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Certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) are registered nurses (RNs) with graduate-level education who provide anesthetics to patients in surgical and other procedures.

Currently, nurse anesthetists must have an RN license and a master’s degree from a nurse anesthesia educational program accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA) or a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN). Nurse anesthesia programs typically range in length 36 to 51 months. Starting in 2025, all CRNAs must have a Doctor in Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) or a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), according to the COA. It typically takes two years for a student with an MSN to earn a doctorate.

Continue reading for six tips that can help you learn how to pay for CRNA school.

How Much Does CRNA School Cost?

You may have already spent a few years paying for nursing school to get your RN degree, but how much does it cost to further your education to become a nurse anesthetist?

The total cost of CRNA school (including tuition, clinical fees, and other expenses) can vary widely, depending on whether you choose to attend an out-of-state institution, a private college, or an in-state university.

For example, the 2026-2027 tuition and fees at Loma Linda University in Loma Linda, California, are an estimated $170,243. In contrast, if you are already an RN with an MSN, the tuition and fees are approximately $45,030 at Arkansas State University. There are additional costs associated with a CRNA degree, such as books, supplies, licensing, insurance, and exam fees.

Note that the average nursing school cost can vary widely, ranging from $10,000 for an associate degree to over $200,000 for an advanced degree.

Recommended: Important FAFSA Deadlines to Know

6 Tips to Help You Pay for CRNA School

Let’s look at nine tips you can use to pay for CRNA school, from choosing a less expensive school to answering the question, “Will financial aid pay for CRNA school?”

1. Choose a Less Expensive School

You can save money by choosing a less expensive school or by having residency in the state where you want to attend school. For example, the total cost of attending Georgetown University’s DNAP program for the first year is $150,426, $92,561 for the second year, and $78,784 for the third year, regardless of residency.

The cost to attend the University of Iowa is $85,690 if you’re an in-state resident or $163,805 if you’re an out-of-state resident.

It’s important to compare and contrast the costs of several programs before you decide which school will both meet your needs and help you save money.

2. Save Money

You may also want to consider saving money for college to reduce the amount of money you’ll have to borrow for CRNA education. Knowing the costs of the schools on your shortlist can help you set aside a certain amount of money. However, remember that you may receive scholarships and grants that you don’t have to pay back. You might not need to save for the full cost of a nurse anesthetist program. One way to understand your exact costs is to meet with the financial aid offices of the schools you’re considering. They can give you an idea of the type of institutional financial aid you could qualify for.

There are a wide variety of ways to save, including through a general savings account, certificate of deposit, or a 529 plan — a state tax-advantaged plan that will allow you to withdraw funds tax-free to cover nearly any type of college expense. 529 plans may also have additional state or federal tax benefits.

3. FAFSA and Financial Aid

The FAFSA is a form you can complete to determine your eligibility for student financial aid, which can include scholarships, grants and federal student loans.

College grants are “free money” that you typically don’t have to pay back. The AANA offers members grants to develop health care policy, anesthesia science, education, clinical practice, and leadership opportunities. With the proper documentation, the Foundation will reimburse up to 15% of indirect costs. The best way to learn more is to ask questions through the financial aid offices of the schools you’re considering.

Like grants, you do not have to pay back scholarships and other aid awards. The AANA also offers scholarships. Students who are AANA members and currently enrolled in an accredited nurse anesthesia program may be eligible for scholarships as long as they are in good standing in their program, meet the application requirements, and apply online. In addition, the university you plan to attend may also offer merit-based scholarships. Contact your school’s financial aid office to see what they offer and how to apply.

Similar to student loans for undergrads, you can get student loans for graduate school, which must be repaid. As a graduate student, you may be eligible for federal Direct Unsubsidized loans that come from the U.S. Education Department. The benefits of federal loans include a six-month grace period before repayment and flexible repayment plans if you’re eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness. This means that if you make 120 monthly payments under such a repayment plan, you might get your loans forgiven as long as you work full-time for a qualifying employer.

Note that Direct PLUS loans, also called Graduate PLUS loans, will no longer be available to grad students beginning July 1, 2026.

Learn more about the FAFSA with SoFi’s comprehensive FAFSA guide.

4. Work More

If you’re already working as a nurse, you may want to pick up more hours before you start your CRNA degree. Nurse anesthesia programs are labor-intensive, so most students find it difficult to work while attending CRNA school. However, you can save up as much as possible before starting school.

If you must work during your degree, you may want to limit your hours.

5. Get an Employer to Pay for Your Education

Will a hospital pay you to go to CRNA school? Hospitals and groups often offer tuition reimbursement to offset loan debt. However, you may have to sign a tuition reimbursement payback agreement, which means you may have to pay back your reimbursement if you leave the company within a specific period of time.

Ask your human resources office and read the fine print if your hospital has an agreement requiring you to repay tuition if you are laid off or fired.

6. Private Student Loans

Private student loans originate with a bank, credit union, or online lender, unlike government-offered federal student loans. Private student loans can fill in the gaps between tuition and your savings, grants, scholarships, and federal student loans.

It’s a good idea to explore the interest rates, fees, repayment terms, discharge, and repayment options among private student loan lenders.

The application process involves submitting your personal information, the school you plan to attend, your graduation date, and the loan amount you need. You must also agree to the lender’s terms and conditions.

It’s important to note that private student loans don’t offer the same borrower protections, such as income-driven repayment plans, as federal student loans, so they are typically considered an option only after you have thoroughly reviewed all other financing opportunities.

Recommended: Guide to Nursing Student Loans

How Much Can CRNAs Expect to Make?

Nurse anesthetists can expect to earn an average salary of $231,700, or $111.39 per hour. The job outlook for CRNAs will grow about 35% from 2022 to 2034 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The Takeaway

There are many ways to make your dreams of becoming a CRNA a reality. Everyone should file the FAFSA to qualify for federal loans, grants, and other types of funds. The AANA also offers scholarships that you may qualify for. Don’t forget to check with your employer and local businesses for other funds.

If you’ve exhausted all federal student aid options, no-fee private student loans from SoFi can help you pay for school. The online application process is easy, and you can see rates and terms in just minutes. Repayment plans are flexible, so you can find an option that works for your financial plan and budget.

FAQ

Can you get paid for going to CRNA school?

You typically cannot get paid to attend Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) school, but universities often offer a wide variety of merit-based and need-based financial aid options. You may need to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to qualify for certain types of aid. Check with the financial aid offices at the universities you’re considering for more information about your financial aid options.

How much does CRNA school cost?

The cost of Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) school depends on a wide range of factors, including whether you plan to attend an in-state or out-of-state institution or a private or public school. For example, the three-year program at Georgetown University, a private institution, costs $321,771. On the other hand, the three-year program at the University of Iowa for an in-state resident costs $85,690 or $163,805 for an out-of-state resident.

How much do CRNAs typically make?

As a nurse anesthetist, you can expect to make a median salary of $231,700 per year. That’s the equivalent of $111.39 per hour.

About the author

Melissa Brock

Melissa Brock is a higher education and personal finance expert with more than a decade of experience writing online content. She spent 12 years in college admission prior to switching to full-time freelance writing and editing. Read full bio.

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SOISL-Q126-055

A career in medicine can be rewarding, but the high cost of medical school means many students take on additional student debt on top of their existing undergraduate student loans.

Some students defer student loan payments while they’re in medical school, and others choose to refinance their student debt. The right choice for you depends on a number of factors, such as whether you have federal or private student loans. Here’s what to know about refinancing student loans during medical school.

What You Can Expect to Pay

Going to medical school is expensive: The average cost of medical school for 2025 graduates was $255,497 for four years at a private institution and $161,222 at a public institution, according to the Education Data Initiative.

Many students need loans to cover the high cost of medical school tuition and other educational expenses. In fact, 70% of medical school students graduating in 2025 used loans specifically to help pay for medical school (separate from any undergraduate debt). The average medical school graduate owes $246,659 in total student loan debt, which includes undergraduate debt.

If you don’t have the option of in-school deferment for your undergraduate loans while you’re enrolled in medical school, refinancing those loans might be worthwhile and could help lower your loan payments while you’re in medical school. Here’s what you need to know to decide whether refinancing loans as a medical student is right for you.

Can You Refinance Student Loans During Medical School?

Whether you have federal or private student debt, you can technically refinance your student loans at any time along your journey toward becoming a physician.

Through refinancing, you can combine multiple student loans of any type — federal or private — into one new refinanced loan. This new loan is from a private lender and comes with its own interest rate and loan term.

The lender will repay the original loans you included in the refinancing process. You’ll then repay the lender, based on the details of your refinance loan agreement, in incremental monthly payments.

Another Option for Federal Student Loans During Medical School

It’s important to know that if you have federal student loans, refinancing them will remove you from the federal student loan program.

Keeping your federal student loans within the Department of Education’s loan system gives you access to benefits and protections that can be useful while you’re in medical school, such as extended deferment or forbearance.

Generally, student loan deferment is applied automatically to federal Direct Loans of borrowers who are enrolled at least half-time at an eligible school. If your federal student loans from your undergrad program weren’t placed on in-school deferment, reach out to your school and ask them to report your enrollment status.

This student loan refinancing alternative can postpone your monthly payment requirement until after you leave school. However, if you borrowed through Direct Unsubsidized Loans or Direct PLUS Loans, you’re responsible for repaying interest that accrues during this time.

Pros of Refinancing During Medical School

A student loan refinance during medical school can offer benefits.

You Could Extend Your Loan Term.

Generally, once you’ve signed your student loan agreement, you’ve committed to a specific repayment term. For example, if your private student loan has a 5-year term, you’ll need to repay the loan’s balance, plus interest, in that time period.

However, repaying your loan balance while attending medical school might be difficult. With student loan refinancing, you can choose to stretch your repayment timeline over a longer term, such as 10 or 15 years.

You Could Secure Lower Monthly Payments.

When you extend your student loan refinance term, your monthly installment payments will often become smaller, since they’re stretched over a longer period. Prolonging your loan term can result in paying more interest over the life of the loan, but the likelihood of a lower monthly payment means you could have more funds in your budget to meet the day-to-day costs of medical school.

Some Refinancing Lenders Offer Deferment.

Some refinancing lenders offer borrowers the option to defer their student loan refinance payments while in medical school. Generally, you’ll need to meet the lender’s minimum enrollment status and possibly other requirements.

This benefit, however, isn’t offered by all lenders, so always confirm with the lender before finalizing any student loan refinance offer.

Recommended: A Guide to Refinancing Student Loans

Cons of Refinancing During Medical School

Although there are benefits to refinancing your student loans, there are downsides to this repayment strategy as well.

You Could Pay More Interest Over Time.

Extending your loan term can cause you to pay more interest over the life of the loan, assuming you don’t make extra monthly payments. This means that you’ll ultimately pay more overall for your undergraduate degree.

You’ll Lose Access to Loan Forgiveness.

If you refinance federal student loans, you’ll lose access to federal benefits and protections. Physicians who expect to work in the government or nonprofit sector might be eligible for loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program.

To be eligible for forgiveness, you must have eligible Direct Loans and have made 120 qualifying payments toward your federal loan debt while working for a qualifying employer. After you meet PSLF requirements, the program forgives the remainder of your eligible federal loan balance.

You’ll lose access to this significant benefit if you refinance federal loans into a private loan.

Should You Refinance Your Student Loans?

Student loan refinancing is a strategy that can be advantageous for certain borrowers in specific circumstances. For instance, it might be a good option for borrowers who already have a private undergraduate loan and simply want to lower their interest rate to save money.

The option to extend your term can also make refinancing a helpful strategy if your main goal is to lower your monthly undergraduate loan payments. Borrowers who have adequate savings, have a reliable income while in medical school, and are confident that they won’t participate in programs such as PSLF might benefit most.

Assess your current financial situation, and talk to your loan servicer or undergraduate loan lender to get a full understanding of your repayment options during medical school.

Refinancing Student Loans With SoFi

Looking to lower your monthly student loan payment? Refinancing may be one way to do it — by extending your loan term, getting a lower interest rate than what you currently have, or both. (Please note that refinancing federal loans makes them ineligible for federal forgiveness and protections. Also, lengthening your loan term may mean paying more in interest over the life of the loan.) SoFi student loan refinancing offers flexible terms that fit your budget.

FAQ

Can you refinance student loans during residency?

Yes, you can refinance student loans while in residency. However, if you refinance federal loans, that portion of your student debt will become ineligible for federal loan forgiveness in the future.

Do doctors ever pay off their student loans?

Yes, many doctors pay off their student loans, though how they do so can vary. Some start making small payments during residency or apply for an income-driven repayment plan, while others may refinance or pursue loan forgiveness programs.

When should I refinance my medical student loans?

You can explore private student loan refinancing at any time, especially if your income is stable and your credit has improved since you first took out the loan. If you have federal student loan debt, consider whether you’ll pursue loan forgiveness at any point along your career journey. If you might, you’ll need to keep your student loans within the federal loan program to be eligible for forgiveness.

Photo credit: iStock/Edwin Tan

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Terms and conditions apply. SoFi Refinance Student Loans are private loans. When you refinance federal loans with a SoFi loan, YOU FORFEIT YOUR ELIGIBILITY FOR ALL FEDERAL LOAN BENEFITS, including all flexible federal repayment and forgiveness options that are or may become available to federal student loan borrowers including, but not limited to: Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), Income-Based Repayment, Income-Contingent Repayment, extended repayment plans, PAYE or SAVE. Lowest rates reserved for the most creditworthy borrowers. Learn more at SoFi.com/eligibility. SoFi Refinance Student Loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. NMLS #696891 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org).

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SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A., NMLS #696891 (Member FDIC). For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal. Equal Housing Lender.