Pharmacy Schools in Colorado - 2024

Colorado is one of the few states in the country that offers a promising job outlook to its pharmacists. It continues to require pharmacists fulfill varied roles in the pharmaceutical industry. As of 2021, there are roughly 5,350 pharmacists working in the state drawing an annual average salary of $125,040. With only 2 pharmacy schools in Colorado your options to pursue a Pharm. D. degree are limited. To give you the best educational experience we have ranked the ACPE accredited pharmacy schools in the state, based on their NAPLEX performance.

Our Ranking Methodology

The NAPLEX measures the competence of a pharmacy graduate in practicing as a pharmacist. A school with a successful performance at the NAPLEX greatly indicates a success of its Pharm. D. program. Considering this significant milestone towards becoming a licensed pharmacist, we have evaluated pharmacy colleges in Colorado for their NAPLEX first time pass rates in the last four years. 40% weightage was given to the school's pass rates of 2021, 30% to 2020, 20% to 2019 and 10% to 2018.

NAPLEX Pass Rate Year	Weightage
2018	10%
2019	20%
2020	30%
2021	40%

2024 Ranking of ACPE Accredited Pharmacy Schools in Colorado

#1. University of Colorado

Ranking Score: 90.46%
Location: Denver
Accreditation: ACPE

About the College: Established in 1911, University of Colorado's Skaggs School of Pharmacy is currently housed on a 165,000 square foot building at the Anschutz Medical Campus in Denver. The school has been consistently ranked by US News in the top 20 percent pharmacy schools in the nation. Known for its state-of-the-art research facilities it features amongst the top research schools in the nation.

Program Details: The 2016 renewed 4-year Pharm.D program in CO with its experiential learning and ability-based outcomes prepares you for a wide-spectrum of professions within the pharmacy settings. At this school, you get to learn from a dedicated faculty in your classroom and laboratory sessions. Your experiential learning includes introductory and advanced level of pharmacy practice experience spread throughout the coursework. For the last six years, students have performing exceptionally well on the NAPLEX and MPJE achieving pass rates higher than the national average.

University of Colorado NAPLEX Performance
Year	# of Students Attempted	Pass Rate
2018	149	96.64%
2019	134	89.00%
2020	157	90.00%
2021	134	90.00%

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#2. Regis University

Ranking Score: 83.66%

Location: Denver
Accreditation: ACPE

About the College: Regis University' school of pharmacy in the state of Colorado offers education to students with three major competitive approaches:

• Collaborative and active learning solutions which enables students to experience healthcare team environment.

• Small class size, enabling a student-centered education by assigning mentors to a limited number of students.

• Extensive learning experiences and opportunities in practice settings.

Program Details: The 4-year Pharm.D Program at Regis pharmacy school is a mix of theoretical studies such as pharmacy law, therapeutic principles of self-care, pharmacoeconomics, and electives; and introductory level of experiential learning in pharmacy practice settings during the first 3 years. From the last semester of third year, you will begin receiving advanced pharmacy practice experiences that will continue throughout the fourth year.

Regis offers two dual degree options:

• Pharm.D and MS in health informatics
• Pharm.D and MS in health services administration

You can also earn two academic certificates in:

• Health care business management
• Health care quality and patient safety

Regis University NAPLEX Performance
Year	# of Students Attempted	Pass Rate
2018	68	98.53%
2019	69	91.04%
2020	50	72.00%
2021	46	85.00%

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Licensure - Passing the NAPLEX and MPJE in Colorado

To become a licensed pharmacist in Colorado you must first apply to state board to gain your eligibility for the NAPLEX and MPJE. After the board confirms your eligibility you can register for both the licensure exams on the NABP site. You can go through the study guide for the MPJE on the board's website. Take and pass both these exams to earn the status of a licensed pharmacist.

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

Colorado pharmacy graduates have been rather inconsistent with their performance on the NAPLEX over the last four years. While in 2018, graduates passed the exam with an impressive 97.59%, in the recent 2021, the aggregate came up to an 87.50%. The number of graduates each year however has been almost the same, signifying a consistent supply of licensed pharmacists into the job market.

Pharmacist Salary in in Colorado

Pharmacists in Colorado earn an annual average salary of $125,040 which is lower than the national pharmacist salary of $125,690. Similarly, the hourly wage of $60.12 is lower than the national hourly wage of $60.43

Type	Salary
Hourly	$60.12
Monthly	$10,420
Annual	$125,040
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Pharmacist Job Outlook in Colorado

Pharmacists in Colorado have a favorable job growth rate of 15.49%, for a 10-year period starting, 2020. The national growth rate for pharmacists, on the other hand is negative 2.14%. The demand for pharmacists in the state is mainly due to the expansion of the pharmaceutical industry coupled with the fact that the supply of licensed pharmacists into the job market is well below its demand. Each year there will be 300 job openings that include new as well as replacement positions.

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