This page was last updated in 2022.
The University of Minnesota – Twin Cities is one of four CRNA schools in Minnesota.
University of Minnesota Twin Cities
CRNA Program
School of Nursing
Nurse Anesthesia Area of Study
5-140 Weaver-Densford Hall
308 Harvard Street S.E.
Minneapolis, MN 55455
Contact
Joanne Donnelly, DNP, APRN, CRNA
Program Director, Clinical Assistant Professor, Nurse Anesthesia Program
Office Address: 6-182 Weaver-Densford Hall
ph: (612) 625-7148
email: donne320@umn.edu
George Sakkal
Doctoral Programs Recruitment and Admissions Coordinator
ph: (612) 625-7980
email: GopherNursing@umn.edu
Quick Facts
CRNA Degree offered
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), Post Master’s DNP (completion)
Program Length
36 months, full-time
Credit Hours
100-semester credits
Starting Month
September
Application Deadline
August 1st (Final Deadline)
Please apply online through NursingCAS.
Entire Cost of CRNA School for University of Minnesota Twin Cities CRNA Program
Tuition is calculated at the 2020-2021 rates. Tuition at most schools increases each academic year. Over the duration of the program, expect to pay a tuition that is 5% to 15% higher than what is shown here.
Cost of Tuition: $101,800
*Fees and expenses: $5,900
Grand Total: $107,700
Tuition rates and scholarship information here too.
*This total includes the estimated cost of textbooks, application fee, and program fee.
Class Size
15
Interviews
Nurse anesthesia faculty review applicant files in early September; interviews are conducted in October. All applicants receive a letter informing them of whether or not they are granted an interview. They typically interview 30 applicants for the 15 positions.
Students are chosen for the program in late November/ early December.
CRNA Training
The three-year (9 semesters) DNP curriculum integrates anesthesia didactic coursework, anesthesia clinical experiences, and DNP coursework. The program follows an Executive Model of education where the majority of coursework is online combined with about 8 on-campus sessions each year.
Your clinical experience will primarily be held at Minneapolis VA Medical Center. In addition, you will rotate to several urban and some are optional. All required clinical sites are within a daily driving distance of the campus.
When you graduate, you will possess expertise in general and will be prepared to provide leadership in the practice setting.
The program was the first nurse anesthesia program in the U.S. to be accredited to offer the entry-level Doctor of Nursing Practice. At University of Minnesota Twin Cities, the DNP replaced the Master’s degree in Anesthesia in the fall of 2009.
CRNA Program Requirements
Required Bachelor Degree
You MUST have a baccalaureate degree with a nursing major (or entry-level Master of Nursing.) The qualified nursing programs are also accredited by CCNE or NLNAC.
RN
You must hold an RN license in the state in which you will complete clinical courses.
Critical Care
2 years of critical care nursing experience required. The average accepted student has approximately three years of high-acuity adult surgical critical care experience.
Acceptable critical care experience is nursing care which, on a daily basis, includes managing invasive hemodynamic monitors, cardiac assist devices, mechanical ventilation, and vasoactive drips. The following critical care areas are preferred:
- Surgical Intensive Care Unit (ICU)
- Cardiothoracic ICU
- Coronary ICU
- Medical ICU
- Pediatric or Neonatal ICU
Other critical care experience is considered on an individual basis provided they can demonstrate competence with invasive monitoring, ventilators, and critical care pharmacology.
GPA
Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.00 or above. Successful applicants typically have a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.4 or above (on a 4.0 scale). Each applicant will be considered individually for an exception to the stated requirements.
GRE
The GRE is not required for admission.
University of Minnesota Twin Cities CRNA Program
CRNA School Performance
Accredited CRNA Programs are reviewed regularly.
University of Minnesota Twin Cities Nurse Anesthetist Program was last reviewed 01/2009. It was given the maximum of 10 years accreditation and is very stable.
Pass Rate for CRNA Boards at University of Minnesota Twin Cities
Please note: It is extremely rare for a student at any CRNA school to not eventually pass the exam. Most students who don’t pass the first time pass the second. Very rarely does a person ever take it a third time. This statistic only measures how well the program prepares students to pass the test the first time around.
First-time test takers: 100% (Class of 2019)
National average (2019): 84.8%
Attrition Rate: 0% (2019)
CRNA Employment Rate: 100% (2019)
CRNA Salaries
An average nurse anesthetist salary in University of Minnesota Twin Cities CRNA Program, Minnesota
Minnesota CRNA salaries are higher than the national average with an annual mean wage of $192,290.
An average annual nurse anesthetist salary in the US is $181,040 (according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics 2019 study)
Frequently Asked Questions
What do they look for in an applicant?
At the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, the typical successful applicant has an undergraduate GPA of 3.4 to 4.0, approximately three years of high-acuity adult surgical critical care experience, good personal references, and knowledge about what a CRNA does on a daily basis.
With the implementation of the DNP curriculum, the Admissions Committee at University of Minnesota Twin Cities will look for evidence of leadership potential. They look at each applicant individually and make a decision based on all the criteria.
How many vacation days will I have?
The 36-month nurse anesthesia program runs year around. You’ll get a 2-week winter break, 1-week spring break, and 1-week summer breaks each year of the program.
Are sign-on bonuses available when I graduate?
The shortage of Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) has prompted many employers (primarily hospitals) to award significant sign-on bonuses in return for some years of service to the awarding hospital. Often the sign-on bonuses are paid during school to offset tuition and living expenses.
All information given on this site about the University of Minnesota Twin Cities CRNA Program was taken directly from their website.
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