Pharmacy: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Pharmacy is a specialized health sciences discipline focused on the safe, effective, and ethical use of medications to improve patient outcomes. This rigorous academic path equips students with the scientific foundation and clinical expertise needed to manage pharmaceutical care, operate pharmacy services, and provide essential patient counseling in diverse healthcare settings.
- Pharmacology: The study of drug actions, mechanisms, and effects on biological systems, forming the basis for safe and targeted therapeutic interventions.
- Pharmaceutical Chemistry: Focuses on the chemical properties, synthesis, and stability of medicinal substances, ensuring drug quality and efficacy.
- Pharmacognosy: The examination of natural medicinal sources, including plants and herbs, to identify and evaluate their therapeutic potential and safety.
- Pharmacy Practice: Emphasizes real-world application of medication management, including prescription dispensing, patient interaction, and collaborative care models.
- Pharmacy Administration: Covers operational aspects such as inventory control, workflow optimization, and leadership in community, hospital, and institutional pharmacy environments.
- Regulatory and Ethical Standards: Explores federal and state laws, compliance protocols, and professional ethics governing the safe and responsible practice of pharmacy.
- Anatomy and Physiology: Provides a comprehensive understanding of human body structure and function, essential for predicting drug interactions and therapeutic responses.
- Chemistry and Biochemistry: Builds foundational knowledge in molecular interactions, metabolic pathways, and the biochemical basis of drug action.
- Mathematics and Physics: Applies quantitative reasoning and physical principles to dosage calculations, compounding, and pharmaceutical formulation processes.
Pharmacy Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Pharmacy Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Pharmacy degrees, including Pharmacists, Medical and Health Services Managers and Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 1,124,430 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmacists 29-1051 | $137,480 | $86,930 - $172,040 | 328,870 | $66.10 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers 11-9111 | $117,960 | $69,680 - $219,080 | 565,840 | $56.71 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1071 | $105,620 | $51,760 - $239,200 | 229,720 | N/A |
Pharmacy Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $101,220 in Oklahoma to $154,813 in District of Columbia—a 53% difference. The highest-paying states include District of Columbia, Washington, and Oregon. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 1,124,430 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Pharmacy by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 100 institutions offering Pharmacy programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Pharmacy is found at MCPHS University (MCPHS) (321 graduates), University of Florida (UF) (236 graduates), St. John's University (SJU), New York (227 graduates), Nova Southeastern University (NSU) (199 graduates), and Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) (186 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 10,570 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MCPHS University (MCPHS) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
321 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | mcphs.edu |
| University of Florida (UF) |
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
236 | Gainesville, Florida | Public | ufl.edu |
| St. John's University (SJU) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
227 | Queens, New York | Private | stjohns.edu |
| Nova Southeastern University (NSU) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
199 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | Private | nova.edu |
| Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
186 | Erie, Pennsylvania | Private | lecom.edu |
| University of Kansas (KU) |
Bachelor's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
182 | Lawrence, Kansas | Public | ku.edu |
| The University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) |
Postbac Cert.
Doctorate (Professional)
|
174 | Memphis, Tennessee | Public | uthsc.edu |
| Long Island University (LIU) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
172 | Brookville, New York | Private | liu.edu |
| University of Southern California (USC) |
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
171 | Los Angeles, California | Private | usc.edu |
| University of the Pacific (UOP) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
169 | Stockton, California | Private | pacific.edu |
| Rutgers University |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
161 | New Brunswick, New Jersey | Public | newbrunswick.rutgers.edu |
| Midwestern University (MWU) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
160 | Downers Grove, Illinois | Private | midwestern.edu |
| University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
149 | Denver, Colorado | Public | ucdenver.edu |
| Roseman University of Health Sciences |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
146 | Henderson, Nevada | Private | roseman.edu |
| Northeastern University (NU) |
Bachelor's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
145 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | northeastern.edu |
| University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
143 | Chicago, Illinois | Public | uic.edu |
| Temple University |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
138 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Public | temple.edu |
| Purdue University (PU) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
136 | West Lafayette, Indiana | Public | purdue.edu |
| University of Kentucky (UK) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
134 | Lexington, Kentucky | Public | uky.edu |
| University of Georgia (UGA) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
128 | Athens, Georgia | Public | uga.edu |
| Ohio Northern University (ONU) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
128 | Ada, Ohio | Private | onu.edu |
| University of Rhode Island (URI) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
127 | Kingston, Rhode Island | Public | web.uri.edu |
| University of Connecticut (UConn) |
Bachelor's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
124 | Storrs, Connecticut | Public | uconn.edu |
| Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (ACPHS) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
124 | Albany, New York | Private | acphs.edu |
| Auburn University (AU) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
121 | Auburn, Alabama | Public | auburn.edu |
| University of California (UCSF) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
120 | San Francisco, California | Public | ucsf.edu |
| University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy (UHSP) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
119 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Private | uhsp.edu |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
119 | Chapel Hill, North Carolina | Public | unc.edu |
| Shenandoah University (SU) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
119 | Winchester, Virginia | Private | su.edu |
| Ohio State University |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
118 | Columbus, Ohio | Public | osu.edu |
| University of Pittsburgh |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
116 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Public | pitt.edu |
| University of Missouri (UMKC) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
115 | Kansas City, Missouri | Public | umkc.edu |
| University at Buffalo (UB) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
115 | Buffalo, New York | Public | buffalo.edu |
| University of Minnesota (UMN) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
114 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Public | twin-cities.umn.edu |
| Saint Joseph's University (SJU) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
114 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | sju.edu |
| Midwestern University (MWU) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
111 | Glendale, Arizona | Private | midwestern.edu |
| Duquesne University |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
110 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Private | duq.edu |
| Mercer University |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
109 | Macon, Georgia | Private | mercer.edu |
| University of Iowa |
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
109 | Iowa City, Iowa | Public | uiowa.edu |
| The University of Texas |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
109 | Austin, Texas | Public | utexas.edu |
| University of Arizona |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
108 | Tucson, Arizona | Public | arizona.edu |
| University of Washington (UW) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
106 | Seattle, Washington | Public | washington.edu |
| University of Houston (UH) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
105 | Houston, Texas | Public | uh.edu |
| Texas A & M University |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
105 | College Station, Texas | Public | tamu.edu |
| Washington State University (WSU) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
103 | Pullman, Washington | Public | wsu.edu |
| Samford University |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
102 | Birmingham, Alabama | Private | samford.edu |
| Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
102 | Richmond, Virginia | Public | vcu.edu |
| University of South Carolina (USC) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
100 | Columbia, South Carolina | Public | sc.edu |
| Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
100 | Lubbock, Texas | Public | ttuhsc.edu |
| Western University of Health Sciences (WesternU) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
99 | Pomona, California | Private | westernu.edu |
| Xavier University of Louisiana (XULA) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
99 | New Orleans, Louisiana | Private | xula.edu |
| Butler University |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
97 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Private | butler.edu |
| University of Toledo (UToledo) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
97 | Toledo, Ohio | Public | utoledo.edu |
| Creighton University |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
96 | Omaha, Nebraska | Private | creighton.edu |
| University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
94 | University, Mississippi | Public | olemiss.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
94 | Madison, Wisconsin | Public | wisc.edu |
| University of Maryland (UMB) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
93 | Baltimore, Maryland | Public | umaryland.edu |
| University of Cincinnati (UC) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
91 | Cincinnati, Ohio | Public | uc.edu |
| Ferris State University (FSU) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
88 | Big Rapids, Michigan | Public | ferris.edu |
| University of North Texas Health Science Center |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
85 | Fort Worth, Texas | Public | unthsc.edu |
| Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
84 | Madison, New Jersey | Private | fdu.edu |
| University of Michigan (U‑M) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
82 | Ann Arbor, Michigan | Public | umich.edu |
| Binghamton University |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
82 | Vestal, New York | Public | binghamton.edu |
| Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
82 | Rootstown, Ohio | Public | neomed.edu |
| Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
81 | Tallahassee, Florida | Public | famu.edu |
| Wingate University |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
81 | Wingate, North Carolina | Private | wingate.edu |
| California Northstate University (CNU) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
81 | Elk Grove, California | Private | cnsu.edu |
| Pacific University |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
80 | Forest Grove, Oregon | Private | pacificu.edu |
| University of South Florida (USF) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
78 | Tampa, Florida | Public | usf.edu |
| Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
78 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | pcom.edu |
| University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
76 | Little Rock, Arkansas | Public | uams.edu |
| Idaho State University (ISU) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
76 | Pocatello, Idaho | Public | isu.edu |
| Wayne State University (WSU) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
76 | Detroit, Michigan | Public | wayne.edu |
| Drake University |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
75 | Des Moines, Iowa | Private | drake.edu |
| Sullivan University |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
75 | Louisville, Kentucky | Private | sullivan.edu |
| University of Hawaii (UHH) |
Bachelor's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
74 | Hilo, Hawaii | Public | hilo.hawaii.edu |
| University of Louisiana (ULM) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
74 | Monroe, Louisiana | Public | ulm.edu |
| University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
70 | San Antonio, Texas | Private | uiw.edu |
| Touro University California (TUC) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
69 | Vallejo, California | Private | tu.edu |
| South University |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
68 | Savannah, Georgia | Private | N/A |
| Southern Illinois University (SIUE) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
68 | Edwardsville, Illinois | Public | siue.edu |
| Campbell University |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
68 | Buies Creek, North Carolina | Private | campbell.edu |
| Wilkes University |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
68 | Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania | Private | wilkes.edu |
| Marshall University |
Postbac Cert.
Doctorate (Professional)
|
68 | Huntington, West Virginia | Public | marshall.edu |
| University of California (UCSD) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
66 | La Jolla, California | Public | ucsd.edu |
| Belmont University |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
66 | Nashville, Tennessee | Private | belmont.edu |
| Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
64 | Charleston, South Carolina | Public | web.musc.edu |
| Manchester University |
Associate's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
63 | North Manchester, Indiana | Private | manchester.edu |
| St. John Fisher University |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
63 | Rochester, New York | Private | sjf.edu |
| Chapman University |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
62 | Orange, California | Private | chapman.edu |
| Texas Southern University (TSU) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
62 | Houston, Texas | Public | tsu.edu |
| West Coast University (WCU) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
62 | Los Angeles, California | Private | westcoastuniversity.edu |
| Regis University |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
61 | Denver, Colorado | Private | regis.edu |
| Loma Linda University (LLU) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
60 | Loma Linda, California | Private | llu.edu |
| North Dakota State University (NDSU) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
59 | Fargo, North Dakota | Public | ndsu.edu |
| University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
58 | Omaha, Nebraska | Public | unmc.edu |
| Oregon State University (OSU) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
58 | Corvallis, Oregon | Public | oregonstate.edu |
| South Dakota State University (SDSU) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
58 | Brookings, South Dakota | Public | sdstate.edu |
| High Point University (HPU) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
57 | High Point, North Carolina | Private | highpoint.edu |
| University of New Mexico (UNM) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
55 | Albuquerque, New Mexico | Public | unm.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Pharmacy programs
How much can I earn with a Pharmacy degree?
Salaries for Pharmacy graduates vary by role and location. Pharmacists earn a median of $137,480 annually, while Medical and Health Services Managers earn around $117,960. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in District of Columbia average $154,813 compared to $101,220 in Oklahoma. Approximately 1,124,430 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Pharmacy programs?
Currently 144 accredited institutions offer Pharmacy degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include MCPHS University (MCPHS) (321 graduates), University of Florida (UF) (236 graduates), and St. John's University (SJU), New York (227 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Pharmacy growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 12,320 in 2010 to a peak of 15,416 in 2020, before declining slightly to 12,167 in 2023-24. This represents a 1% decrease overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with consistent demand, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Pharmacy degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Pharmacists, Medical and Health Services Managers, and Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary. Related occupations employ approximately 1,124,430 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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