According to U.S. News & World Report, VCU School of Pharmacy is one of the Top 20 Pharm.D. programs in the United States. Located in the heart of Richmond, Virginia, we welcome students from all backgrounds and experiences. As one of 18 Health Science Centers in the United States, the school's location within the VCU Health System offers Pharm.D. students tremendous opportunities for interprofessional education and collaboration. In addition to our Pharm.D. program, we offer several dual degree programs with the VCU School of Medicine, VCU School of Business, and VCU College of Health Professions.
Why Students Choose VCU
Our Culture
At VCU, you can expect to learn from dynamic faculty in a welcoming and inclusive environment that will expose you to individuals of differing perspectives, life experiences and cultural backgrounds.
Our Curriculum
Our curriculum offers students an exceptional balance of practice and community engagement alongside basic and applied pharmaceutical research.
Our Results
We have the highest NAPLEX pass rate in the state of Virginia and second-highest NAPLEX pass rate when compared the Top 10 Schools of Pharmacy as reported by U.S. News & World Report.
Career Opportunities
There are hundreds of career paths available to pharmacists today, and we have a diverse curriculum and experiential opportunities that will prepare you for the path of your choice.Student Voices
Dual Degree Programs
Are you a highly motivated student interested in research or looking to obtain additional experience in business, public health, health innovation or gerontology? Our combined degree programs take advantage of efficiencies in both the professional and graduate programs while maintaining sufficient rigor, scope and depth. Currently, the following combined degrees are offered jointly with the VCU School of Medicine, VCU School of Business, VCU College of Health Professions and VCU School of Nursing.
| Combined Degree Program | Program Website | Program Director |
| Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) / Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmaceutical Sciences (Ph.D.) | Pharmaceutical Sciences | Dr. Phillip Gerk |
| Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) / Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) | Business Administration | Dr. David Holford |
| Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) / Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) | Public Health | Dr. Pramit Nadpara |
| Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) / Certificate in Aging Studies (Post-Baccalaureate Graduate Certificate) | Aging Studies | Dr. Krista Donohoe |
Pharm.D. Tuition & Fees (2023-24)
VCU School of Pharmacy is dedicated to making a Pharm.D. degree more affordable for the pharmacists of tomorrow.
In-state
$36,115 per year
Out-of-state
$49,953 per year
Are you an out-of-state student?
Be sure to ask us if you qualify for the Explore Virginia Tuition Initiative.
Connect with us!
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VCU’s Diversity P.A.T.H.S. (Promoting Access To Health Sciences) department features programs and initiatives to support students in their journey toward a health care career. VCU School of Pharmacy has several programs at the middle school, high school and college levels for students interested in learning about pharmacy. Click the button below to learn more and find a program for you.
- Preview Day
- Pharmacy Explorers
- Pharmacy Summer Scholars
- Summer Academic Enrichment Program
Open Houses are open to anyone interested in the Pharm.D. program at VCU School of Pharmacy. Attending an Open House gives you the opportunity to:
- Learn more about our Pharm.D. program
- Ask questions about the admissions process
- Tour the MCV campus
- Get a sense of student life from current Pharm.D. students
Please click on a date below to register for an Open House!
A year in the life
P1 Year
P1 year is all about settling in and exploring the profession. From day one, you will be assigned a faculty mentor dedicated to helping you identify career goals and opportunities to get involved. The year is designed to be immersive but manageable. You will have classes that range from pharmacognosy to pharmacokinetics and practice-based experiences out in the community. Most importantly, we are with you every step of the way as you transition to life as a pharmacy student!
A year in the life
P2 Year
This is the year in which you begin to understand the “secret sauce” behind our modular curriculum. All of our modules are designed for student participation and active learning. -- no more days spent in lectures simply taking notes. Rather than learning about medicinal chemistry, pharmaceutics, and therapeutics in isolation, we group all of these essential areas by body system, beginning with cardiology and ending with respiratory/immunology. We design our classes to replicate practice; much of your time will be spent picking apart patient case, designing therapeutics regimens, and working with simulation mannequins alongside other health professions students. We believe interprofessional education is key and technology in the classroom is essential.
A year in the life
P3 year
With the opportunity to take electives, complete service-learning hours, and fulfill dual-degree requirements, P3 year is all about choosing your journey. Our curriculum provides a variety of ways to further differentiate yourself and refine your skills. If you decide to complete your Pharm.D./Ph.D. or Pharm.D./MBA, our curriculum has built-in efficiencies to help you save time and money.
A year in the life
P4 Year
Rotations, rotations, rotations! During the P4 year students complete up to nine rotations all over the world. We have an extensive network of preceptor and rotation sites throughout Virginia, Maryland, and North Carolina. Beyond our local region, many students take part in rotational experiences in Hawaii, Alaska, New Mexico, and Italy -- to name a few. Whether you would like to pursue a residency, fellowship, or community position, your P4 is curated to reaffirm your interest areas and ensure you are an exceptional candidate upon graduation.