Pharmacy Schools in Arizona - 2024

Going by statistical data, a pharmacy career in the state of Arizona looks quite promising. The pharmaceutical industry in the state is rapidly expanding, translating into lucrative opportunities for pharmacists. As of 2021, there are roughly 7,000 pharmacists working in the state, drawing an annual salary of $120,880. To become a pharmacist in the state you need to complete a Pharm. D from either of the 2 ACPE accredited pharmacy schools in Arizona. To give you the best educational experience from this small choice we have ranked these schools, based on their NAPLEX performance.

Our Ranking Methodology

Our ranking of pharmacy schools is mainly based on the school's first time NAPLEX pass rates. Understanding the importance of this milestone towards becoming a licensed pharmacist, evaluating a school for its NAPLEX performance greatly indicates the quality of its faculty and the education it offers. Each pharmacy college in Arizona was looked into for its NAPLEX performance in the last four years, with 40% weightage given to 2021, 30% to 2020, 20% to 2019 and 10% to 2018.

NAPLEX Pass Rate YearWeightage
201810%
201920%
202030%
202140%



2024 Ranking of ACPE Accredited Pharmacy Schools in Arizona

#1. University of Arizona

Ranking Score:88.62%

Location: Tucson
Accreditation: ACPE

About the College: With over 70 years of innovative services in the field of pharmacy, UA College of Pharmacy is among the top 20 pharmacy schools in the nation, and a front-runner in the development and discovery of drugs. The pharmacy school offers Undergraduate Program (BSPS), Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD), Graduate Programs (MS & PhD), Residency Programs, Pre and Post-Doctoral Fellowships, International Programs, Certificate Programs, and Community Outreach and Continuing Education, and provides excellent student resources like libraries and laboratories with upgraded content and equipment.

Program Details: This renowned Pharm.D. Program in AZ starts each fall and has a 4-year curriculum comprising of core pharmaceutical coursework and introductory & advanced level of pharmacy practice experiences. The program is a combination of on-campus training and hybrid format that includes pre-recorded classroom lessons and teleconferencing. The program’s success is supported by over 1,100 preceptors who guide students at 600 pharmacy practice sites during the

University of Arizona NAPLEX Performance
Year # of Students Attempted Pass Rate
20188983.20%
201911686.00%
202010293.00%
202110688.00%



#2. Midwestern University

Ranking Score: 82.14%

Location: Glendale
Accreditation: ACPE

About the College: Midwestern University School of Pharmacy, a renowned name for pharmacy education is located in Glendale city, Arizona. With a focus on providing quality healthcare education, the pharmacy school is equipped with outstanding facilities and under the able guidance of faculty members, students are nourished to achieve their goals in the best possible way.

Program Details: The full-time 3-year Doctor of Pharmacy course offered at MU School of Pharmacy is an innovativefast-track program which can land you a job sooner than the traditional 4-year PharmD courses. With patient-centered and career-focused approach, you will gain scientific and professional skills required to effectively discharge your duties as a pharmacist. Apart from the theoretical studies, you also receive experiential learning in various pharmacy practice settings.

Midwestern University, Glendale NAPLEX Performance
Year # of Students Attempted Pass Rate
201813693.40%
201914087.00%
202014786.00%
202111774.00%



Licensure - Passing the NAPLEX, MPJE

To become a licensed pharmacist in Arizona you must apply to the state board not more than 30 days prior to your graduation date. Thereafter, you must register for your NAPLEX and MPJE exams at the NABP site. Exam scores are usually added on the NABP website 48-72 hours after the exam. Your license will be mailed to you after the board receives your scores.



Arizona Pharm.D. Graduates NAPLEX Performance (2018-2021)

Arizona graduates have rather underperformed recently when we review a period of last four years. While 2018 and 2019 saw an outstanding performance, with graduates passing the NAPLEX with 88.30% and 86.50% aggregate, the recent two years of 2020 and 2021 saw the aggregate coming down to 89.50% and 81.00% respectively.

School Location 2018 2019 2020 2021
#Taken Pass % #Taken Pass % #Taken Pass % #Taken Pass %
University of ArizonaTucson8983.20%11686.00%10293.00%10688.00%
Midwestern UniversityGlendale13693.40%14087.00%14786.00%11774.00%
Overall Arizona NAPLEX Performance22588.30%25686.50%24989.50%22381.00%



Pharmacist Salary in Arizona

Your salary as a pharmacist in Arizona will depend on various factors such as the type of employer, work experience and location. The best annual salary comes from Flagstaff, where on an average a pharmacist earns $137,600 annually. However, overall in the sate the average annual salary of a pharmacist is $120,880 which is lower than the national average pharmacist salary of $125,690.

TypeSalary
Hourly$58.12
Monthly$10,070
Annual$120,880
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics



Pharmacist Job Outlook in Arizona

Arizona continues to hire pharmacists at a whopping employment rate of 16.15% which is much higher than the national pharmacist employment negative growth rate of 2.14%. Each year the state will have 470 job openings for pharmacists that include new as well as replacement positions.

2020 Employment2030 EmploymentGrowthProjected Annual Job Openings (New + Replacement)
NumberPercent
8,3609,7101,35016.15%470
Source: Career One Stop



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