Pharmacy

Salary data, best schools, and honest ROI assessment

Avg Earnings (4yr)
$92,722
Median Earnings
$122,169
Schools Offering
31
ROI Grade
A+

Earnings Range (4 Years After Graduation)

25th: $79,566Median: $122,16975th: $125,175

Best Schools for Pharmacy by Earnings

#School4yr Earnings
1The University of Texas at Austin
TX · Public
$143,049
2Northeastern University
MA · Private
$142,985
3Long Island University
NY · Private
$136,840
4University of Louisiana at Monroe
LA · Public
$134,329
5University of Hawaii at Hilo
HI · Public
$131,134
6Western New England University
MA · Private
$129,138
7University of Kansas
KS · Public
$125,384
8North Dakota State University-Main Campus
ND · Public
$125,175
9Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia
PA · Private
$122,633
10University of Connecticut
CT · Public
$122,474
11University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus
CT · Public
$122,474
12University of Connecticut-Avery Point
CT · Public
$122,474
13University of Connecticut-Stamford
CT · Public
$122,474
14University of Connecticut-Hartford Campus
CT · Public
$122,474
15South Dakota State University
SD · Public
$122,169
16University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus
PA · Public
$121,958
17Samford University
AL · Private
$119,888
18East Tennessee State University
TN · Public
$106,593
19North Carolina Central University
NC · Public
$88,454
20Cedarville University
OH · Private
$87,777
21Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
NY · Private
$84,423
22Campbell University
NC · Private
$79,566
23Drake University
IA · Private
$75,867
24University of California-Davis
CA · Public
$73,595
25MCPHS University
MA · Private
$72,947
26Ohio Northern University
OH · Private
$72,121
27Ohio State University-Main Campus
OH · Public
$65,407
28University of Toledo
OH · Public
$63,190
29University of California-Irvine
CA · Public
$61,034

School-by-school analysis: Pharmacy

Editorial breakdowns of how pharmacy graduates fare at the top-earning programs in our dataset.

Long Island University
NY · Private · $136,840 4yr earnings · $25,000 median debt
49

178 graduates from this PharmD program earn an A grade. Four-year median earnings of $136,840 against $25,000 median debt produce a 0.183 debt-to-earnings ratio. This is among the strongest ROI in our dataset. Pharmacy as a profession faces saturation pressures nationally, but LIU's Brooklyn pharmacy program is well-established and graduates are placing into chain-pharmacy, hospital, and specialty roles at strong wages.

University of Hawaii at Hilo
HI · Public · $131,134 4yr earnings · $20,500 median debt
47

Pharmacy (40 graduates) earns $63,776 at year one and $131,134 at year four -- the second-highest four-year earnings at the institution. The B+ grade reflects a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.321 against $20,500 median debt. The pharmacy pipeline from UH Hilo benefits from Hawaii's healthcare geography: the state has limited pharmacist supply and high demand across rural and community settings. The $131k four-year figure reflects pharmacist salary scales in the Hawaii market, which are competitive with mainland urban rates.

University of Kansas
KS · Public · $125,384 4yr earnings · $19,151 median debt
76

Pharmacy is KU's top-performing program — 111 PharmD graduates project $125,384 at four years against $19,151 median debt, a 0.15 ratio and A grade. The KU School of Pharmacy is regionally and nationally recognized; graduates enter one of the most reliably compensated healthcare professions. At in-state net price, pharmacy is an exceptional value. Prospective students should plan for the 4-year PharmD program atop 2 pre-pharmacy years and factor total program costs accordingly.

North Dakota State University-Main Campus
ND · Public · $125,175 4yr earnings · $19,500 median debt
80

Pharmacy (53 graduates) is NDSU's top financial program: $125,175 four-year earnings and an ROI grade A with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.156. Median debt of $19,500 is remarkably low for a professional pharmacy program, likely reflecting NDSU's in-state tuition advantage. Pharmacy graduates enter a field with strong and stable demand in North Dakota's healthcare system. This is one of the strongest program-level values in the database for students with the preparation and interest to pursue it.

University of Connecticut
CT · Public · $122,474 4yr earnings · $27,000 median debt
85

Pharmacy (77 graduates) earns $122,474 at year four with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.220 (ROI grade A). The A grade and high year-four earnings reflect immediate high-demand placement for licensed pharmacists in Connecticut's dense healthcare market. Median debt of $27,000 is moderate for a pharmacy graduate. This is among the most financially reliable programs at UConn.

Exceptional Value

Is Pharmacy Worth It?

The Numbers Support This Major

Pharmacy is one of the strongest financial bets in higher education. With average graduate earnings of $92,722 four years after graduation, this field consistently outperforms the median across all majors. The return on investment is clear.

This is a more specialized field, offered at 31 schools in our dataset. Fewer options means less room to optimize on cost, so pay close attention to the financial aid packages you receive.

The top school for this major by earnings is The University of Texas at Austin, where graduates earn $143,049 four years out. But averages hide a wide range - where you attend and what you do with the degree matter as much as the major itself.

Earnings data represents median earnings 4 years after graduation for graduates of bachelor's programs, as reported by the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Individual outcomes vary significantly based on career path, location, and other factors.