Best institutions to study Pharmacy Administration and Pharmacy Policy and Regulatory Affairs
A program that prepares individuals to apply managerial, social, and economic sciences to the study and management of the distribution and use of pharmaceutical products and the provision of pharmacy services.
11 U.S. institutions graduated 179 Pharmacy Administration and Pharmacy Policy and Regulatory Affairs students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 51.2002, a specialization of Pharmacy (CIP 51.20), and leads most directly to the Medical and Health Services Managers occupation (BLS SOC 11-9111).
About Pharmacy Administration and Pharmacy Policy and Regulatory Affairs programs
A program that prepares individuals to apply managerial, social, and economic sciences to the study and management of the distribution and use of pharmaceutical products and the provision of pharmacy services. Includes instruction in research design and methods, statistics, social and organizational behavior, pharmacoeconomics, management of pharmacy services, outcomes research, product planning and reimbursement, cost-benefit analysis, drug marketing, pharmacy and pharmaceutics law and regulation, risk assessment, and organization of the health care system.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Pharmacy Administration and Pharmacy Policy and Regulatory Affairs program prepares individuals to manage and oversee the distribution and use of pharmaceutical products and services. This program is ideal for those interested in applying managerial, social, and economic sciences within the healthcare sector, particularly in pharmacy settings.
Students in this program will gain knowledge in areas such as pharmacoeconomics, drug marketing, pharmacy law and regulation, and outcomes research. Core skills developed include critical thinking, active learning, and effective communication, all essential for successful management in healthcare environments.
Credentials awarded
What Pharmacy Administration and Pharmacy Policy and Regulatory Affairs graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Master's degree103 graduates / yr · 8 institutions58%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate43 graduates / yr · 3 institutions24%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year20 graduates / yr · 1 institution11%
- Post-master's certificate6 graduates / yr · 1 institution3.4%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship4 graduates / yr · 1 institution2.2%
- Doctor's degree - other3 graduates / yr · 1 institution1.7%
Graduates over time
Pharmacy Administration and Pharmacy Policy and Regulatory Affairs completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 463 |
| 2013 | 436 |
| 2014 | 402 |
| 2015 | 356 |
| 2016 | 469 |
| 2017 | 377 |
| 2018 | 551 |
| 2019 | 323 |
| 2020 | 281 |
| 2021 | 240 |
| 2022 | 266 |
| 2023 | 216 |
| 2024 | 150 |
| 2025 | 179 |
Top 11 institutions for Pharmacy Administration and Pharmacy Policy and Regulatory Affairs, 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 | Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Boston, MAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 51 | 62% | $35,358 | $47,882 |
| 2 | University of Maryland, Baltimore Baltimore, MDPublicMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 44 | — | — | — |
| 3 | University of Georgia Athens, GAPublicPost-degree cert. | 21 | 90% | — | — |
| 4 | George Washington University Washington, DCPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 20 | 84% | $29,789 | — |
| 5 | Notre Dame of Maryland University Baltimore, MDPrivate not-for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 20 | 50% | $24,333 | — |
| 6 | University of Southern California Los Angeles, CAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sMaster'sDoctoral | 12 | 92% | $26,873 | — |
| 7 | University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Little Rock, ARPublicDoctoral | 4 | — | — | — |
| 8 | St. John's University - New York Queens, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 3 | 66% | $27,359 | — |
| 9 | Northeastern University Professional Programs Boston, MAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 2 | — | — | — |
| 10 | Fairleigh Dickinson University - Florham Campus Madison, NJPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 1 | 67% | $23,573 | — |
| 11 | Long Island University Brookville, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 1 | 57% | $24,639 | — |
* 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 8 states
Where Pharmacy Administration and Pharmacy Policy and Regulatory Affairs graduates come from. Each state links to all Pharmacy programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | 2 | 64 | University of Maryland, Baltimore44 / yr |
| Massachusetts | 2 | 53 | Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences51 / yr |
| Georgia | 1 | 21 | University of Georgia21 / yr |
| District of Columbia | 1 | 20 | George Washington University20 / yr |
| California | 1 | 12 | University of Southern California12 / yr |
| New York | 2 | 4 | St. John's University - New York3 / yr |
| Arkansas | 1 | 4 | University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences4 / yr |
| New Jersey | 1 | 1 | Fairleigh Dickinson University - Florham Campus1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 11-9111, Medical and Health Services Managers, and its national outlook.
Graduates of this program can pursue careers as Medical and Health Services Managers or Health Specialties Teachers at the postsecondary level. The job outlook is much faster than average, with a projected growth rate of 23.2%, annual openings of 62,100, and a median wage of $117,960 for related positions.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 51.2002
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Medical and Health Services Managersprimary 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 |
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Pharmacy Administration and Pharmacy Policy and Regulatory Affairs 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
- Direct, supervise and evaluate work activities of medical, nursing, technical, clerical, service, maintenance, and other personnel.
- Develop and maintain computerized record management systems to store and process data, such as personnel activities and information, and to produce reports.
- Plan, implement, and administer programs and services in a health care or medical facility, including personnel administration, training, and coordination of medical, nursing and physical plant staff.
- Conduct and administer fiscal operations, including accounting, planning budgets, authorizing expenditures, establishing rates for services, and coordinating financial reporting.
- Maintain awareness of advances in medicine, computerized diagnostic and treatment equipment, data processing technology, government regulations, health insurance changes, and financing options.
- Establish work schedules and assignments for staff, according to workload, space, and equipment availability.
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
- Pharmacoeconomics/CIP 51.2007
Pharmaceutical Economics 150 graduates / yr16 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 can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Master's degree, a Postbaccalaureate certificate, or a Post-master's certificate.
How many colleges offer this program in the U.S.?+
There are 11 colleges offering this program across the United States.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in speaking, critical thinking, writing, and active listening.
What is the job outlook for careers in this field?+
The job outlook is much faster than average, with a growth rate of 23.2% and 62,100 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Pharmacy Administration and Pharmacy Policy and Regulatory Affairs?+
Pharmacy Administration and Pharmacy Policy and Regulatory Affairs is CIP 51.2002 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 prepares individuals to apply managerial, social, and economic sciences to the study and management of the distribution and use of pharmaceutical products and the provision of pharmacy services. Includes instruction in research design and methods, statistics, social and organizational behavior, pharmacoeconomics, management of pharmacy services, outcomes research, product planning and reimbursement, cost-benefit analysis, drug marketing, pharmacy and pharmaceutics law and regulation, risk assessment, and organization of the health care system.
How many institutions offer Pharmacy Administration and Pharmacy Policy and Regulatory Affairs programs?+
11 U.S. institutions reported Pharmacy Administration and Pharmacy Policy and Regulatory Affairs graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 8 states, awarding 179 credentials in the year. That is 1.0% of all Pharmacy graduates.
How much do Pharmacy Administration and Pharmacy Policy and Regulatory Affairs graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Medical and Health Services Managers occupation, which Pharmacy Administration and Pharmacy Policy and Regulatory Affairs most directly leads to, pays a median of $123,860 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Pharmacy field report median earnings of $47,882 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.
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