Best institutions to study Pre-Pharmacy Studies
A program that prepares individuals for admission to a professional program in pharmacy.
30 U.S. institutions graduated 225 Pre-Pharmacy Studies students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 51.1103, a specialization of Health/Medical Preparatory Programs (CIP 51.11).
About Pre-Pharmacy Studies programs
A program that prepares individuals for admission to a professional program in pharmacy.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Pre-Pharmacy Studies program is designed to prepare individuals for admission to a professional pharmacy program. This program falls under the broader category of Health/Medical Preparatory Programs and is ideal for students who aspire to pursue a career in pharmacy or related health professions. With approximately 30 colleges offering this program across the United States, students have various options to choose from.
In the Pre-Pharmacy Studies program, students gain foundational knowledge in health sciences, chemistry, and biology. Coursework typically includes subjects essential for pharmacy school, equipping students with the skills needed for advanced studies in pharmacy.
Credentials awarded
What Pre-Pharmacy Studies graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Associate's degree155 graduates / yr · 18 institutions69%
- Bachelor's degree28 graduates / yr · 9 institutions12%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year22 graduates / yr · 1 institution9.8%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate16 graduates / yr · 2 institutions7.1%
- Award of at least 2 but less than 4 academic years4 graduates / yr · 1 institution1.8%
Graduates over time
Pre-Pharmacy Studies completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 180 |
| 2013 | 202 |
| 2014 | 179 |
| 2015 | 176 |
| 2016 | 191 |
| 2017 | 175 |
| 2018 | 186 |
| 2019 | 179 |
| 2020 | 156 |
| 2021 | 166 |
| 2022 | 182 |
| 2023 | 178 |
| 2024 | 207 |
| 2025 | 225 |
Top 30 institutions for Pre-Pharmacy Studies, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South College Knoxville, TNPrivate for-profitAssociate's | 85 | 42% | $20,346 | — |
| 2 | Ferris State University Big Rapids, MIPublicAssociate's | 25 | 47% | — | $12,010 |
| 3 | Missouri State University - Springfield Springfield, MOPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 22 | 58% | — | — |
| 4 | Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine Erie, PAPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert.Award of at least 2 but less than 4 academic years | 18 | — | — | — |
| 5 | Regis University Denver, COPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 7 | 61% | $22,407 | — |
| 6 | Quinsigamond Community College Worcester, MAPublicAssociate's | 7 | 22% | — | — |
| 7 | Tulsa Community College Tulsa, OKPublicAssociate's | 7 | 28% | — | $30,605 |
| 8 | South Texas College McAllen, TXPublicAssociate's | 6 | 27% | — | — |
| 9 | Clemson University Clemson, SCPublicBachelor's | 5 | 87% | — | — |
| 10 | Lipscomb University Nashville, TNPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 5 | 72% | $24,309 | — |
| 11 | East Mississippi Community College Scooba, MSPublicAssociate's | 4 | 48% | — | — |
| 12 | Holmes Community College Goodman, MSPublicAssociate's | 4 | 39% | — | $21,326 |
| 13 | Harding University Searcy, ARPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 3 | 69% | $19,423 | — |
| 14 | Itawamba Community College Fulton, MSPublicAssociate's | 3 | 50% | — | — |
| 15 | San Juan College Farmington, NMPublicAssociate's | 3 | 37% | — | — |
| 16 | Eastern Arizona College Thatcher, AZPublicAssociate's | 2 | 42% | — | — |
| 17 | University of California - San Francisco San Francisco, CAPublicPost-degree cert. | 2 | — | — | — |
| 18 | Henry Ford College Dearborn, MIPublicAssociate's | 2 | 17% | — | — |
| 19 | Bowling Green State University - Main Campus Bowling Green, OHPublicBachelor's | 2 | 64% | — | — |
| 20 | University of Cincinnati - Main Campus Cincinnati, OHPublicBachelor's | 2 | 75% | — | — |
| 21 | Saint Michael's College Colchester, VTPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 2 | 73% | $25,029 | — |
| 22 | Stetson University DeLand, FLPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 62% | $21,948 | — |
| 23 | Alpena Community College Alpena, MIPublicAssociate's | 1 | 52% | — | — |
| 24 | Northwest Mississippi Community College Senatobia, MSPublicAssociate's | 1 | 45% | — | — |
| 25 | Helena College University of Montana Helena, MTPublicAssociate's | 1 | 33% | — | — |
| 26 | Western Nebraska Community College Scottsbluff, NEPublicAssociate's | 1 | 37% | — | — |
| 27 | Lubbock Christian University Lubbock, TXPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 51% | $25,162 | — |
| 28 | Utah Tech University Saint George, UTPublicAssociate's | 1 | 38% | — | — |
| 29 | Casper College Casper, WYPublicAssociate's | 1 | 43% | — | — |
| 30 | St Charles Community College Cottleville, MOPublicAssociate's | 1 | 25% | — | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Health/Medical Preparatory Programs field (CIP 51.11) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 21 states
Where Pre-Pharmacy Studies graduates come from. Each state links to all Health/Medical Preparatory Programs programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | 2 | 90 | South College85 / yr |
| Michigan | 3 | 28 | Ferris State University25 / yr |
| Missouri | 2 | 23 | Missouri State University - Springfield22 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | 18 | Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine18 / yr |
| Mississippi | 4 | 12 | East Mississippi Community College4 / yr |
| Texas | 2 | 7 | South Texas College6 / yr |
| Colorado | 1 | 7 | Regis University7 / yr |
| Massachusetts | 1 | 7 | Quinsigamond Community College7 / yr |
| Oklahoma | 1 | 7 | Tulsa Community College7 / yr |
| South Carolina | 1 | 5 | Clemson University5 / yr |
| Ohio | 2 | 4 | Bowling Green State University - Main Campus2 / yr |
| Arkansas | 1 | 3 | Harding University3 / yr |
| New Mexico | 1 | 3 | San Juan College3 / yr |
| Arizona | 1 | 2 | Eastern Arizona College2 / yr |
| California | 1 | 2 | University of California - San Francisco2 / yr |
| Vermont | 1 | 2 | Saint Michael's College2 / yr |
| Florida | 1 | 1 | Stetson University1 / yr |
| Montana | 1 | 1 | Helena College University of Montana1 / yr |
| Nebraska | 1 | 1 | Western Nebraska Community College1 / yr |
| Utah | 1 | 1 | Utah Tech University1 / yr |
| Wyoming | 1 | 1 | Casper College1 / yr |
Other Health/Medical Preparatory Programs specializations
The 10 other 6-digit CIP codes under Health/Medical Preparatory Programs (CIP 51.11).
- Health/CIP 51.1199
Medical Preparatory Programs 3,642 graduates / yr110 institutions - Pre-Nursing StudiesCIP 51.11052,938 graduates / yr73 institutions
- Pre-Medicine/CIP 51.1102
Pre-Medical Studies 1,641 graduates / yr111 institutions - Pre-Physical Therapy StudiesCIP 51.1109258 graduates / yr33 institutions
- Pre-Physician AssistantCIP 51.1111135 graduates / yr12 institutions
- Pre-Occupational Therapy StudiesCIP 51.1107105 graduates / yr18 institutions
- Pre-Dentistry StudiesCIP 51.110159 graduates / yr12 institutions
- Pre-Art TherapyCIP 51.1110partial data18 graduates / yr7 institutions
- Pre-Chiropractic StudiesCIP 51.1106limited data2 graduates / yr1 institutions
- Pre-Optometry StudiesCIP 51.1108limited data2 graduates / yr1 institutions
Common questions
What degree can I earn in Pre-Pharmacy Studies?+
You can earn an Associate's degree, Bachelor's degree, or a postbaccalaureate certificate.
How many colleges offer this program?+
There are approximately 30 colleges in the U.S. offering Pre-Pharmacy Studies.
What is the focus of the Pre-Pharmacy Studies program?+
The program prepares students for admission to professional pharmacy programs.
How many students graduate from this program each year?+
About 225 students graduate from Pre-Pharmacy Studies each year in the U.S.
What is the CIP code for Pre-Pharmacy Studies?+
Pre-Pharmacy Studies is CIP 51.1103 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Health/Medical Preparatory Programs (CIP 51.11). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares individuals for admission to a professional program in pharmacy.
How many institutions offer Pre-Pharmacy Studies programs?+
30 U.S. institutions reported Pre-Pharmacy Studies graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 21 states, awarding 225 credentials in the year. That is 2.5% of all Health/Medical Preparatory Programs graduates.
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.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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