Best institutions to study Nurse Anesthetist
A program that prepares registered nurses to administer anesthetics and provide care for patients before, during and after anesthesia.
72 U.S. institutions graduated 2,183 Nurse Anesthetist students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 51.3804, a specialization of Registered Nursing (CIP 51.38), and leads most directly to the Nurse Anesthetists occupation (BLS SOC 29-1151).
About Nurse Anesthetist programs
A program that prepares registered nurses to administer anesthetics and provide care for patients before, during and after anesthesia. Includes instruction in the biochemistry and physics of anesthesia; advanced anatomy and physiology; clinical pharmacology of anesthetics and adjunctive drugs; pain management; acute care and operating room practice; clinical technology and procedures; emergency intervention; patient assessment and education; and legal issues.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Nurse Anesthetist program prepares registered nurses to administer anesthetics and provide comprehensive care for patients before, during, and after anesthesia. This advanced program is ideal for nursing professionals seeking to specialize in anesthesia and enhance their clinical skills in a critical care environment.
Students in the Nurse Anesthetist program acquire knowledge in biochemistry, advanced anatomy, clinical pharmacology, and pain management. Coursework includes training in emergency intervention, patient assessment, and the use of clinical technology and procedures.
Credentials awarded
What Nurse Anesthetist graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Doctor's degree - professional practice1,479 graduates / yr · 51 institutions68%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship434 graduates / yr · 18 institutions20%
- Master's degree205 graduates / yr · 3 institutions9.4%
- Doctor's degree - other52 graduates / yr · 2 institutions2.4%
- Post-master's certificate13 graduates / yr · 2 institutions0.6%
Graduates over time
Nurse Anesthetist completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 1,872 |
| 2013 | 1,908 |
| 2014 | 1,847 |
| 2015 | 1,843 |
| 2016 | 1,877 |
| 2017 | 1,896 |
| 2018 | 1,916 |
| 2019 | 2,031 |
| 2020 | 1,883 |
| 2021 | 1,935 |
| 2022 | 1,768 |
| 2023 | 1,939 |
| 2024 | 1,960 |
| 2025 | 2,183 |
Top 50 institutions for Nurse Anesthetist, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Professional University Dr. Carlos J. Borrero Rios Hato Rey, PRPrivate for-profitMaster'sDoctoral (prof.) | 219 | — | — | — |
| 2 | Texas Wesleyan University Fort Worth, TXPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral (prof.) | 95 | 32% | $21,036 | — |
| 3 | Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia Inc Madison, TNPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral (prof.) | 88 | — | — | — |
| 4 | Texas Christian University Fort Worth, TXPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral (prof.)Master's | 83 | 86% | $25,823 | $77,808 |
| 5 | Missouri State University - Springfield Springfield, MOPublicDoctoral (prof.) | 68 | 58% | — | $66,183 |
| 6 | Midwestern University - Glendale Glendale, AZPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral (prof.) | 61 | — | — | — |
| 7 | Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, VAPublicDoctoral | 50 | 63% | — | $71,847 |
| 8 | Dewey University - Hato Rey Hato Rey, PRPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 39 | 54% | $5,184 | $21,237 |
| 9 | Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science North Chicago, ILPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral (prof.) | 38 | — | — | — |
| 10 | Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University Baton Rouge, LAPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral (prof.) | 38 | 45% | $17,925 | $76,607 |
| 11 | Mount Marty University Yankton, SDPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral (prof.) | 38 | 52% | $22,972 | $66,183 |
| 12 | Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale Fort Lauderdale, FLPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral (prof.) | 37 | 61% | $35,483 | $67,368 |
| 13 | University of Kansas Lawrence, KSPublicDoctoral (prof.) | 36 | 69% | — | $65,347 |
| 14 | University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh, PAPublicDoctoral (prof.) | 35 | 85% | — | $72,251 |
| 15 | Marian University Indianapolis, INPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral | 34 | 67% | $23,371 | $71,111 |
| 16 | South College Knoxville, TNPrivate for-profitDoctoral (prof.)Master's | 34 | 42% | $20,346 | $65,109 |
| 17 | Central Connecticut State University New Britain, CTPublicDoctoral | 32 | 48% | — | $83,012 |
| 18 | University of South Carolina - Columbia Columbia, SCPublicDoctoral | 32 | 79% | — | $73,872 |
| 19 | Samford University Birmingham, ALPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral (prof.) | 31 | 77% | $28,160 | $64,226 |
| 20 | Case Western Reserve University Cleveland, OHPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral (prof.) | 31 | 87% | $27,976 | $69,389 |
| 21 | Baylor University Waco, TXPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral (prof.) | 31 | 80% | $35,682 | $75,213 |
| 22 | Medical University of South Carolina Charleston, SCPublicDoctoral | 30 | — | — | $68,199 |
| 23 | Georgetown University Washington, DCPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral | 29 | 95% | $22,242 | $84,915 |
| 24 | AdventHealth University Orlando, FLPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral (prof.) | 29 | 39% | $31,894 | $71,026 |
| 25 | Florida State University Tallahassee, FLPublicDoctoral (prof.) | 29 | 86% | — | $69,997 |
| 26 | Saint Vincent College Latrobe, PAPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral (prof.) | 29 | 69% | $21,124 | — |
| 27 | Arkansas State University Jonesboro, ARPublicDoctoral (prof.) | 28 | 55% | — | $73,423 |
| 28 | University of Michigan - Flint Flint, MIPublicDoctoral | 28 | 40% | — | $80,029 |
| 29 | Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science Rochester, MNPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral | 28 | — | — | $65,661 |
| 30 | Northeastern University Boston, MAPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral (prof.) | 27 | 91% | $18,925 | $78,713 |
| 31 | Baylor College of Medicine Houston, TXPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral | 27 | — | — | — |
| 32 | Union University Jackson, TNPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral | 26 | 66% | $25,882 | $68,399 |
| 33 | University at Buffalo Buffalo, NYPublicDoctoral (prof.) | 25 | 75% | — | $78,621 |
| 34 | National University San Diego, CAPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral (prof.) | 24 | 43% | $31,817 | $99,714 |
| 35 | Fairfield University Fairfield, CTPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral (prof.) | 24 | 84% | $36,845 | $91,418 |
| 36 | University of North Florida Jacksonville, FLPublicDoctoral (prof.) | 24 | 69% | — | $76,508 |
| 37 | Webster University Saint Louis, MOPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral (prof.) | 24 | 64% | $25,090 | — |
| 38 | Albany Medical College Albany, NYPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral | 24 | — | — | — |
| 39 | Duke University Durham, NCPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral (prof.) | 24 | 97% | $16,260 | $77,288 |
| 40 | Otterbein University Westerville, OHPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral (prof.) | 24 | 68% | $20,150 | $69,287 |
| 41 | Westminster University Salt Lake City, UTPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral (prof.) | 24 | 64% | $23,154 | $66,132 |
| 42 | Bryan College of Health Sciences Lincoln, NEPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral | 23 | 70% | $25,346 | $73,124 |
| 43 | University of Cincinnati - Main Campus Cincinnati, OHPublicDoctoral (prof.) | 23 | 75% | — | $71,105 |
| 44 | La Salle University Philadelphia, PAPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral (prof.) | 23 | 57% | $21,997 | $84,400 |
| 45 | University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PAPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral | 23 | 97% | $22,055 | $80,943 |
| 46 | Gannon University Erie, PAPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral (prof.)Master's | 22 | 66% | $21,409 | $65,493 |
| 47 | University of Scranton Scranton, PAPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral (prof.) | 22 | 80% | $25,834 | $82,895 |
| 48 | Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Winona, MNPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral (prof.) | 21 | 66% | $18,163 | $84,323 |
| 49 | Youngstown State University Youngstown, OHPublicDoctoral (prof.) | 20 | 50% | — | $65,668 |
| 50 | Loma Linda University Loma Linda, CAPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral | 19 | — | — | $98,610 |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Registered Nursing field (CIP 51.38) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 34 states & territories
Where Nurse Anesthetist graduates come from. Each state links to all Registered Nursing programs offered there.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 29-1151, Nurse Anesthetists, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Nurse Anesthetist program typically pursue careers as Nurse Anesthetists, with a much faster than average job growth rate of 8.6%. With approximately 2,700 annual openings and a median wage of $223,210, a Master's degree is the typical educational requirement for this profession.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 51.3804
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Nurse Anesthetistsprimary SOC 29-1151 | $236,590 | +8.6% Much faster than average | ~2,700 | Master's degree |
Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1072 | $80,250 | +16.8% Much faster than average | ~8,600 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
- Education
- 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).
- Experience
- 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.
- Training
- 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.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Nurse Anesthetist programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- 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.
Tools and technology used
Other Registered Nursing specializations
The 22 other 6-digit CIP codes under Registered Nursing (CIP 51.38).
- Registered Nursing/CIP 51.3801
Registered Nurse 263,325 graduates / yr2,067 institutions - Family Practice Nurse/CIP 51.3805
Nursing 14,703 graduates / yr293 institutions - Nursing PracticeCIP 51.38189,384 graduates / yr322 institutions
- Nursing AdministrationCIP 51.38027,804 graduates / yr198 institutions
- Psychiatric/CIP 51.3810
Mental Health Nurse/ Nursing 5,358 graduates / yr179 institutions - Nursing ScienceCIP 51.38084,605 graduates / yr148 institutions
- Registered NursingCIP 51.38993,940 graduates / yr99 institutions
- Adult Health Nurse/CIP 51.3803
Nursing 2,125 graduates / yr75 institutions - Public Health/CIP 51.3811
Community Nurse/ Nursing 934 graduates / yr21 institutions - Geriatric Nurse/CIP 51.3821
Nursing 680 graduates / yr43 institutions - Clinical Nurse LeaderCIP 51.3820588 graduates / yr24 institutions
- Nurse Midwife/CIP 51.3807
Nursing Midwifery 530 graduates / yr22 institutions - Critical Care NursingCIP 51.3814505 graduates / yr39 institutions
- Pediatric Nurse/CIP 51.3809
Nursing 389 graduates / yr36 institutions - Women's Health Nurse/CIP 51.3822
Nursing 350 graduates / yr15 institutions - Perioperative/CIP 51.3812
Operating Room and Surgical Nurse/ Nursing 150 graduates / yr10 institutions - Maternal/CIP 51.3806
Child Health and Neonatal Nurse/ Nursing 149 graduates / yr14 institutions - Clinical Nurse SpecialistCIP 51.3813135 graduates / yr22 institutions
- Emergency Room/CIP 51.3816
Trauma Nursing partial data83 graduates / yr9 institutions - Forensic NursingCIP 51.3824partial data26 graduates / yr4 institutions
- Occupational and Environmental Health NursingCIP 51.3815partial data21 graduates / yr3 institutions
- Palliative Care NursingCIP 51.3819partial data19 graduates / yr3 institutions
Common questions
What is the typical degree awarded for this program?+
The typical degree awarded is a Master's degree.
How many colleges in the U.S. offer this program?+
There are 72 colleges in the U.S. offering the Nurse Anesthetist program.
What skills will I learn in this program?+
Core skills include critical thinking, monitoring, and active listening.
What is the job outlook for Nurse Anesthetists?+
The job outlook shows a growth rate of 8.6% with about 2,700 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Nurse Anesthetist?+
Nurse Anesthetist is CIP 51.3804 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Registered Nursing (CIP 51.38). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares registered nurses to administer anesthetics and provide care for patients before, during and after anesthesia. Includes instruction in the biochemistry and physics of anesthesia; advanced anatomy and physiology; clinical pharmacology of anesthetics and adjunctive drugs; pain management; acute care and operating room practice; clinical technology and procedures; emergency intervention; patient assessment and education; and legal issues.
How many institutions offer Nurse Anesthetist programs?+
72 U.S. institutions reported Nurse Anesthetist graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 34 states & territories, awarding 2,183 credentials in the year. That is 0.7% of all Registered Nursing graduates.
How much do Nurse Anesthetist graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Nurse Anesthetists occupation, which Nurse Anesthetist most directly leads to, pays a median of $236,590 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Registered Nursing field report median earnings of $73,124 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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