Why KU School of Pharmacy?

An overwhelming majority of members of the Class of 2024 — 93% — said they would choose the KU School of Pharmacy again if they were starting their degree program today. The national average is 82%. (92% response rate.)

In the most recent rankings of "Best Pharmacy Schools" from U.S. News and World Report, KU Pharmacy is among the top 20 schools in the country. 

The KU School of Pharmacy is in the top 30 of all schools of pharmacy in National Institutes of Health and total research award dollars granted in 2023. We have long been respected for our research acumen and have a storied history of innovation and discovery.

Students administer more than 2,000 flu and COVID vaccines a year through the school’s annual Operation Immunization event, which provides free vaccines to those who might not otherwise be able to afford it.

Within six months of graduating in May 2024, 96.5% of our Pharm.D. graduates obtained employment, were continuing their education, completing a fellowship or residency or otherwise engaged professionally.

The KU School of Pharmacy residency match rate again exceeded the national average in 2024. KU SOP Pharm.D. students matched at a rate of 87%, compared with a national rate of 83%. Students who planned to pursue a residency in 2024 comprised 50% of the class.

Student organizations and clinical rotations provide KU School of Pharmacy students with many opportunities to explore various pharmacy career paths before graduation. The top three career paths of our 2024 graduates were 43% hospital/health system pharmacy, 20% retail (community chain), 16% retail (community independent).

KU School of Pharmacy students annually post high first-time pass rates on the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination (MPJE) and the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX). The school’s first-time pass rate, for the MPJE is 94% (3-yr. avg.) compared to a national pass rate of 75.7% (3-yr. avg.) among all ACPE accredited programs. The NAPLEX first-time pass rate for KU Pharmacy students is 86.6% (3-yr. avg.) and 77.2% (3-yr. avg.) nationally.

The collaborative relationship between our Pharm.D. and research programs sets us apart from other schools.

Our students learn from world-renowned researchers as well as from practicing pharmacists. With a solid foundation in the sciences, our students graduate with a broad understanding of pharmacy—from discovery and formulation to delivery.