by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 180 U.S. colleges awarded 17,399 degrees and certificates in Pharmacy/Pharmaceutical Sciences. Doctorates are the most popular award, at 67% of graduates. College Factual ranks 152 schools in its 2027 Best Pharmacy/Pharmaceutical Sciences Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $100,478 one year after completing, rising to $136,209 after four years.
Pharmacists know everything about medication from how it works to dangerous interactions between prescriptions. If you would like to prepare medications and counsel patients on the proper use of certain drugs, consider majoring in Pharmacy/Pharmaceutical Sciences.
Pharmacists oversee pharmacies, work with patients, keep records of pervious prescriptions, and inform people about potential side effects of medications. If you decide to major in this area of study, you will take classes in chemistry, math, biology, anatomy and physiology, and medical ethics to learn the scientific background of medications and the reactions they cause within the body.
Along with the option to major in general Pharmacy, students are also able to concentrate in certain areas such as Pharmacy Policy and Regulatory Affairs, Pharmaceutics and Drug Design, Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Natural Products Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, Clinical and Industrial Drug Development, Pharmaceutical Economics, Physical Pharmacy and Cosmetic Sciences, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmaceutical Marketing and Management, and many others.
Studying Pharmacy/Pharmaceutical Sciences explores Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, And Administration.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, pharmacy/pharmaceutical sciences is a popular field of study, with 17,399 degrees awarded annually. 180 colleges award pharmacy/pharmaceutical sciences degrees, an average of 97 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 663.
By level, the 17,399 awards include 36 associate degrees, 2,755 bachelor’s degrees, 3,022 master’s degrees and 11,586 doctorates.
Women earned 67% of pharmacy/pharmaceutical sciences degrees and certificates in the latest year (11,635 of 17,399). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (7,236) and Asian (3,436), and international students earned 1,989.
College Factual ranks 152 schools in its 2027 Best Pharmacy/Pharmaceutical Sciences Schools ranking, including 40 for bachelor’s degrees, 32 for master’s degrees and 136 for doctorates. It also ranks pharmacy/pharmaceutical sciences schools within 48 states. In all, 180 colleges offer pharmacy/pharmaceutical sciences programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Pharmacy/Pharmaceutical Sciences Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common pharmacy/pharmaceutical sciences credential is the doctorate: 11,586 of the 17,399 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to pharmacy/pharmaceutical sciences call most for Speaking, Reading Comprehension and Critical Thinking, and for knowledge of English Language, Education and Training and Administration and Management, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Oral Comprehension.
Pharmacy/Pharmaceutical Sciences students should have strong analytical skills and pay close attention to detail. As a professional, they will be responsible for checking patients' history to ensure they are not taking other medications that may be dangerous to mix with new ones. They must also fill prescriptions accurately and keep them organized so they go to the right person. Since you will counsel people picking up prescriptions, it is important to have strong interpersonal and communication skills in order to relay understandable information.
Most graduates in this field work fulltime in pharmacies, drug stores, hospitals, and grocery stores, but a percentage of pharmacists are part time. Pharmacies are usually open during normal business hours, but some Pharmacy/Pharmaceutical Sciences professionals may work on weekends or at night to ensure people can get medication whenever necessary. Other graduates pursue careers in medical labs researching new and more effective drugs.
While some areas in this field only require a bachelor's degree, students who are interested in becoming pharmacists must receive their Doctor of Pharmacy degree. It typically takes 4 years to finish a doctoral program. Along with an advanced degree, graduates must also be licensed in the state they plan on working in.
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How long a pharmacy/pharmaceutical sciences degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 36 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 2,755 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 3,022 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 11,586 |
Master’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to pharmacy/pharmaceutical sciences, at 24.1%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 24.1% |
| Doctoral degree | 23.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 22.6% |
| Post-doctoral training | 12.6% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 5.2% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 4.3% |
| Some college courses | 3.2% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.4% |
| First professional degree | 0.7% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.6% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.4% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
28 occupations are related to Pharmacy/Pharmaceutical Sciences, with an average median salary of $109,817; the strongest outlook belongs to Hydroelectric Production Managers, at 14.5% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Associate Professor, Instructor, Professor and Lecturer.
Pharmacy/Pharmaceutical Sciences graduates typically work in pharmacies located in drug stores, hospitals, and grocery stores. However, some people work in medical labs creating new drugs to fight diseases.
The occupation related to pharmacy/pharmaceutical sciences with the most projected jobs is Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary, at 1,335,407.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
| Pharmacists | 1,131,161 | 14.2% |
| Economics Teachers, Postsecondary | 830,747 | 2.9% |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | 542,888 | 10.4% |
| Geothermal Production Managers | 503,620 | 1.9% |
| Managers, All Other | 468,025 | 6.2% |
| Biomass Power Plant Managers | 450,707 | 4.2% |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | 419,330 | 8.8% |
Pharmacy/Pharmaceutical Sciences graduates earn a median $100,478 one year after completing their program, $136,209 after four years and $140,038 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $100,478 |
| 4 years | $136,209 |
| 5 years | $140,038 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to pharmacy/pharmaceutical sciences is Water Resource Specialists, with a median salary of $179,716.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Water Resource Specialists | $179,716 |
| Wind Energy Development Managers | $169,952 |
| Loss Prevention Managers | $165,723 |
| Biofuels Production Managers | $164,096 |
| Geothermal Production Managers | $160,381 |
| Biomass Power Plant Managers | $146,025 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $132,227 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $129,557 |
Pharmacy/Pharmaceutical Sciences includes 12 concentrations that together award 17,399 degrees a year; by graduates, the largest are Pharmacy (11,415), Pharmaceutical Sciences (2,572) and Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration, Other (911). It has 30 similar majors in the Health Professions field, which together award 1,020,061 degrees a year; the largest are Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (318,053), Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants (110,132) and Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (98,474). Browse all Health Professions majors or the full list of college majors.
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