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Pharmacy Schools in Maryland - 2024
Maryland, as of 2021 has an estimated 5,220 pharmacists working, drawing an annual salary of $121,290, slightly lower than the national average. The state's pharmacist workforce is growing to keep up with the demand in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industry. If you are keen on becoming a part of this fulfilling career, then you must complete a Pharm. D. program from any of the ACPE accredited pharmacy schools in the state. To make it easy for you to choose, we have ranked pharmacy schools in Maryland, based on their NAPLEX performance.
Our Ranking Methodology
We have based our ranking methodology mainly on the NAPLEX first time pass rates over the last four years. A school's successful performance on the licensure exam is assuring and greatly signifies its commitment towards student's academic goals. Keeping this in mind, each school in the state was evaluated 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 Year | Weightage |
| 2018 | 10% |
| 2019 | 20% |
| 2020 | 30% |
| 2021 | 40% |
2024 Ranking of ACPE Accredited Pharmacy Schools in Maryland
#1. University of Maryland
Ranking Score: 87.61%
Location: Baltimore
Accreditation: ACPE
About the College: University of Maryland's School of Pharmacy is the fourth oldest pharmacy school in the nation and has consistently been ranked among the top ten pharmacy schools. The school offers the best medical equipment at its laboratories, state-of-the-art research areas, highly talented faculty and has partnered with over 200 community pharmacies and practice settings to provide real-life practical experience to its students.
Program Details: UMSOP offers a 4-year Pharm.D. Program in MD with a wide-spectrum of innovative learning solutions through contemporary curriculum, advanced scientific research facilities, and interactive classrooms. Coursework includes eight courses on applied science and therapeutics, and six sessions of abilities lab in each semester during the first three years. The fourth and last year is dedicated to advanced level of pharmacy practice experiences in a variety of practice settings.
| University of Maryland NAPLEX Performance | ||
| Year | # of Students Attempted | Pass Rate |
| 2018 | 139 | 87.10% |
| 2019 | 147 | 87.00% |
| 2020 | 141 | 89.00% |
| 2021 | 116 | 87.00% |
#2. University of Maryland Eastern Shore
Ranking Score: 78.72%
Location: Princess Anne
Accreditation: ACPE
About the College: Devoted to preparing pharmacy professionals and maintaining ethical behavior, UMES School of Pharmacy offers extensive patient-centered courses and cultural proficiency to foster pharmacy education and research. At this school, you can expect excellent community learning environment, best medical facilities, and talented & helpful faculty members.
Program Details: UMES School of Pharmacy offers a 3-year Pharm.D program. It is an accelerated full-time course provided with a student to faculty ratio of 6:1. The didactic year-round curriculum comprises two years of theoretical classroom training and hands-on laboratory experience. Advanced pharmacy practice experiences will begin in the last session of the second year and will continue throughout the last or third year. Graduates can look for healthcare professional roles and contribute to better the patient-care standards.
| University of Maryland Eastern Shore NAPLEX Performance | ||
| Year | # of Students Attempted | Pass Rate |
| 2018 | 53 | 96.20% |
| 2019 | 53 | 80.00% |
| 2020 | 42 | 81.00% |
| 2021 | 25 | 72.00% |
#3. Notre Dame of Maryland University
Ranking Score: 77.18%
Location: Baltimore
Accreditation: ACPE
About the College: Notre Dame of Maryland University is the only private and overall the second college in Maryland to offer a Doctor of Pharmacy course. NDMU's pharmacy school believes in Collaboration, excellence, philanthropy, reliability and innovation. This school will provide you an in-depth learning experience from the best minds in the clinical, clerical and pharmaceutical sciences departments.
Program Details: The 4-Year Doctor of Pharmacy degree program offered at Notre Dame is a combination of three academic departments - clinical and clerical studies, pharmaceutical sciences and experiential education. The dynamic curriculum of this program primarily focuses on practical components of pharmacy management and human components of patient care. The coursework also facilitates community outreach projects to prepare students for handling individual patients and help establish high standards of public healthcare.
| Notre Dame of Maryland University NAPLEX Performance | ||
| Year | # of Students Attempted | Pass Rate |
| 2018 | 49 | 87.80% |
| 2019 | 50 | 64.00% |
| 2020 | 34 | 88.00% |
| 2021 | 44 | 73.00% |
Licensure - Passing the NAPLEX and MPJE Exam in Maryland
You must apply to Maryland Board of Pharmacy by mailing your application, complete with all attachments along with a fee of $150 to ‘Maryland Board of Pharmacy, P.O. Box 1991, Baltimore, Maryland 21203-1991'. Within 4 to 6 weeks your application will be verified. You must also apply to the NABP for the NAPLEX and MPJE. After verifying the NABP will send you the ATT by e-mail so that you can schedule your exam.
Maryland Pharm.D. Graduates NAPLEX Performance (2018-2021)
Maryland has witnessed a rather inconsistent performance of its graduates over the last four years. While 2018 saw an 90.37% first time pass rate, in 2021 it was a average of 77.33%.
The number of graduates taking the exam each year has however remained pretty much constant.
| School | Location | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | ||||
| #Taken | Pass % | #Taken | Pass % | #Taken | Pass % | #Taken | Pass % | ||
| University of Maryland | Baltimore | 139 | 87.10% | 147 | 87.00% | 141 | 89.00% | 116 | 87.00% |
| University of Maryland Eastern Shore | Princess Anne | 53 | 96.20% | 53 | 80.00% | 42 | 81.00% | 25 | 72.00% |
| Notre Dame of Maryland University | Baltimore | 49 | 87.80% | 50 | 64.00% | 34 | 88.00% | 44 | 73.00% |
| Overall Maryland NAPLEX Performance | 241 | 90.37% | 250 | 77.00% | 217 | 86.00% | 185 | 77.33% | |
Pharmacist Salary in Maryland
On an average a pharmacists earns an annual salary of $121,290, which is lower to the national pharmacist pay of $125,690. You can expect to start with a pay of $63,160 and go on to make $160,230 with few years of work experience. For a part-time job you can expect to earn an hourly salary of $58.31.
| Type | Salary |
| Hourly | $58.31 |
| Monthly | $10,110 |
| Annual | $121,290 |
| Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
Pharmacist Job Outlook in Maryland
Each year in Maryland there are expected to be 280 job openings to fill up new as well as replacement positions. If we consider a 10-year period from 2020 to 2030, 350 new pharmacist positions will be created. Baltimore hires the highest number of pharmacists in the state.
| 2020 Employment | 2030 Employment | Growth | Projected Annual Job Openings (New + Replacement) | |
| Number | Percent | |||
| 6,180 | 6,530 | 350 | 5.66% | 280 |
| Source: Career One Stop | ||||
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