31 CRNA Schools That Consider Your Last 60 Credit Hours
Verified directly from each program's admissions page. Updated April 2026.
If your cumulative GPA is below 3.0, you've probably been told CRNA school isn't realistic. That's not the full picture. Of the 155 accredited CRNA programs in the United States, 31 of them give meaningful weight to your last 60 credit hours of coursework — meaning the GPA from your most recent semesters can carry you past programs that would otherwise screen you out on cumulative alone.
This page is the verified list. Every program below was checked directly against its current admissions page in April 2026. No outdated blog posts, no secondhand claims. Where the policy was ambiguous, the program was excluded.
One important caveat before you read further: "uses last 60" means very different things at different schools. Some programs use it as their sole GPA metric. Others let you qualify with either cumulative or last 60. A few weight it alongside other GPAs in a composite score, and one program only considers it at the director's discretion. The category column tells you which mechanism applies to each program — and that distinction matters more than most applicants realize.
The four ways CRNA programs use last 60 credit hours
Sole metric — 20 programs The program uses your last 60 GPA as the GPA they evaluate. Your cumulative GPA may not be calculated at all, or it's a soft check. This is the most forgiving category for applicants with a low cumulative. What this means: if your last 60 is strong, you're in the running regardless of your earlier grades.
Alternative — 4 programs The program lets you qualify with either your cumulative GPA or your last 60 GPA. Meeting either threshold gets you into the review pool. What this means: a strong last 60 fully substitutes for a weak cumulative for application eligibility.
Composite — 6 programs The program calculates several GPAs (cumulative, science, last 60, sometimes graduate) and scores all of them together in an admissions rubric. Last 60 is one input among several. What this means: a strong last 60 helps but does not neutralize a weak cumulative. These programs are best for applicants whose cumulative is borderline rather than low.
Discretionary — 1 program The program may consider last 60 only at the director's discretion, typically requiring a written petition. What this means: this is not a guaranteed alternative path. Mayo Clinic is the only program in this category.
A note on what "low GPA" actually means here. Most of these programs still expect 3.0 in your last 60 credits. A handful go higher (Samuel Merritt requires 3.4, Kaiser Permanente 3.2, NorthShore 3.5). The programs in this list are not low-bar — they're high-bar with a more recent measurement window. If you're working on GPA recovery, your goal is a 3.5+ in your last 60 to be competitive, not just to clear the minimum.
Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University (FranU)
Baton Rouge
LA
DNP
Last 60 hours GPA evaluated as one of three GPAs (with overall and science).
Not specified
Verify on program site →
Western Carolina University
Cullowhee
NC
DNP
Minimum GPA in last 60 hours of coursework (less than 3.0 will not be considered).
3.0
Verify on program site →
Michigan State University
East Lansing
MI
DNP
Minimum GPA for total credits completed during the second half of the BSN (last 60 equivalent).
3.0
Verify on program site →
NorthShore University HealthSystem (Endeavor Health) / DePaul
Evanston
IL
DNP
Compiled GPA from previous 40 semester / 60 quarter hours of college coursework.
3.5
Verify on program site →
Texas Wesleyan University
Fort Worth
TX
DNAP
Overall GPA OR last 60 hours GPA OR science GPA - applicant must meet at least one.
3.0
Verify on program site →
Cal State University Fullerton
Fullerton
CA
DNP
Last 60 semester unit GPA used for admission (sole metric).
3.5+ competitive
Verify on program site →
Marian University
Indianapolis
IN
DNAP
Graduate degree GPA and last 60 credit hours both taken into consideration alongside cumulative GPA as part of holistic review. CCRN with score report required.
3.0
Verify on program site →
University of North Florida (UNF)
Jacksonville
FL
DNP
Minimum GPA from undergraduate nursing major (generally the last 60 hours).
3.0
Verify on program site →
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS)
Little Rock
AR
DNP
Minimum GPA in last 60 hours of undergraduate coursework OR in graduate coursework.
3.0
Verify on program site →
Barry University
Miami Shores
FL
DNP
Minimum GPA required; deference given to last 60 hours of undergraduate work.
3.2
Verify on program site →
George Fox University
Newberg
OR
DNP
Minimum GPA in last 60 units/credits of nursing courses.
3.0
Verify on program site →
AdventHealth University
Orlando
FL
DNAP
Cumulative GPA calculation IS the last 60 credit hours (last 60 used in lieu of cumulative).
Not specified
Verify on program site →
Kaiser Permanente School of Anesthesia
Pasadena
CA
DNP
Minimum GPA in last 60 semester units of college/university coursework (sole metric).
3.2
Verify on program site →
Duquesne University
Pittsburgh
PA
DNAP
3.2 GPA minimum. Reviews both cumulative and last 60 credit hours as part of overall academic profile evaluation. 2 years ICU required. One of PA's stricter programs.
3.2
Verify on program site →
UT Health San Antonio
San Antonio
TX
DNP
GPA from last 60 hours of college coursework (sole stated GPA metric).
3.0
Verify on program site →
Newman University
Wichita
KS
DNAP
Cumulative GPA OR last 60 credit hours GPA accepted as alternative.
3.2 (last 60); 3.0 (cumulative)
Verify on program site →
Samford University
Birmingham
AL
DNP
Calculated as one of four GPAs (cumulative, last 60, science/math, graduate); holistic review.
Not specified
Verify on program site →
Wayne State University
Detroit
MI
DNAP
Overall minimum GPA for the last 60 credits completed (sole stated metric).
3.0
Verify on program site →
UPMC Hamot / Gannon University
Erie
PA
DNP
Cumulative GPA in last 60 hours of undergraduate coursework.
3.0
Verify on program site →
Texas Christian University (TCU)
Fort Worth
TX
DNAP
Last 60 hours GPA required (in addition to overall and science GPA - all three required).
3.0
Verify on program site →
National University
Fresno
CA
DNAP
Evaluates 4 GPAs: cumulative, last 60 cumulative, science cumulative, last 60 science.
3.3 minimum (3.7 preferred)
Verify on program site →
University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB)
Galveston
TX
DNP
Minimum GPA for last 60 hours of all bachelors and higher level coursework.
3.0
Verify on program site →
Union University
Jackson
TN
DNP
Last 60 hours GPA stated as primary GPA requirement; explicit calculation method including retake handling.
3.0
Verify on program site →
Arkansas State University (Jonesboro)
Jonesboro
AR
DNP
Cumulative GPA OR last 60 hours GPA accepted as alternative path to qualify for review.
3.25
Verify on program site →
Florida International University (FIU)
Miami
FL
DNP
Minimum GPA in last 60 credits of undergraduate coursework (sole stated metric).
3.0
Verify on program site →
Murray State University
Murray
KY
DNP
Reviews overall GPA, last 60 credit hours, and science GPA as part of holistic review process. Blended distance-learning format with Baptist Health Deaconess Madisonville clinical site.
3.0
Verify on program site →
Samuel Merritt University
Oakland
CA
DNP
Most recent 60 unit GPA taken directly from NursingCAS application; not recalculated by SMU.
3.4 (avg accepted 3.66)
Verify on program site →
University of Wisconsin Oshkosh
Oshkosh
WI
DNP
Calculates 4 GPAs: overall undergraduate, cumulative nursing, science, and last 60 hours of undergraduate.
Not specified
Verify on program site →
La Salle University
Philadelphia
PA
DNP
GPA requirement calculated from last 60 credit hours of undergraduate nursing degree. CCRN or CEN with score report required. Rolling admissions with January 15 priority deadline.
3.2
Verify on program site →
Mayo Clinic College of Medicine & Science
Rochester
MN
DNAP
May submit last 60 cumulative credits if cumulative GPA does not meet 3.25 threshold.
3.25
Verify on program site →
Missouri State University
Springfield
MO
DNAP
Minimum GPA for last 60 hours of undergraduate coursework.
3.0
Verify on program site →
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "last 60 credit hours" mean for CRNA admissions? It means the program calculates your GPA using only your most recent 60 credit hours of college coursework rather than your full undergraduate record. For most applicants, this captures the final two years of a BSN program plus any post-baccalaureate coursework. Programs that use this approach are giving weight to recent academic performance rather than penalizing applicants for grades earned years earlier.
Can I get into CRNA school with a low cumulative GPA? Yes, if your last 60 credit hours show strong performance. The 27 programs on this list publicly state that they consider the last 60 in admissions, which means a 2.6 cumulative paired with a 3.6 last 60 is a viable application at programs in the "Sole metric" or "Alternative" categories. You'll still need strong ICU experience, CCRN certification, and a competitive interview — last 60 helps you clear the GPA filter, not the entire admissions process.
How do I calculate my last 60 GPA? Most programs use NursingCAS, which calculates this automatically when you submit your application. You can also estimate it manually by listing your most recent courses chronologically, working backward until you reach 60 credit hours, and computing the GPA using standard 4.0-scale grade points. If a partial semester is needed to reach exactly 60, programs handle this differently — Union University, for example, takes the highest-grade course from that semester.
Does my last 60 credits include graduate coursework? It depends on the program. UAMS allows last 60 from undergraduate OR graduate coursework. Most others use undergraduate only. If you have a master's degree in a related field, contact the program directly to confirm whether graduate credits count toward the calculation.
How often is this list updated? This list was last verified in April 2026. Admissions policies change, so we recommend checking the source link for any program before applying. We update the list at least twice per year and after any major reported policy change. If you've spotted an outdated entry, contact us so we can re-verify.