The Best Private Pharmacy Schools

University of the Sciences--Philadelphia

• The Philadelphia College of Pharmacy is the nation's highest-rated private pharmacy college. As part of the the University of the Sciences, this school ranked No. 31 in the nation among all pharmacy schools, according to U.S. News & World Report (they were ranked in 2008). The school offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs. At the undergraduate level, students have the option to pursue a bachelor of science in pharmaceutical sciences or in pharmacology and toxicology. At the graduate level, the school offers the traditional doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) degree. The school blends classroom education with hands-on training. It also conducts research in fields such as education research, medication use and safety, pharmacoeconomics and health outcomes, and clinical and translational research.

  Philadelphia College of Pharmacy
  600 S. 43rd St.
  Philadelphia, PA 19104
  888-996-8747
  www.usp.edu

Mercer University

• Ranked just below the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy by U.S. News, Mercer University's College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (whose origins go back to 1903) offers a wide variety of degree options for pharmacy students. In addition to the traditional PharmD degree, Mercer offers a Ph.D. in the field. Both can be pursued separately or as part of a joint-degree program. The PharmD can also be pursued in conjunction with a master of business administration degree. Areas of specialization within the Ph.D. program include pharmaceutics, medicinal chemistry, pharmacology and toxicology.

  Mercer University
  College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
  3001 Mercer University Drive
  Atlanta, GA 30341
  678-547-6232
  cophs.mercer.edu

Creighton University

• Creighton University in Omaha, Neb., is a private Jesuit university that ranked No. 46 in the nation for its School of Pharmacy and Health Professions. The school has two pharmaceutical divisions, pharmacy practice and pharmacy sciences. Through the pharmacy-practice departments, students can pursue the PharmD by itself or in conjunction with a master of science in pharmaceutical sciences or the MBA degree. The pharmacy-sciences division offers the master of science in pharmaceutical sciences as its highest degree. Students have the opportunity to specialize in several different research fields: medicinal chemistry, pharmacology, pharmaceutics, toxicology and pharmacokinetics.

  Creighton University
  School of Pharmacy and Health Professions
  2500 California Plaza
  Omaha, NE 68178
  402-280-2662
  pharmacy.creighton.edu