Best institutions to study Pharmacoeconomics/Pharmaceutical Economics
A program that focuses on the application of economics and policy analysis to the study of the relationship of pharmacy services and pharmaceutical processes and products to the health care system and their impact on health care organizations.
16 U.S. institutions graduated 150 Pharmacoeconomics/Pharmaceutical Economics students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 51.2007, a specialization of Pharmacy (CIP 51.20), and leads most directly to the Economists occupation (BLS SOC 19-3011).
About Pharmacoeconomics/Pharmaceutical Economics programs
A program that focuses on the application of economics and policy analysis to the study of the relationship of pharmacy services and pharmaceutical processes and products to the health care system and their impact on health care organizations. Includes instruction in health economics, pharmacoeconomics, health care systems, health care organization and management, statistics and biostatistics, outcomes research, health care policy, pharmacy services, and pharmaceutical industry operations.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Pharmacoeconomics/Pharmaceutical Economics program focuses on the intersection of economics and pharmacy services, analyzing their impact on the healthcare system. This program is designed for students interested in understanding how pharmaceutical processes and products relate to healthcare organizations and policies. It is ideal for those pursuing careers in health economics and policy analysis within the healthcare sector.
Learn more about Pharmacoeconomics/Pharmaceutical Economics →
Students in this program will gain knowledge in health economics, pharmacoeconomics, healthcare systems, and management. Coursework typically includes statistics, outcomes research, and healthcare policy, equipping graduates with essential skills in critical thinking, mathematics, and effective communication.
Credentials awarded
What Pharmacoeconomics/Pharmaceutical Economics graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Master's degree115 graduates / yr · 11 institutions77%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship34 graduates / yr · 11 institutions23%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate1 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.7%
Graduates over time
Pharmacoeconomics/Pharmaceutical Economics completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 92 |
| 2013 | 94 |
| 2014 | 99 |
| 2015 | 136 |
| 2016 | 140 |
| 2017 | 161 |
| 2018 | 96 |
| 2019 | 90 |
| 2020 | 152 |
| 2021 | 175 |
| 2022 | 137 |
| 2023 | 139 |
| 2024 | 150 |
| 2025 | 150 |
Top 16 institutions for Pharmacoeconomics/Pharmaceutical Economics, 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 | University of Southern California Los Angeles, CAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral | 43 | 92% | $26,873 | — |
| 2 | Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Boston, MAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral | 18 | 62% | $35,358 | $47,882 |
| 3 | Rutgers University - New Brunswick New Brunswick, NJPublicMaster's | 14 | 84% | — | — |
| 4 | Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MDPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 12 | 94% | $11,888 | — |
| 5 | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Minneapolis, MNPublicDoctoralMaster's | 12 | 85% | — | — |
| 6 | University of Washington - Seattle Campus Seattle, WAPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 12 | 85% | — | — |
| 7 | University of Cincinnati - Main Campus Cincinnati, OHPublicMaster's | 10 | 75% | — | — |
| 8 | University of Illinois Chicago Chicago, ILPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 7 | 62% | — | — |
| 9 | University of Maryland, Baltimore Baltimore, MDPublicDoctoralMaster's | 6 | — | — | — |
| 10 | University of Wisconsin - Madison Madison, WIPublicDoctoral | 6 | 90% | — | — |
| 11 | University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus Denver, COPublicDoctoral | 3 | 46% | — | — |
| 12 | University of Iowa Iowa City, IAPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 2 | 75% | — | — |
| 13 | University of Houston Houston, TXPublicDoctoral | 2 | 65% | — | — |
| 14 | University of North Texas Health Science Center Fort Worth, TXPublicPost-degree cert. | 1 | — | — | — |
| 15 | University of Utah Salt Lake City, UTPublicDoctoral | 1 | 65% | — | — |
| 16 | Purdue University - Main Campus West Lafayette, INPublicMaster's | 1 | 83% | — | $57,096 |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Pharmacy field (CIP 51.20) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 14 states
Where Pharmacoeconomics/Pharmaceutical Economics graduates come from. Each state links to all Pharmacy programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 1 | 43 | University of Southern California43 / yr |
| Maryland | 2 | 18 | Johns Hopkins University12 / yr |
| Massachusetts | 1 | 18 | Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences18 / yr |
| New Jersey | 1 | 14 | Rutgers University - New Brunswick14 / yr |
| Minnesota | 1 | 12 | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities12 / yr |
| Washington | 1 | 12 | University of Washington - Seattle Campus12 / yr |
| Ohio | 1 | 10 | University of Cincinnati - Main Campus10 / yr |
| Illinois | 1 | 7 | University of Illinois Chicago7 / yr |
| Wisconsin | 1 | 6 | University of Wisconsin - Madison6 / yr |
| Texas | 2 | 3 | University of Houston2 / yr |
| Colorado | 1 | 3 | University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus3 / yr |
| Iowa | 1 | 2 | University of Iowa2 / yr |
| Utah | 1 | 1 | University of Utah1 / yr |
| Indiana | 1 | 1 | Purdue University - Main Campus1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-3011, Economists, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Pharmacoeconomics/Pharmaceutical Economics program can pursue careers as economists or in related fields such as medical and health services management. The job outlook indicates little or no change in employment opportunities, with an average of 900 annual openings and a median wage of $115,440, typically requiring a master's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 51.2007
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Economistsprimary SOC 19-3011 | $124,720 | +1.2% Little or no change | ~900 | Master's degree |
Medical and Health Services Managers SOC 11-9111 | $123,860 | +23.2% Much faster than average | ~62,100 | Bachelor's degree |
Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1071 | $107,310 | +17.3% Much faster than average | ~27,400 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Economics Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1063 | $123,920 | +2.1% About as fast as average | ~1,200 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
- Experience
- Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
- Training
- Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Pharmacoeconomics/Pharmaceutical Economics programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Study economic and statistical data in area of specialization, such as finance, labor, or agriculture.
- Compile, analyze, and report data to explain economic phenomena and forecast market trends, applying mathematical models and statistical techniques.
- Study the socioeconomic impacts of new public policies, such as proposed legislation, taxes, services, and regulations.
- Explain economic impact of policies to the public.
- Review documents written by others.
- Provide advice and consultation on economic relationships to businesses, public and private agencies, and other employers.
Tools and technology used
Other Pharmacy specializations
The 11 other 6-digit CIP codes under Pharmacy (CIP 51.20).
- PharmacyCIP 51.200111,406 graduates / yr144 institutions
- Pharmaceutical SciencesCIP 51.20102,563 graduates / yr79 institutions
- Industrial and Physical Pharmacy and Cosmetic SciencesCIP 51.2009909 graduates / yr11 institutions
- Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and AdministrationCIP 51.2099909 graduates / yr21 institutions
- Pharmaceutics and Drug DesignCIP 51.2003544 graduates / yr35 institutions
- Clinical and Industrial Drug DevelopmentCIP 51.2006250 graduates / yr13 institutions
- Medicinal and Pharmaceutical ChemistryCIP 51.2004188 graduates / yr29 institutions
- Pharmacy Administration and Pharmacy Policy and Regulatory AffairsCIP 51.2002179 graduates / yr11 institutions
- Natural Products Chemistry and PharmacognosyCIP 51.2005partial data130 graduates / yr7 institutions
- Pharmaceutical Marketing and ManagementCIP 51.2011partial data122 graduates / yr8 institutions
- Clinical, Hospital, and Managed Care PharmacyCIP 51.2008partial data28 graduates / yr5 institutions
Common questions
What degrees are offered in this program?+
The program offers a Master's degree, Doctor's degree, and Postbaccalaureate certificate.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop critical thinking, mathematics, and communication skills, among others.
What is the job outlook for graduates?+
The job outlook shows little or no change, with about 900 annual openings.
What is the median wage for careers in this field?+
The median wage for related occupations is $115,440.
What is the CIP code for Pharmacoeconomics/Pharmaceutical Economics?+
Pharmacoeconomics/Pharmaceutical Economics is CIP 51.2007 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Pharmacy (CIP 51.20). NCES defines it as: A program that focuses on the application of economics and policy analysis to the study of the relationship of pharmacy services and pharmaceutical processes and products to the health care system and their impact on health care organizations. Includes instruction in health economics, pharmacoeconomics, health care systems, health care organization and management, statistics and biostatistics, outcomes research, health care policy, pharmacy services, and pharmaceutical industry operations.
How many institutions offer Pharmacoeconomics/Pharmaceutical Economics programs?+
16 U.S. institutions reported Pharmacoeconomics/Pharmaceutical Economics graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 14 states, awarding 150 credentials in the year. That is 0.9% of all Pharmacy graduates.
How much do Pharmacoeconomics/Pharmaceutical Economics graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Economists occupation, which Pharmacoeconomics/Pharmaceutical Economics most directly leads to, pays a median of $124,720 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Pharmacy field report median earnings of $57,096 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
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.
Explore every U.S. college in one conversation
Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.
Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card