Updated June 2026 · 9 min read
Part of the CRNA Career Hub — browse every related guide in one place.
Minnesota punches well above its weight in nurse anesthesia. It's home to the University of Minnesota — the first program in the country accredited to offer the entry-level doctorate — and to the world-renowned Mayo Clinic. For an ICU nurse, that's an unusually deep bench of accredited programs in one state. Here's the 2026 landscape, what it costs, and how to get in.
Every program below is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA). Confirm current accreditation status on the COA list before applying, since review dates change.
| Program | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| University of Minnesota | Minneapolis | First U.S. program accredited for the entry-level DNP; 10-year accreditation |
| Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences | Rochester | DNAP; world-class clinical training at Mayo |
| Saint Mary's University of Minnesota | Minneapolis / Winona | COA-accredited DNP in nurse anesthesiology |
| Minneapolis School of Anesthesia | Minneapolis | Accredited program within a doctoral framework (with Metro State) |
University of Minnesota holds a special place in the field as the first nurse anesthesia program in the country accredited to offer the entry-level Doctor of Nursing Practice, and it earned the maximum 10-year accreditation approval at its last review. As a public flagship, it's often the most cost-effective option for Minnesota residents.
Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences in Rochester offers a Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) with the kind of high-acuity, high-volume clinical exposure that the Mayo name implies — a powerful draw for applicants who want to train at one of the most respected medical centers in the world.
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota runs a COA-accredited DNP in nurse anesthesiology, and the Minneapolis School of Anesthesia — in partnership with Metropolitan State University — delivers an accredited program within a doctoral framework. Together they give Minnesota applicants four distinct routes, an unusually rich set of options for a single state.
Minnesota programs use the same competitive benchmarks as the rest of the country. Minimums make you eligible; the admitted profile is higher.
| Requirement | Typical expectation |
|---|---|
| Degree | BSN before entry |
| License | Active, unencumbered RN license |
| ICU experience | Minimum 1 year; competitive applicants have 2–3 in high-acuity units |
| GPA | Minimum ~3.0; admitted students cluster around 3.4–3.7 |
| CCRN | Required or strongly preferred |
| Other | Shadowing, strong references, and an interview |
Get into the highest-acuity ICU you can and stay long enough to lead — a busy CVICU, SICU, or trauma unit carries more weight than years on a quieter floor. Earn your CCRN early; it's close to non-negotiable. If your GPA is below ~3.4, add or retake upper-level science courses and earn As to show momentum. Document CRNA shadowing before applying, and treat the interview as the deciding factor, because once you clear the screen, it usually is.
For a state its size, Minnesota offers an exceptional set of CRNA programs — a historic public flagship at the University of Minnesota, world-class clinical training at Mayo, and solid options at Saint Mary's and the Minneapolis School of Anesthesia. In-state status can cut your cost, but the best-known programs are nationally competitive, so apply broadly. Land a high-acuity ICU, a CCRN, and a ~3.5 GPA, and a Minnesota CRNA seat is well within reach.
Get The ICU Notebook Newsletter
Clinical tools and career insights for ICU nurses. One email per week, no fluff.
Yes, send it freeNo spam. Unsubscribe any time.