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Best 15 Pharmacy Schools in California in 2024

January 26, 2024 | Admin

Pharmacy Schools in California

California, home to around 39 million people, is one of the most prominent states in the United States. Due to this large population, healthcare needs in the state are always very high. To become a certified pharmacist in California, you must complete a Doctor of the program from an accredited school of medicine.

California state has some of the best pharmacy schools in the US. To help you make a choice, in the following discussion, we are going to rank some of the best pharmacy schools in California. 

1

University of California San Diego

  • La Jolla, California
  • Points: 95

The University of California San Diego is also known for the emphasis on research. This is a public institution based in California. The university was first opened in 1960, and it offers more than 200 graduate and undergraduate degrees. In the 2021 ranking of universities, the University of California San Diego was ranked number 35 among the best national universities. The institution uses a quarter-based type of academic calendar. The University of California San Diego emphasizes teaching traditional pharmacology where it focuses on emerging topics such as computational biology, bioinformatics, and pharmacogenomics. Students are placed in health clinics, academic facilities, and hospitals across San Diego in the third year of the pharmacy program.

School Overview

Tuition Fee per Year: $11,442
Total enrollment: 38,736
Accreditation: WASC Senior College and University Commission
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2

University of Southern California

  • Los Angeles, California
  • Points: 93

The University of Southern California is ranked among the best pharmacy schools in California. The institution was established by Robert. M. Widney in the year 1880. The university offers several programs in fields such as law, medicine, occupational therapy, pharmacy, film, engineering, and business. The University of Southern California is the center of innovation where several technologies have been invented, including image compression, DNA Computing, VoIP, antivirus software, and dynamic programming. The university offers several concurrent programs that allow their students to pursue them at the same time- an MPH or a CA Pharm.D. program, a J.D., and an MBA. To complete the pharmacy program, a student must undertake 133 units of coursework and score at least 2.5 and, importantly, take part in clinical experiences that take about 1740 hours.

School Overview

Tuition Fee per Year: $46,272
Total enrollment: 48,321
Accreditation: WASC Senior College and University Commission
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3

Touro University

  • Vallejo, California
  • Points: 90

Touro University is a Jewish-funded institution of professional education and higher learning. The institution offers several graduate and undergraduate programs including nursing, public health, pharmacy, education, osteopathic medicine, and physician assistant studies. Touro University is a home of all students regards of the faith, but half of the admission normally applies to the school of pharmacy. The institution is passionate about increasing accessibility to quality health care services. The learning experience at the university is student-centered to prepare them for a rewarding career journey. Touro University California is ranked 16th in the entire country among all the medical schools producing top resident primary care experts.

School Overview

Tuition Fee per Year: $30,140
Total enrollment: 1,378
Accreditation: WASC Senior College and University Commission
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4

The University of the Pacific, Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy

  • Stockton, California
  • Points: 87

The University of the Pacific is a top-rated institution of higher learning that is in San Francisco, California. The institution focuses on accelerated courses in law, pharmacy, and dentistry. The institution was first chartered in 1851 under California Wesleyan College as its official name. The University of the Pacific provides three types of specialization in the field of pharmacy: Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmaceutics, which develops students to work in the pharmaceutical field; pharmacy practice, which develops students to be community pharmacists; and Pharmacology and physiology, which prepare and develops students for their academic careers. Students from the University of the Pacific are trained in skills such as patient counseling, performance, and physical examination, completing medical histories, provision of treatment, performing clinical procedures and skills. The institution has a graduation and school acceptance rate of 72% and 66%, respectively.

School Overview

Tuition Fee per Year: $48,904
Total enrollment: 6,447
Accreditation: WASC Senior College and University Commission
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5

University of California San Francisco

  • San Francisco, California
  • Points: 85

University of California San Francisco is ranked among the top 10 best pharmacy schools in the world. The pharmacy school in the institution is the most competitive in California. This University is driven by the best teaching, best research, best patient care. The school is the center of all experts in every sector of healthcare. This is an online institution in California exclusively dedicated to health sciences. The pharmacy program at this University focuses on experimental learning and excellent applied patient care skills for a better foundation in scientific principles.

School Overview

Tuition Fee per Year: $11,442
Total enrollment: 3,180
Accreditation: WASC Senior College and University Commission
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6

Western University of Health Sciences

  • Pomona, California
  • Points: 81

Western University of Health Sciences is a privately owned university that was first opened in 1977. The university was originally known as the College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific. The institution offers degrees in physician assistant, nursing, optometry, osteopathic, dental medicine, pharmacy, biomedical sciences, veterinary medicine, and physical therapy. The Pharm.D. program in the institution teaches pharmacists to take their positions alongside other healthcare professions. The university uses 350 sites, which include VA facilities, pediatric hospitals, private hospitals, and county hospitals. The pharmacy program provides a series of experimental clinics which hence the skills of the students.

School Overview

Tuition Fee per Year: $50,675
Total enrollment: 3,792
Accreditation: WASC Senior College and University Commission
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7

Loma Linda University

  • Loma Linda, California
  • Points: 80

Loma Linda University is an Adventist university found in Loma Linda, California. The university was founded as a health science institution in 1966. There are over 100 certificate and degree programs. The school of pharmacy made its first admission in 2002. Loma Linda University School of Pharmacy is regarded as one of the best in California. Students go through a full-time, four years course, which prepares them for a PharmD degree in the long run. The major focus of the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree program is to produce a highly qualified team of pharmacists who are fully committed to the course.

School Overview

Tuition Fee per Year: $46,900
Total enrollment: 4,462
Accreditation: WASC Senior College and University Commission
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8

Marshall B. Ketchum University College of Pharmacy

  • Fullerton, California
  • Points: 77

Marshall B. Ketchum University is an entire healthcare profession institute that is focused on training clinicians and pharmacists. The institution was originally founded as a multidisciplinary with an additional college of pharmacy and school of PA studies in the year 2013 and 2011, respectively. The institution is passionate about providing compassionate, competent, and caring healthcare services to society.

School Overview

Tuition Fee per Year: $40,863
Total enrollment: 739
Accreditation: WASC Senior College and University Commission
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9

West Coast University School of Pharmacy

  • Los Angeles, California
  • Points: 74

West Coast University School of Pharmacy is one of the best pharmacy schools in California. The school is committed to providing a learning environment that emphasizes interprofessional education, leadership development, and patient-centered care. Additionally, the institution has always been working hard in providing scholarships among students and faculty. The length of the program in the school is four years.

School Overview

Tuition Fee per Year: $28,000
Total enrollment: 580
Accreditation: WASC Senior College and University Commission
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10

Keck Graduate Institute

  • Claremont, California
  • Points: 72

Keck Graduate Institute School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences is a fully certified pharmacy school in California. The institution was established in2014. The institution offers a four years pharmacy program that is focused on providing collaborative, articulate, caring, and innovative pharmacists. Keck Graduate Institute School of Pharmacy has continued to grow in terms of reputation for excellence and the of students enrolled each year.

School Overview

Tuition Fee per Year: $38,808
Total enrollment: 580
Accreditation: WASC Senior College and University Commission
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11

Chapman University School of Pharmacy

  • Irvine, California
  • Points: 69

Chapman University School of Pharmacy is one of the most reputable schools of medicine in California. The school is under Chapman university, which is a private university that first started its academic classes in1861. The institution offers academic programs in areas like art and design, computer technology, education and liberal arts, business, human and social science, legal and law, and healthcare. The school is aiming at training scientists and students who are passionate about making a difference in society through human healthcare. Chapman University School of Pharmacy offers the pharmacy program in three different levels: Bachelor’s degree, master’s level, and doctoral level.

School Overview

Tuition Fee per Year: $54,924
Total enrollment: 9,850
Accreditation: WASC Senior College and University Commission
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12

California North State University

  • Elk Grove, California
  • Points: 67

California North State University College of Pharmacy (CNUCOP) is one of the highly-rated pharmacy schools in California. The school focuses on providing progressive academic programs that prepare pharmacists and health providers to be excellent in their skills and professions. California North State University College of Pharmacy is a four-year course program that is delivered coursework, independent study, and classroom lectures. In the recent California Practice standard, the school was ranked number 4 of the most trusted school.

School Overview

Tuition Fee per Year: $47,596
Total enrollment: 380
Accreditation: WASC Senior College and University Commission
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13

University of California-Irvine

  • Irvine, California
  • Points: 64

The University of California-Irvine has a Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences which focuses on training students’ different skills in the field of pharmaceutical technologies such as in-vitro biopharmaceutical techniques, accelerated chemical synthesis, and gene therapy. The clinical pharmacy depart offers training for the pharmacy career. The major goal of the department of clinical pharmacy is always putting the client first, train students excellently so that they can improve not only themselves but also society’s health.

School Overview

Tuition Fee per Year: $14,864
Total enrollment: 36,908
Accreditation: WASC Senior College and University Commission
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14

City College of San Francisco

  • San Francisco, California
  • Points: 61

City College of San Francisco is an academic institution that is passionate about offering educational programs that promote its students’ achievements and make them better members of society. The institution focuses on offering programs that lead to transfer to baccalaureate institutions such as associate degrees in arts and science, accredited certificates, and career skills required in the workplace. The college is committed to supporting every student in achieving their goals through academic excellence. City College of San Francisco also provides students services such as placement services for those who have completed, on-campus daycare for students who have small babies, career and academic counseling, remedial services, among others. The school has the health care Technology department that offers training to students to instill both clinical and administrative skills for employment entry-level as a pharmacist.

  • Accreditation: Accrediting Commission for Junior and Community Colleges, Western Association of Colleges and Schools

School Overview

Tuition Fee per Year: $1,144
Total enrollment: 24,441
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15

Saddleback College

  • Mission Viejo, California
  • Points: 59

Saddleback College is a public college that was first founded in 1968, Saddleback. The institution is the school of pharmacy that offers pre-pharmacy studies. The college is small but has one of the fastest-growing colleges of pharmacy in California. Given that the acceptance rate of the school is low, students are required to contact the school first for inquiries before they can submit their admission requests. Some of the academic divisions offered in the institution include health sciences. Creative arts, social science, and humanities, learning resources, computer science, and applied technologies, among others.

  • Accreditation: Accrediting Commission for Junior and Community Colleges, Western Association of Colleges, and schools

School Overview

Tuition Fee per Year: $1,330
Total enrollment: 19,709
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Ranking Methodology

This ranking was based on the analysis of best software data from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard and the respective university websites. The schools were ranked based on tuition amounts per year, total enrollment, and Accreditation. All the factors were accorded equal points, and each school was assigned points based on how it compared with others on tuition amounts, total enrollment, and Accreditation. The points earned for both ranking factors were then added together to get each school’s total score. The school with the most points ranked first in the list, and the points were accorded down the list accordingly.

We strive to provide current and accurate information to our readers. If you’re associated with one of the schools we ranked above and you realize an error in the information provided, please feel free to contact us and let us know so we can make any necessary corrections.

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