2026 Best Value Pharmaceutics and Drug Design Master’s Degree Schools

[Pharmaceutics and Drug Design](/majors/health-care-professions/pharmacy-pharmaceutical-sciences/pharmaceutics-and-drug-design/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong pharmaceutics and drug design education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 39 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for pharmaceutics and drug design students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Pharmaceutics and Drug Design Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in pharmaceutics and drug design, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Pharmaceutics and Drug Design Schools
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earned the #1 spot for value among pharmaceutics and drug design schools in the United States. Located in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,994, with out-of-state students paying around $41,203. Pharmaceutics And Drug Design graduates carry a median of $15,117 in student loans. Soon after graduation, pharmaceutics and drug design degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill generally make around $142,689. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill admits about 15% of applicants.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value pharmaceutics and drug design schools. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,973, with out-of-state students paying around $43,209. Students borrow a median of $16,481 to complete the pharmaceutics and drug design program here. Soon after graduation, pharmaceutics and drug design degree recipients from University Of Washington Seattle Campus generally make around $119,313. Set against $16,481 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 39%.
University Of Mississippi Main Campus came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value pharmaceutics and drug design schools. University Of Mississippi Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of University. Students from in state pay about $9,772 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $28,600. Typical student debt for pharmaceutics and drug design graduates is $21,000. Early-career pharmaceutics and drug design graduates make about $96,228. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 97%.
University Of Georgia is a great value for students pursuing a degree in pharmaceutics and drug design, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,450, compared with $31,688 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,761 to complete the pharmaceutics and drug design program here. Early-career pharmaceutics and drug design graduates make about $117,869. Set against $23,761 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Georgia admits about 38% of applicants.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a great value for students pursuing a degree in pharmaceutics and drug design, landing the #5 spot this year. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. Students from in state pay about $18,848 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $63,081. Students borrow a median of $15,775 to complete the pharmaceutics and drug design program here. Early-career pharmaceutics and drug design graduates make about $66,254. Set against $15,775 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 16%.
University Of Wisconsin Madison came in at #6 for value in pharmaceutics and drug design this year. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,603, while out-of-state students pay about $42,103. Pharmaceutics And Drug Design graduates carry a median of $21,813 in student loans. Soon after graduation, pharmaceutics and drug design degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $94,918. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Kansas placed #7 among the best values for pharmaceutics and drug design. Set in the city of Lawrence, University Of Kansas is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,102, with out-of-state students paying around $30,432. Pharmaceutics And Drug Design graduates carry a median of $19,151 in student loans. Pharmaceutics And Drug Design graduates of University Of Kansas earn a median of $115,842 early in their careers. Set against $19,151 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Kentucky placed #8 among the best values for pharmaceutics and drug design. Located in the city of Lexington, University Of Kentucky is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,502, with out-of-state students paying around $34,140. Typical student debt for pharmaceutics and drug design graduates is $24,094. Pharmaceutics And Drug Design graduates of University Of Kentucky earn a median of $90,985 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,094 median debt. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Texas Health Science Center landed the #9 spot for pharmaceutics and drug design value this year. University Of North Texas Health Science Center is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Fort Worth. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,224, compared with $24,415 for out-of-state students. Early-career pharmaceutics and drug design graduates make about $106,679.
University At Buffalo landed the #10 spot for pharmaceutics and drug design value this year. Located in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,936, compared with $31,536 for out-of-state students. Pharmaceutics And Drug Design graduates carry a median of $22,232 in student loans. Pharmaceutics And Drug Design graduates of University At Buffalo earn a median of $52,403 early in their careers. Set against $22,232 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Long Island University C W Post Campus ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value pharmaceutics and drug design schools. Long Island University C W Post Campus is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Brookville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,432. Typical student debt for pharmaceutics and drug design graduates is $25,000. Pharmaceutics And Drug Design graduates of Long Island University C W Post Campus earn a median of $98,859 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Long Island University C W Post Campus admits about 86% of applicants.
University Of Maryland Baltimore came in at #12 for value in pharmaceutics and drug design this year. Set in the city of Baltimore, University Of Maryland Baltimore is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,638 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $44,811. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete the pharmaceutics and drug design program here. Early-career pharmaceutics and drug design graduates make about $112,788. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Temple University earned the #13 position for value in pharmaceutics and drug design this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Temple University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $23,005, while out-of-state students pay about $38,805. Pharmaceutics And Drug Design graduates carry a median of $26,259 in student loans. Pharmaceutics And Drug Design graduates of Temple University earn a median of $117,770 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,259 median debt. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Southern California landed the #14 spot for pharmaceutics and drug design value this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $71,647 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for pharmaceutics and drug design graduates is $15,625. Early-career pharmaceutics and drug design graduates make about $114,101. Set against $15,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 10% of applicants are accepted.
Northeast Ohio Medical University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value pharmaceutics and drug design schools. Northeast Ohio Medical University is a small public school located in the suburb of Rootstown. Soon after graduation, pharmaceutics and drug design degree recipients from Northeast Ohio Medical University generally make around $87,003.
Massachusetts College Of Pharmacy And Health Sciences earned the #16 position for value in pharmaceutics and drug design this year. Massachusetts College Of Pharmacy And Health Sciences is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. In-state tuition and fees average $40,530. Typical student debt for pharmaceutics and drug design graduates is $27,000. Early-career pharmaceutics and drug design graduates make about $88,535. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Massachusetts College Of Pharmacy And Health Sciences admits about 85% of applicants.
Other Pharmaceutics and Drug Design Degree Levels
Explore the best-value pharmaceutics and drug design schools at other degree levels:
View All Pharmaceutics and Drug Design Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 39 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.