enrollment count by program.
What other job titles do nurse anesthetists work under?+
Employers advertise this work under many names. O*NET records Nurse Anesthetist, Staff Nurse Anesthetist, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA), Staff Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (Staff CRNA) among the most commonly reported, all mapping to SOC 29-1151.
About the data on this page
Rankings use IPEDS completions 2024-25, degrees awarded per year. That is the closest federal measure of how many people a program puts into a career, because no federal dataset publishes enrollment by program. Wages and employment come from BLS OEWS May 2025, growth and openings from BLS Employment Projections 2024-34, and which majors lead to which jobs from the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. Occupation descriptions, tasks, skills and tools are O*NET 30.3 (CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor/ETA).
BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics
May 2025Wages, employment counts, location quotients and metro breakdowns.
BLS Employment Projections
2024–34Projected growth, annual openings and typical entry-level education.
IPEDS Completions
2024-25 (provisional)Graduates per year by program and institution — the ranking metric.
College Scorecard, Field of Study
2020-21 cohortsMedian graduate earnings one year after completion, and median debt.
Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes
latest availableGraduate earnings 1/5/10 years out, where the state participates.
NCES CIP 2020 and the CIP-to-SOC 2018 crosswalk
CIP 2020 / SOC 2018Which college programs officially lead to this occupation.
O*NET Database 30.3
30.3Tasks, skills, knowledge, tools, job zone and alternate job titles.
Official source →CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor / ETA
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