Updated June 2026 · 11 min read

CRNA Programs in Ohio 2026

Part of the CRNA Career Hub — browse every related guide in one place.

Ohio packs several nationally respected nurse anesthesia programs into three major metro corridors — Cincinnati, Columbus, and Cleveland — plus strong options in Akron, Athens, and Youngstown. Here's how the Ohio programs compare and how an ICU nurse builds an application that earns an interview.

Accredited CRNA Programs in Ohio (2026)

Ohio offers roughly six to seven accredited programs depending on how partnerships are counted; Lourdes University is also sometimes listed. Every accredited Ohio program now awards a doctorate — the Council on Accreditation phased out master's-level CRNA entry on January 1, 2025. Confirm current tuition, credit counts, and clinical-hour requirements directly with each school.

University of Cincinnati

The University of Cincinnati College of Nursing offers a BSN-to-DNP with a major in nurse anesthesia and is one of the longest-running nurse anesthesia programs in the country. It consistently ranks among the top CRNA programs in the U.S. News & World Report standings, drawing on the high-acuity environment of UC Medical Center and the broader Cincinnati academic system. For applicants who want a deeply established, top-ranked program in southern Ohio, UC is the anchor.

Case Western Reserve and Cleveland Clinic

Case Western's Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing runs a university-based DNP in which students work one-on-one with a CRNA preceptor. A distinct Cleveland Clinic / Case Western partnership exists in which graduates receive their DNP and a nurse anesthesia certificate tied to the Cleveland Clinic — students across the two tracks share classroom and clinical space. The draw is obvious: Cleveland Clinic is one of the highest-volume cardiac and complex-surgery centers in the world, giving students extraordinary case exposure.

Ohio State, Akron, Ohio University, and Youngstown State

The Ohio State University's nurse anesthesia DNP in Columbus is COA-accredited and pairs with the high-acuity OSU Wexner Medical Center. The University of Akron has earned a perfect 10-year accreditation from the COA — a strong signal of program stability. Ohio University in Athens offers a COA-accredited DNP serving southeastern Ohio, and Youngstown State (in partnership with St. Elizabeth Health Center) anchors the northeastern corner of the state. Together these programs make it realistic for an Ohio ICU nurse to study close to home.

Strong Ohio ICU Hospitals for CRNA Applicants

Where you accumulate critical care hours matters as much as your GPA. Ohio offers several high-acuity systems ideal for CRNA candidacy:

Programs want sustained adult critical care managing ventilated patients on vasoactive infusions with arterial and central lines. A CVICU or trauma SICU role at one of these systems is far stronger on a CRNA application than a step-down or community "ICU" that does not manage that acuity.

The Application Timeline from Ohio

Working backward from a fall 2027 start: most Ohio programs accept applications roughly September–December 2026, interview January–March 2027, and decide by spring 2027. Have your CCRN completed and at least one year (ideally two) of high-acuity ICU hours documented before applications open. With programs in all three major metros, an Ohio applicant can apply to several in-state options plus one out-of-state without relocating during school.