by our College Data Analytics Team
[Pharmacy](/majors/health-care-professions/pharmacy-pharmaceutical-sciences/pharmacy/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 3 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for pharmacy students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in pharmacy, balancing cost against outcomes.
Ferris State University earned the #1 spot for value among pharmacy schools in Michigan. Ferris State University is a large public school located in the town of Big Rapids. In-state tuition and fees average $14,778. Pharmacy graduates carry a median of $23,562 in student loans. Early-career pharmacy graduates make about $113,856. Set against $23,562 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Ferris State University admits about 91% of applicants.
Wayne State University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value pharmacy schools. Wayne State University is a very large public school located in the city of Detroit. In-state tuition and fees average $16,159, with out-of-state students paying around $34,650. Pharmacy graduates carry a median of $26,689 in student loans. Soon after graduation, pharmacy degree recipients from Wayne State University generally make around $102,554. That is a strong return on a $26,689 median debt. Wayne State University admits about 81% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in pharmacy will find it at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $18,848, while out-of-state students pay about $63,081. Pharmacy graduates carry a median of $15,775 in student loans. Soon after graduation, pharmacy degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $74,688. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.
The ranking above is published 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 · 3 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.