Best colleges for Pharmacy in California
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Southern California, University of the Pacific and University of California-Irvine award the most Pharmacy degrees and certificates in California: 330, 205 and 153 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 16 California colleges offer Pharmacy and award 1,472 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Pharmacy program, officially titled Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration, focuses on the study of medicines and their effects on health. This program is designed for students interested in understanding pharmacology…
Top 2 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California-Davis Davis Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,002 | 77 | 86% | — | $13,470 |
| 2 | University of California-Irvine Irvine Public · Bachelor's degree | $20,538 | 153 | 87% | — | $15,026 |
Colleges awarding the most Pharmacy degrees in California
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Southern California Los Angeles Private not-for-profit | 330 | Not reported |
| 2 | University of the Pacific Stockton Private not-for-profit | 205 | Not reported |
| 3 | University of California-Irvine Irvine Public | 153 | $20,538 |
| 4 | California Northstate University Elk Grove Private for-profit | 95 | Not reported |
| 5 | University of California-San Diego La Jolla Public | 89 | Not reported |
| 6 | University of California-Davis Davis Public | 77 | $40,002 |
| 7 | Chapman University Orange Private not-for-profit | 74 | Not reported |
| 8 | Loma Linda University Loma Linda Private not-for-profit | 50 | Not reported |
| 9 | American University of Health Sciences Signal Hill Private for-profit | 9 | Not reported |
| 10 | San Diego State University San Diego Public | 4 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 6 California colleges offering Pharmacy
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of California-San Francisco (Graduate only) | San Francisco | Public | 121 |
| Western University of Health Sciences (Graduate only) | Pomona | Private not-for-profit | 106 |
| Touro University California (Graduate only) | Vallejo | Private not-for-profit | 48 |
| West Coast University - Center for Graduate Studies (Graduate only) | Los Angeles | Private for-profit | 46 |
| Keck Graduate Institute (Graduate only) | Claremont | Private not-for-profit | 39 |
| Marshall B Ketchum University (Graduate only) | Fullerton | Private not-for-profit | 26 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Pharmacists (SOC 29-1051).
Top skills
What Pharmacists earn in California
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Pharmacy programs in California.
Which California colleges award the most Pharmacy degrees?+
University of Southern California (330 graduates a year), University of the Pacific (205 graduates a year) and University of California-Irvine (153 graduates a year) award the most Pharmacy degrees and certificates in California, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 16 California colleges offer Pharmacy.
Which Pharmacy program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of California-Davis tops the list at $40,002. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Pharmacists earn in California?+
The average annual wage for Pharmacists in California is $162,340 (median $164,610), across about 34,030 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Pharmacy program?+
The Pharmacy program, officially titled Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration, focuses on the study of medicines and their effects on health. This program is designed for students interested in understanding pharmacology…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop speaking, reading comprehension, active listening, monitoring, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Pharmacists?+
The national job outlook is about +4.6% growth with around 14,200 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Doctoral or professional degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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