University of the Pacific School of Pharmacy: Rankings, Requirements, and Opportunities

The Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences at the University of the Pacific is dedicated to providing a success-centered and leadership-focused educational environment. The School boasts a powerful alumni network and experienced faculty who support students throughout their academic journey. This article delves into the rankings, requirements, and opportunities offered by the University of the Pacific School of Pharmacy, providing valuable information for prospective students.

Overview of the PharmD Program

The entry-level degree to become a pharmacist is the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD). Pacific’s PharmD degree program is designed to meet the educational requirements for graduates to take the NAPLEX and MPJE board examinations. The Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy uses the Pharmacy College Application Service (PharmCAS) for prospective students to submit their PharmD application. Through PharmCAS, applicants complete an initial PharmCAS application along with a supplemental application for the School.

Application Deadlines

The 2025-26 PharmD admissions cycle begins July 10, 2025. The final application deadline is March 2, 2026. Applying early can enhance your chances of receiving an interview invitation. Interviews are held starting in late September.

PharmD Program Admission Requirements

To gain admission into the PharmD program, applicants must hold a minimum of 68 semester units of college-level coursework, including specific prerequisites. All requirements must be completed, in progress, or planned before application review. Upon completion of the PharmD application, the University of the Pacific will evaluate the coursework and identify any missing prerequisites. Applicants who have completed or have a plan in place to complete all prerequisites prior to entering the program are eligible to apply.

Prerequisite Coursework

The following prerequisite courses are required for admission to the PharmD program:

Calculus: One semester or two quarters of college-level calculus.
Physics: One semester or one quarter of college-level physics with lab.
General Chemistry: Two semesters or three quarters with labs in each term. The course sequence should be designed for chemistry majors.
General Biology: Two semesters or three quarters with labs in each term. The course sequence should be designed for biology majors. Pacific does not accept AP credit for this requirement.
Organic Chemistry: Two semesters or three quarters with labs in each term.
Physiology: One semester or one quarter with lab.
Microbiology: One semester or one quarter course.
English Composition: A minimum of two 3-semester unit courses or two 4-quarter unit courses. This should be the freshman composition sequence (equivalent to ENGL 1A and 1B). An AP Exam with a score of 4 or 5 will fulfill this requirement. An AP Exam is needed per semester.
Public Speaking: A minimum of one 3-semester unit course or one 4-quarter unit course. Interpersonal communication DOES NOT fulfill this requirement. It must specifically be a public speaking course. This course also fulfills Pacific's Language and Narratives General Education category.
Economics: A minimum of one 3-semester unit course or one 4-quarter unit course. Principles of economics or macroeconomics will also fulfill Pacific's Civic and Global Responsibility General Education category. An AP exam with a score of 4 or 5 will fulfill this requirement.
Psychology: A minimum of one 3-semester unit course or one 4-quarter unit course. Must be a course in general or introductory psychology or abnormal psychology. This course also fulfills Pacific's Social Inquiry General Education category. An AP Exam with a score of 4 or 5 will fulfill this requirement.
General Education: At least one 3-semester unit course from Pacific's General Education Areas of Inquiry Categories. These are sample courses; others may be acceptable. World Perspectives and Ethics - Units also count in the liberal arts total. Artistic Process and Creation - Units also count in the liberal arts total.
Liberal Arts: Liberal arts units must total 28-semester or 42-quarter units. Courses completed in English, public speaking, economics, and psychology also count in the liberal arts total.

Limitations: Students may use no more than two AP exams to fulfill English, psychology, economics, general education, or the liberal arts requirement.

Additional Requirements and Considerations

GPA: The minimum cumulative GPA to be considered for the PharmD program is 2.70. Students who have a GPA lower than the minimum can be considered under extenuating circumstances.
Transcripts: Applicants must send PharmCAS one official transcript from every accredited school attended within the United States. Send all completed courses to date, if available. If not, summer session and fall grades should be updated through PharmCAS after grades are posted. If you have studied outside the United States, you must send PharmCAS an official copy of the World Educational Services International Credential Advantage Package. To order, go to wes.org.
Test Scores: The Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy only requires test scores if you use an exam to fulfill a prerequisite. Please be sure to report your scores in the supplemental application section on the PharmCAS site. You must have scored a 4 or 5 in AP or a 5, 6, or 7 in higher-level IB exams to fulfill a prerequisite.
TOEFL/IELTS: If English is not your first language, you may be required to submit an appropriate TOEFL or IELTS exam.
Military Coursework: If you completed coursework in the military, you are required to send an official copy of the ACE transcript directly to Pacific with a copy of the DD214 form.
Prerequisite Expiration: Prerequisite coursework does not expire. However, the Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy reserves the right to ask a student to enroll in refresher courses in organic chemistry and biology after reviewing the applicant’s academic transcripts. Such requests are typically made if it has been longer than seven years since completion of the prerequisite coursework.
Planned Courses Form: You must inform the university in writing of all changes to your schedule, including changes that are not related to pharmacy prerequisites, via the Planned Courses form.
Online Courses: Due to COVID-19, the university is accepting online courses for all prerequisites completed during spring 2020 through fall 2022.
Four-Year Institution: It is recommended that all science requirements be completed at a four-year institution.

Pre-Pharmacy Advantage Program

Ready to make a difference in the field of pharmacy? Apply to the Pre-Pharmacy Advantage Program at the Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.

PharmD Program Structure and Curriculum

The University of the Pacific School of Pharmacy offers a variety of pathways to earn a Doctor of Pharmacy degree.

Three-Year PharmD Program

Students can earn a doctor of pharmacy degree in three years. The intensive academic schedule in the three-year pathway enables you to graduate one year earlier than traditional PharmD programs. This accelerated, eight-semester doctor of pharmacy curriculum exposes students to the pharmaceutical, administrative, social, behavioral, and clinical science aspects of the field. From the very first semester, students develop clinical and patient-care skills - both are integrated throughout the curriculum.

Five-Year PharmD Program

The extended schedule in the five-year pathway provides greater flexibility, making a PharmD education accessible for different needs, challenges, and paths in life.

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Experiential Learning

The School of Pharmacy holds academic affiliations with major medical centers, teaching hospitals, and related practice settings in support of its educational programs. Students also have the opportunity to develop their leadership skills and serve the community through student-led health care outreach programs.

Rankings and Quality Indicators

US News and World Report (USNWR) Rankings

US News and World Report (USNWR) publishes well-known rankings of graduate health programs. Medicine and nursing are ranked with weighted metrics using multiple criteria, and medical schools are ranked separately according to their focus (research or primary care). However, USNWR rankings can be frustrating for colleges and schools of pharmacy and the general public because peer perception is the only criterion; they are based on an invalid rating scale with no criteria provided for the rating. The USNWR rankings also do not align with other studies of quality.

Alternative Ranking Models

Recognizing the limitations of the USNWR rankings, researchers have proposed alternative models for ranking pharmacy schools based on objective data. These models utilize metrics from readily available sources, such as the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP), the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP), and the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP).

One such model identifies seven indicators attributed to pharmacy school quality:

Educational Quality:
- Student-to-faculty ratio
- NAPLEX pass rate for first-time candidates
- Percentage of graduates matched to an ASHP-accredited residency program
Research Quality:
- Total research funding dollars
- Average award amount
- Total number of principal investigators on NIH grants
- Number of PhDs conferred

This framework suggests a relatively easy and more objective approach to pharmacy school rankings using distinct quality dimensions in education and research.

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Factors Influencing Pharmacy School Rankings

Several factors have been found to influence pharmacy school rankings, including:

Age of the program
Affiliation with an academic health center
Classification as research-intensive
Membership in a Power 5 athletic conference
Number of full-time faculty equivalents
Pharmacy practice h-index
Research funding
Student PCAT comprehensive percentile
First-time NAPLEX pass rates
Faculty publication rates

Career Opportunities for Pharmacists

Pharmacists play a significant role in the healthcare industry. Their contribution goes beyond a pharmacy as they take up more challenging roles such as research and drug discovery. Due to specific training and education, a pharmacist - as a medication expert - is an important member of the health care interprofessional team practicing in a variety of different settings ranging from community pharmacies, hospitals, and clinics to the government or pharmaceutical companies in medical and regulatory affairs. In some states, such as the state of Oregon, pharmacists also have provider status and practice under clinical pharmacy agreements, allowing for prescribing or changing medications, ordering and monitoring labs, conducting independent patient visits, and more.

From clinical pharmacy to independent pharmacy ownership, graduates lead successful health careers.

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