Updated June 2026 · 12 min read
Part of the CRNA Career Hub — browse every related guide in one place.
Texas has more accredited nurse anesthesia programs than almost any other state, including the single largest program in the country. Here's how the Texas options compare and how an ICU nurse in Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, or Austin builds an application that gets an interview.
| Program | Degree | Length | Est. Tuition | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas Wesleyan University | DNAP | 36 months | ~$60,000–$70,000 | Fort Worth (clinicals in 9 states) |
| Baylor College of Medicine | DNP | 36 months | ~$80,000–$95,000 | Houston |
| Texas Christian University (TCU) | DNAP | 36 months | ~$110,000–$125,000 | Fort Worth |
| UT Health Science Center — Houston | DNP | 36 months | ~$55,000–$75,000 | Houston |
| US Army Graduate Program in Anesthesia Nursing | DNP | 36 months | Military (funded) | Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio |
All Texas programs are doctoral-entry. The Council on Accreditation phased out master's-level CRNA entry on January 1, 2025, so every accredited Texas program now awards a DNP or DNAP. Tuition ranges shown are estimates of total program cost and vary with residency status and cohort year — confirm current figures directly with each school.
Texas Wesleyan operates the largest nurse anesthesia program in the country. Students complete the front-half didactic phase at the Fort Worth campus, then move into clinical rotations at assigned sites spread across roughly nine states. That scale is a double-edged sword: a large cohort and an enormous clinical network, but also the possibility of relocating for clinicals to a site you don't choose. The 36-month DNAP is well-known to Texas hospital recruiters, and the program's size means a large statewide alumni base.
Baylor's DNP nurse anesthesia program is among the most respected in the state and reports a first-time national certification pass rate in the low-to-mid 90% range. A notable feature: Baylor has historically offered a monthly stipend (around $1,000) during clinical rotations at Ben Taub Hospital to help offset the fact that CRNA students cannot work during the program. Houston's Texas Medical Center — the largest medical complex in the world — gives Baylor students extraordinary clinical volume and case variety.
TCU's DNAP is delivered in three phases including progressive clinical immersion and has been ranked in the top tier of U.S. nurse anesthesia programs by U.S. News & World Report. It is also the most expensive Texas option, reflecting its private-university tuition. Applicants who can absorb the higher cost get a strongly branded credential and a polished, well-resourced program.
UT Health Science Center at Houston offers a state-university DNP with competitive tuition and direct ties to the Texas Medical Center clinical environment — an excellent value for Texas residents. The US Army Graduate Program in Anesthesia Nursing at Fort Sam Houston is fully funded for qualifying military nurses and is consistently one of the highest-performing programs nationally; it requires a military commitment and is not open to civilian applicants in the standard sense.
Where you build your critical care hours matters. Texas offers several high-acuity systems ideal for CRNA candidacy:
| Hospital | Metro | Notable ICU Types |
|---|---|---|
| Memorial Hermann–TMC | Houston | Level I Trauma, CVICU, Neuro ICU |
| Houston Methodist | Houston | CVICU, MICU, transplant ICU |
| Parkland Health | Dallas | Level I Trauma, SICU, burn ICU |
| UT Southwestern — Clements | Dallas | CVICU, Neuro ICU, academic acuity |
| University Hospital | San Antonio | Level I Trauma, SICU, transplant |
| Dell Seton Medical Center | Austin | Level I Trauma, MICU/SICU |
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-hospital "ICU" that does not manage that acuity.
Working backward from a fall 2027 start: most Texas programs accept applications roughly September–December 2026, interview January–March 2027, and decide by April–May 2027. Have your CCRN completed and ICU hours documented before applications open. Because Texas has multiple programs, applying to several in-state (plus one or two out-of-state) meaningfully raises your odds without forcing a cross-country move during school.
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.