Marquette's Nurse Anesthetist DNP prepares critical-care nurses for advanced anesthesia practice through a full-time, cohort-based program in Milwaukee. Students study regional and general anesthesia alongside patient safety, diagnostics, leadership and health care systems. The curriculum combines classroom learning and simulation with clinical experiences across Wisconsin. Applicants need a nursing degree, RN licensure and qualifying critical-care experience.
- Program
- Nurse Anesthetist DNP
- Credential
- Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
- Location
- Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
- Casper
- Required
- Next deadline
- December 15, 2026 (Fall 2027 application and required materials)
- Interview
- Interview
- Length
- 36 months, nine semesters, 91 credits, full-time
Casper Requirement for Marquette University Nurse Anesthesia
Marquette University Nurse Anesthesia requires Casper for the 2026-2027 cycle.
- Test to book
- Casper
Check available Casper test dates in your Acuity Insights account at takecasper.com.
All applicants must complete Casper by the application deadline. Marquette describes it as an online, open-response situational judgment test and directs applicants to register through takecasper.com.
Casper format
Casper is an online, open-response situational judgment test run by Acuity Insights. The current format has 11 scenarios (4 video-response and 7 typed-response) with 2 questions each and takes about 65 to 85 minutes, including optional breaks. Typed-response scenarios allow 3.5 minutes to answer both questions.
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Marquette University Nurse Anesthesia Application Deadlines 2026-2027
- Apply through
- Marquette University Graduate School online application portal
- Applications open
- September 1, 2026
- Application fee
- $50
| What | When |
|---|---|
| Fall 2027 application and required materials | December 15, 2026upcoming |
Select the Graduate School/Graduate School of Management 2027 application. Only complete applications received by the deadline are reviewed; admission is not rolling. Current Marquette students and alumni, McNair Scholars, Trinity Fellowship applicants and attendees of specified Marquette visit events may receive an application-fee waiver.
Marquette University Nurse Anesthesia Admissions Statistics
Period: 2026 admission cohort
- Applicants: 223
- Admitted: 16
- Average GPA: 3.81 nursing; 3.89 science
- Average ICU experience: 4.78 years
- 2025 graduating cohort attrition: 1
- 2025 graduating cohort NCE first-attempt pass rate: 100%
- 2025 graduating cohort NCE overall pass rate: 100%
- 2025 graduating cohort employment within six months: 100%
Eligibility Requirements for Marquette University Nurse Anesthesia
- Degree / credits
A baccalaureate or entry-to-practice graduate degree in nursing from a nationally accredited college or university; foreign nursing education requires a formal evaluation documenting equivalence to a U.S. BSN.
- Residency
Qualifying critical-care RN experience must be in the United States, its territories or a U.S. military hospital outside the United States.
- Citizenship
International applicants may apply if they meet the program's U.S. RN licensure and critical-care experience requirements; graduates of foreign nursing schools must meet the stated certification and Wisconsin licensure requirements.
- Language proficiency
International applicants submit TOEFL or other accepted proof of English proficiency when required.
Admission pathways
- Nursing education pathways: Direct-entry or entry-to-practice MSN, ADN-to-BSN and advanced nursing practice degree applicants are equally considered.
Other requirements
- RN license: Unencumbered U.S. RN license to apply; Wisconsin or eNLC license at admission.
- CCRN: Adult or pediatric certification by application.
- BLS, ACLS and PALS: American Heart Association certifications preferred at application and required before matriculation; maintain throughout the program.
- After acceptance: Acceptance deposit, background check and clinical-site health documentation before coursework.
Selection Factors Marquette University Considers
Prerequisites
| Course | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate statistics | Completed within five years of program start; if older, complete an approved course including inferential analysis by matriculation. Seek program approval; a nationally accredited institution is required, not self-paced or open-enrollment coursework. |
GPA
- How it is calculated
Science GPA includes coursework before or within the nursing degree; updated science coursework taken afterward is noted separately as a post-nursing-degree GPA.
- Minimum
- 3.0/4.0 cumulative nursing-degree GPA and 3.0/4.0 science GPA
A transcript with a nonnumeric GPA requires an institutional conversion to a 4.0 scale.
Admissions tests
- English proficiency (required for some applicants): For applicants whose bachelor's or applicable master's instruction was not in English; accepted routes include TOEFL iBT, IELTS and specified English-language programs. General graduate minimums include TOEFL iBT 80 overall with 20 in each section, or IELTS 6.5 overall and in each section.
Experience and volunteer hours
Required.
At least one year, preferably two or more years, of full-time critical-care RN experience, excluding orientation, by the application deadline. Qualifying experience develops critical decision-making, assessment and advanced-monitoring skills; Marquette lists surgical, cardiothoracic, coronary, medical, pediatric and neonatal intensive care units.
Supplementary application
Submit transcripts from every college or university attended, including non-degree coursework; three employer-completed recommendation forms, including one from a current direct critical-care supervisor; and a response of no more than 250 words to the specified essay question. Reference letters do not replace the forms.
How applicants are ranked
Complete applications receive holistic review after the deadline. Marquette considers academic history and science grades, critical-care experience and leadership, employer recommendations, the essay, CRNA shadowing and understanding of the specialty. Not all qualified applicants receive an interview.
Interview Format at Marquette University
Format: Interview
Invitation-only virtual asynchronous or synchronous interview, followed by an invitation-only, on-campus personal interview with the Nurse Anesthesia Admissions Committee.
- Who is invited
- Selected applicants after complete-application review; not all qualified applicants are invited.
- When
- Invitations by mid-January; interviews typically February through early March; final decisions in early March.
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Start Practicing FreeCurriculum at Marquette University Nurse Anesthesia
- Program length
- 36 months, nine semesters, 91 credits, full-time
- Structure
Two primarily didactic semesters, two combining coursework and part-time clinicals, then five with full-time clinicals plus coursework or the DNP project.
- Campuses
- Milwaukee
Includes simulation, anesthesia principles and pharmacology, clinical residencies, specialty immersions and a DNP project. Transfer credits do not meet this plan of study.
Campus and facilities
Courses are primarily in person, with some hybrid or online teaching; simulation and clinicals are in person. All clinical rotations are in Wisconsin. Most sites are within a 90-minute drive of campus, but assignments can be up to four hours from Milwaukee; students pay their travel and lodging expenses.
Tuition and Funding at Marquette University
- Published tuition for students beginning Fall 2026: $14,661 per semester for nine semesters; $131,950 stated program total
- Nurse anesthesia annual technology and evaluation fees: $2,925, paid each fall
- Nonrefundable acceptance deposit: $1,500, applied toward tuition and fees
- Specialty textbooks: Approximately $2,400 for the program
- AANA associate membership: Approximately $300
- Program scrubs: $75
Tuition is charged per semester and locked at the first-semester rate; certification, other course resources and clinical travel or lodging can add costs.
Marquette University's Mission and Values
Through a transformational Catholic, Jesuit education, Marquette University College of Nursing prepares nurse leaders to promote health, healing and social justice through clinical practice and development of nursing knowledge.
How to Prepare Your Marquette University Nurse Anesthesia Application
- Confirm nursing and science GPAs meet 3.0.
- Verify statistics timing and obtain course approval if needed.
- Document qualifying ICU experience and obtain CCRN.
- Request three employer recommendation forms, including the current supervisor's.
- Prepare the essay and complete Casper by the application deadline.
- Practise for a possible virtual interview and subsequent campus interview.
Frequently Asked Questions About Marquette University Nurse Anesthesia
Is Casper required?
Yes, for this admissions cycle; complete it by the application deadline.
When is the application due?
A complete application is due December 15, 2026.
How much ICU experience is needed?
At least one full-time year, excluding orientation, by the deadline; two or more is preferred.
What GPA is required?
At least 3.0 in both the nursing degree and science coursework.
Is CCRN required?
Yes, adult or pediatric CCRN by application.
Are interviews guaranteed?
No; selected applicants receive invitations.
Can credits transfer?
No, the nurse anesthesia plan does not allow transfer courses.
Sources
- Nurse Anesthetist DNP — Marquette University
- Frequently asked questions about Nurse Anesthesia D.N.P. Program — Marquette University
- Apply to Marquette — Graduate School application portal
- Application Instructions and Guidelines — Marquette University
- Nursing, DNP — Marquette University Bulletin
- Admission to the Graduate School — Marquette University Bulletin
- College of Nursing — Marquette University Bulletin
- Graduate Program Application Deadlines — Marquette University
Last updated: September 26, 2026