Best Value Pharmacy Colleges

Elizabeth City State University delivers the lowest net cost at $7,237 for pharmacy programs, while graduates from West Chester University of Pennsylvania earn $53,608 annually after graduation. This 642% difference in earnings potential reveals the complex value equation facing pharmacy students today. Public universities dominate the affordable end, with seven schools offering net costs under $20,000, yet private institutions like Duquesne University justify higher expenses through stronger alumni networks and specialized facilities. The pharmaceutical industry employs over 300,000 workers nationwide, with retail pharmacies, hospitals, and drug manufacturers creating steady demand for graduates. California's two University of California campuses showcase different pathways: UC Davis graduates earn $32,569 while UC Irvine graduates start at just $17,139, despite similar educational investments. Ohio emerges as a pharmacy education center with three programs, reflecting the state's concentration of healthcare systems and pharmaceutical companies. Graduation rates span from 46% at North Carolina Central to 87.7% at Ohio State, suggesting that institutional support varies significantly across programs.

Programs

$7,237 – $35,487

Net Price Range

$37,226

Avg. Program Earnings

66.2%

Avg. Graduation Rate

50 Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	Program Earnings	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	Elizabeth City State University Elizabeth City, North Carolina	$7,237	$25,194	$3,412	48.1%	74.2%
2	Purdue University-Main Campus West Lafayette, Indiana	$13,945	$41,565	$9,992	83.1%	52.7%
3	North Carolina Central University Durham, North Carolina	$15,028	$39,369	$6,542	46.0%	84.4%
4	West Chester University of Pennsylvania West Chester, Pennsylvania	$22,673	$53,608	$10,687	69.8%	87.9%
5	University of California-Davis Davis, California	$15,288	$32,569	$15,247	85.1%	37.3%
6	University of Toledo Toledo, Ohio	$17,460	$36,041	$12,377	55.6%	92.2%
7	Ohio Northern University Ada, Ohio	$25,727	$51,482	$37,800	74.2%	54.4%
8	Campbell University Buies Creek, North Carolina	$23,991	$45,500	$40,410	55.9%	88.6%
9	Ohio State University-Main Campus Columbus, Ohio	$18,292	$34,420	$12,859	87.7%	52.7%
10	Duquesne University Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania	$34,978	$54,435	$47,146	75.5%	87.5%
11	University of California-Irvine Irvine, California	$12,840	$17,139	$14,237	86.0%	21.2%
12	MCPHS University Boston, Massachusetts	$35,084	$41,937	$38,850	63.3%	88.3%
13	Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Albany, New York	$26,027	$28,598	$40,375	68.8%	66.3%
14	DeSales University Center Valley, Pennsylvania	$30,465	$29,593	$44,800	71.0%	77.2%
15	Drake University Des Moines, Iowa	$30,042	$26,933	$49,944	77.3%	67.2%
16	Temple University Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	$29,219		$22,082	74.7%	79.7%
17	East Tennessee State University Johnson City, Tennessee	$15,794		$9,950	49.9%	85.3%
18	Francis Marion University Florence, South Carolina	$13,451		$11,160	42.7%	82.9%
19	Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	$35,487		$51,340	79.8%	88.7%
20	University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania	$30,074		$21,524	84.3%	49.1%
21	Southwestern Oklahoma State University Weatherford, Oklahoma	$14,542		$8,295	34.7%	76.8%
22	University of Dayton Dayton, Ohio	$31,236		$47,600	81.5%	74.1%
23	Cleveland State University Cleveland, Ohio	$16,065		$12,613	48.9%	85.3%
24	Washington State University Pullman, Washington	$14,401		$12,997	61.6%	83.1%
25	Samford University Birmingham, Alabama	$30,795		$38,144	79.9%	83.3%
26	University of Connecticut-Stamford Stamford, Connecticut	$14,059		$17,472	56.9%	92.2%
27	University of Connecticut-Avery Point Groton, Connecticut	$11,504		$17,462	56.7%	97.4%
28	University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus Waterbury, Connecticut	$8,896		$17,462	59.5%	97.9%
29	University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, Wisconsin	$16,928		$11,205	89.3%	49.1%
30	Concordia University-Wisconsin Mequon, Wisconsin	$26,067		$34,250	64.3%	70.4%
31	West Virginia Wesleyan College Buckhannon, West Virginia	$18,148		$33,494	49.5%	96.4%
32	University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle, Washington	$13,485		$12,643	83.7%	47.5%
33	University of South Carolina-Columbia Columbia, South Carolina	$24,532		$12,688	77.7%	64.1%
34	Hampton University Hampton, Virginia	$32,145		$29,162	55.7%	74.5%
35	Emory & Henry University Emory, Virginia	$20,591		$35,280	53.8%	96.9%
36	The University of Texas at El Paso El Paso, Texas	$10,726		$9,744	45.9%	99.9%
37	The University of Texas at Austin Austin, Texas	$19,678		$11,678	87.6%	31.4%
38	South College Knoxville, Tennessee	$17,182		$17,935	36.7%
39	University of Connecticut-Hartford Campus Hartford, Connecticut	$13,339		$17,452	65.4%	97.3%
40	Belmont University Nashville, Tennessee	$32,096		$41,320	71.7%	96.3%
41	South Dakota State University Brookings, South Dakota	$18,219		$9,299	59.6%	86.1%
42	Northeastern University Boston, Massachusetts	$32,116		$63,141	90.4%	6.8%
43	University of Arizona Tucson, Arizona	$15,960		$13,626	65.9%	86.8%
44	Fresno Pacific University Fresno, California	$14,317		$35,558	55.9%	75.0%
45	University of Connecticut Storrs, Connecticut	$22,886		$20,366	83.8%	54.5%
46	Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University Tallahassee, Florida	$15,847		$5,785	51.9%	32.9%
47	Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach, Florida	$32,751		$37,990	58.9%	94.7%
48	University of Georgia Athens, Georgia	$13,816		$11,180	87.2%	42.6%
49	Mercer University Macon, Georgia	$22,350		$40,890	73.4%	74.7%
50	University of Hawaii at Hilo Hilo, Hawaii	$12,063		$7,838	41.6%	84.2%

Frequently Asked Questions

What explains the $46,945 gap between the cheapest and most expensive pharmacy programs?

Elizabeth City State University charges $7,237 net cost compared to MCPHS University's $35,084, primarily due to public versus private funding structures. Public universities receive state subsidies that reduce student costs, while private institutions rely on tuition revenue to fund operations. However, private schools often provide smaller class sizes, advanced research facilities, and stronger industry connections that can justify higher expenses through better career outcomes.

How do graduation rates correlate with program costs in pharmacy education?

Higher-cost programs generally show stronger completion rates, with Duquesne University achieving 75.5% graduation at $34,978 net cost. However, Ohio State University demonstrates that public institutions can match private performance, graduating 87.7% of students at just $18,292. North Carolina Central University's 46% graduation rate at $15,028 suggests that affordability alone doesn't guarantee student success without adequate support services.

Does geographic location significantly impact pharmacy program value?

Ohio hosts three programs with varying outcomes: Ohio Northern graduates earn $51,482 while Ohio State graduates earn $34,420, despite both offering strong pharmacy education. California's UC system shows even wider variation, with Davis graduates earning nearly double UC Irvine's $17,139. Regional pharmacy job markets, hospital density, and pharmaceutical company presence all influence graduate earning potential beyond program quality.

What makes University of California-Irvine's low earnings unusual for a competitive program?

UC Irvine accepts only 21.15% of applicants yet produces graduates earning $17,139, the lowest among all programs listed. This suggests either regional market saturation, graduate career path differences, or timing of salary measurement after graduation. The university maintains an 86% graduation rate, indicating strong academic support despite the earnings gap compared to other UC campuses.

How do student debt levels compare across pharmacy programs?

Student debt ranges from $13,065 at UC Davis to $27,000 at multiple private institutions including Ohio Northern and MCPHS University. Public universities generally produce lower debt burdens, with Ohio State graduates owing $19,294 compared to private school averages near $25,000. However, schools like Campbell University keep debt at $21,412 despite private status, suggesting effective financial aid management.

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Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.