by our College Data Analytics TeamPharmacy was the 51st most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 15,637 degrees in this year alone. This is a difference of 221 over the prior year, a growth of 1.4%.
This year's Best Pharmacy Schools ranking compares 133 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of pharmacy programs later in this article.
When studying Pharmacy, you’ll learn that understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents will help you be successful in a wide range of jobs. Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times and talking to others to convey information effectively are all required skills for careers related to this major.
pharmacy degree applicants generally need have finished high school or their GED. Many schools may also have GPA and SAT/ACT score minimums that must be met. Once you obtain your degree, additional pharmacy certifications required to pursue a career in this field.
Pharmacy degree levels vary. Pharmacy programs offered by schools range from a to a , which is the highest pharmacy degree you can get. Depending on the pharmacy degree you choose, obtaining your diploma can take anwhere from 1 to 4+ years.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A doctor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to pharmacy, with approximately 30.9% of workers getting one. People currently working in careers related to pharmacy tend obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral Degree | 32.9% |
| First Professional Degree | 25.2% |
| Master’s Degree | 14.3% |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 10.7% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 7.6% |
Most workers in pharmacy have at least a master's degree. See the chart below for the most common degree level workers in pharmacy have received.
This of course varies depending on which pharmacy career you choose.
Want a job when you graduate with your pharmacy degree? Pharmacy careers are expected to grow 14.3% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to pharmacy.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Pharmacists | 329,900 | 5.6% |
| Health Specialties Professors | 294,000 | 25.9% |
As you might expect, salaries for pharmacy graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for pharmacy graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers pharmacy grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Pharmacists | $123,670 |
| Health Specialties Professors | $122,320 |
With over 172 different pharmacy degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased pharmacy school rankings to help you with this.
One of 11 majors within the Pharmacy/Pharmaceutical Sciences area of study, Pharmacy has other similar majors worth exploring.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Pharmaceutical Sciences | 2,139 |
| Other Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration | 876 |
| Pharmaceutics and Drug Design | 503 |
| Pharmacy Administration and Pharmacy Policy and Regulatory Affairs | 240 |
| Clinical and Industrial Drug Development | 206 |
