Pharmacy Schools in Pennsylvania - 2024

Pennsylvania, the Keystone state has a steady supply of pharmacists with quite a few schools in the state offering a Pharm. D. program. As of 2021, there are about 14,550 pharmacists working in the state, drawing an annual salary of $121,230. If you intend on becoming a pharmacist, then you must complete a Pharm. D. program from any of the ACPE accredited pharmacy schools in PA. To help you make the best choice we have ranked the schools in the state, based on their NAPLEX performance.

Our Ranking Methodology

Our ranking is mainly based on the first time NAPLEX pass rates. The exam tests a graduate's competence in practice as a pharmacist. A school with a high pass rate indicates its quality of education and faculty. The NAPLEX is a vital milestone in your journey towards becoming a pharmacist. Factorizing this, we have evaluated each school in PA for its past four years NAPLEX first time pass rates, giving 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 Pennsylvania

#1. Thomas Jefferson University

Ranking Score: 95.80%
Location: Philadelphia
Accreditation: ACPE

About the College: Established in 2008, Jefferson College of Pharmacy (JCP) is part of a nation's premier academic healthcare center. State-of -the-art classrooms, research areas, modern laboratories, inter-professional education and experiential learning are some of the key features provided by JCP to its pharmacy students. Apart from providing latest technology, the pharmacy college also believes in infusing social responsibilities among its students who can make a positive impact in the healthcare society.

Program Details: At JCP, the dynamic 4-year Doctor of Pharmacy curriculum is focused on patient-centered and core pharmacy concentrated education and it is supported by interactive classrooms, dedicated faculty and JCP's clinical affiliations with pharmacy practice settings which provides experiential learning solutions to its students. Students also have access to an informatics center and a model community pharmacy, where they can practice real-time. Graduates will be fully prepared to join the workforce in a wide range of pharmacy practice settings such as hospitals, research, academia, community pharmacy and many others.

Thomas Jefferson University NAPLEX Performance
Year	# of Students Attempted	Pass Rate
2018	61	100.00%
2019	85	94.00%
2020	53	98.00%
2021	46	94.00%

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#2. Duquesne University

Ranking Score: 94.07%
Location: Pittsburgh
Accreditation: ACPE

About the College: Established in 1925, Duquesne University School of Pharmacy is one of the top pharmacy schools in the United States, well-known for providing excellent academic programs, practical training in laboratories, and extensive research areas. With a 50-acre hilltop campus located in the heart of Pittsburgh, the school offers ACPE acclaimed curriculum, innovative learning solutions underlying with Spiritan Catholic beliefs for an overall grooming of its students.

Program Details: Duquesne gives you a great opportunity to pursue the 4-year Doctor of Pharmacy education, facilitated with analytical instruments, hi-tech equipment, and other learning tools. The first three years of coursework includes classroom studies on pharmaceutical subjects, in-depth knowledge of pharmacy, therapeutics in various subjects, and introductory level pharmacy practices. The fourth and last year will be dedicated to advanced pharmacy practice experiences. Graduates are also provided with professional career services through which they can successfully unfold their career prospects.

Duquesne University NAPLEX Performance
Year	# of Students Attempted	Pass Rate
2018	174	93.70%
2019	136	98.00%
2020	160	89.00%
2021	147	96.00%

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#3. University of Pittsburgh

Ranking Score: 94.06%
Location: Pittsburgh
Accreditation: ACPE

About the College: University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy is the leading pharmacy college in PA, well-known for its impeccable contribution in research of drugs and innovative drug delivery systems. The college has six research and/or practice centers and two departments of pharmaceutical sciences and pharmacy & therapeutics, offering 4 major academic programs and two residency programs.

Program Details: The Pitt Pharmacy School offers a 4-year, full-time Pharm.D Program at its campus located in Pittsburgh. The program focuses on imparting problem-solving skills among its students, enabling them to become leaders in the pharmacy sector. The innovative curriculum, student-focused learning, and extensive pharmacy practice experiences are some of the prominent attributes of the program. Integrated with science and practice, the didactic coursework includes theoretical studies and experiential learning experiences.

University of Pittsburgh NAPLEX Performance
Year	# of Students Attempted	Pass Rate
2018	110	93.64%
2019	110	91.00%
2020	110	95.00%
2021	102	95.00%
2021	102	95.00%

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#4. Wilkes University

Ranking Score: 92.44%
Location: Wilkes-BarreAccreditation: ACPE

About the College: Nesbitt School of Pharmacy at Wilkes University is committed to provide excellent healthcare education and make a remarkable contribution to the pharmacy field, enhancing the contemporary best practices and standards. The pharmacy information center, residencies and research facilities at Nesbitt provide a wide-range of learning opportunities for its students. Recently the pharmacy school grabbed the 2018 membership award from the Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association.

Program Details: After completing your pre-pharmacy course, you can develop patient-care skills and knowledge through the 4-year Pharm.D. Program offered at Nesbitt School of Pharmacy. This program is a combination of classroom studies and lab work; theoretical classes will improve your knowledge of medications and pharmacy law, and hands-on training in practice centers will hone your practical skills during the first three years of coursework. In the last or fourth year, you will undergo 7 clinical rotations of advanced level; first rotation will be of 6 weeks and other rotations will be of 5 weeks each.

*You can also opt for a PharmD/MBA as a dual degree option.

Wilkes University NAPLEX Performance
Year	# of Students Attempted	Pass Rate
2018	70	91.43%
2019	70	92.00%
2020	73	95.00%
2021	68	91.00%

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#5. Temple University

Ranking Score: 89.37%
Location: Philadelphia
Accreditation: ACPE

About the College: Established in 1901, Temple School of Pharmacy is one of the six schools in the nation that provides cGMP facility. Having partnered with more than 389 different experiential sites, the school opens up extensive learning solutions for its students pursuing the Pharm.D, graduate, certificate or residency programs.

Program Details: The four-year Pharm.D program offered at TUSP is a combination of rigorous curriculum, small group classroom sessions and hands-on laboratory training. You can also customize this program with elective tracks in specialized areas such as business, drug safety, clinical trials and advance clinical practice. The instructive coursework includes core pharmaceutical & pharmacy principles and drug practices and the experiential learning comprises of IPPEs and APPEs.

Temple University NAPLEX Performance
Year	# of Students Attempted	Pass Rate
2018	126	89.70%
2019	119	92.00%
2020	125	92.00%
2021	124	86.00%

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#6. Philadelphia College of Pharmacy

Ranking Score: 82.12%
Location: Philadelphia
Accreditation: ACPE

About the College: Part of the University of the Sciences (USciences), Philadelphia College of Pharmacy (PCP) is the nation's first pharmacy school running successfully since 1821, churning out innovators, researchers and leaders in the pharmaceutical industry. The college offers 3 undergraduate programs, 4 graduate and professional programs, and 5 certificate programs, and to advance pharmacy training for its students, college facilitates three departments - Pharmacy Practice & Pharmacy Administration, Pharmaceutical & Healthcare Business, and Pharmaceutical Sciences.

Program Details: The 4-year Doctor of Pharmacy program at PCP prepares students for an established career in pharmacy settings, through integrated, innovative and extensive education of medicines and healthcare devices utilized to improve patient-care standards. The dynamic professional curriculum includes entire pharmacy-related subjects in theoretical classes and lab training. You will also undergo 36 weeks of clinical rotations in a wide range of pharmacy practice settings. Your learning experience will be enhanced by the PioneerRX pharmacy software.

Philadelphia College of Pharmacy NAPLEX Performance
Year	# of Students Attempted	Pass Rate
2018	156	94.23%
2019	143	91.00%
2020	125	83.00%
2021	101	74.00%

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#7. Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine School of Pharmacy

Ranking Score: 78.89%
Location: Erie
Accreditation: ACPE

About the College: The foundation of LECOM School of Pharmacy was laid in 2002 with a commitment to meet the ever-growing needs of healthcare professionals in the state of Pennsylvania. The school is equipped with structured classrooms, laboratories, and dedicated teachers that ensure the best therapeutic practices.

Program Details: At LECOM School of Pharmacy, the Pharm.D Program is offered with three different education pathways -

Accelerated Pathway: This is a full-time, year-round accelerated course offered at the Erie campus that takes only 3 years' time to complete and fully prepares you with necessary and relevant knowledge required to flourish as a pharmacist in any practice settings.

Traditional Pathway: This is a full-time traditional 4-year Doctor of Pharmacy degree offered in Bradenton, Florida. The program is delivered on-campus with classroom lectures, lab training and pharmacy practice experiences.

Distance Education Pathway: This is also a 4-year program and most of the coursework is provided in an online/hybrid format. You will be required to attend the clinical sessions at the Bradenton campus in Florida for 1-3 weeks for laboratory and casework sessions. During the fourth year you will also work at community and clinical settings (6 rotations of 6 weeks each) to fulfil the APPE requirements.

Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine School of Pharmacy NAPLEX Performance
Year	# of Students Attempted	Pass Rate
2018	270	85.93%
2019	289	75.00%
2020	257	83.00%
2021	265	76.00%

Licensure - Passing the NAPLEX and MPJE in Pennsylvania

To become a licensed pharmacist in Pennsylvania you must apply to the state board and once the board confirms your eligibility you must apply to the NABP to take the NAPLEX and MPJE. On passing both these exams you will earn your pharmacist licensure.

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

Over the past four years more than 3,500 graduates have taken the exam. The overall performance over this period has been rather inconsistent. In 2019, graduates performed with an outstanding pass percentage of 90.43%, however in 2018 and 2020 the performance was little better 92.66% and 90.71% respectively. The recent year 2021 the performance dropped to an aggregate of 87.43% It is noteworthy that Thomas Jefferson University had 100% of its students pass the exam on in 2018.

Pharmacist Salary in Pennsylvania

Pharmacists in PA, on an average earn $121,230 annually, which is much lower than the national average salary of $125,690. When you start your career as a pharmacist in the state you can expect to earn a salary of $80,470 and go on to a fat pay check of $154,620 with few years of work experience. Chambersburg-Waynesboro pays the highest salary of $132,730 to its pharmacists.

Type	Salary
Hourly	$58.28
Monthly	$10,100
Annual	$121,230
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Pharmacist Job Outlook in Pennsylvania

The employment growth rate in PA is 0.39% in negetive for a 10-year period of 2020 to 2030 and 60 new pharmacist positions will be created. Each year during this period there will 590 job openings, that includes new as well as replacement positions. Philadelphia hires the highest number of pharmacists and WALGREENS, Geisinger, Highmark Health and University of Pennsylvania Health System are some of the prominent employers in the state.

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