22 Best Accelerated FAST-TRACK Pharmacy Programs (Online & Campus-Based) – 2025

Written By: Pattie Trumble, MPP, MPH

The U.S. is facing its worst shortage of pharmacists in many years. As a result, pharmacy program graduates have a wide range of employment opportunities and are making excellent salaries. If you’re someone with a flair for chemistry and other hard sciences, pharmacy is an excellent career choice, and there are many programs that streamline the degree process, allowing you to graduate in record time.

So, what are the best accelerated fast-track pharmacy programs? If you want to shorten the length of time you spend in pharmacy school to save time and money, the schools below on this list of the 22 best accelerated fast-track (campus-based and online) pharmacy programs deserve your consideration.

WHAT ARE THE BEST ACCELERATED FAST-TRACK (CAMPUS-BASED AND ONLINE) PHARMACY PROGRAMS IN THE NATION?

(Based on our Ranking Methodology, the following are the 22 best accelerated (FAST-TRACK) Pharmacy programs for 2025. The following list includes both (Campus-Based and Online) accelerated (FAST-TRACK) Pharmacy programs. You can complete these programs in 3 Years or less.)

1. University of California San Francisco - San Francisco, CA

Program Length: 3 Years

Program Details: U.S. News & World Report consistently ranks the PharmD program at the University of California-San Francisco not only as one of the best accelerated pharmacy programs in the U.S. but also as one of the best professional schools, period. Nearly 70 percent of UCSF’s pharmacy students go on to do residencies, and the school leads the nation in National Institutes of Health pharmacy research grants.

This 184 quarter-credit program focuses upon foundational science and pharmacological treatments organized by organ systems during its first two years. Your courses will include “Cardiovascular Science & Therapeutics,” “Oncology Science and Therapeutics,” and “Infectious Disease Science and Therapeutics.” In the second year of this fast-track pharmacy program, you’ll begin participating in clinical rotations at the prestigious UCSF Medical Center. The curriculum also includes a three-year Discovery Project during which you and a group of classmates research a pharmacy question of particular interest.

How Fast Can You Complete University of California San Francisco Pharmacy Program: UCSF’s integrated pharmacy program is designed to be completed in three years.

Admission Requirements: Entry into the University of California-San Francisco’s expedited pharmacy program is highly competitive. At a minimum, you’ll need a GPA of 2.8 or higher in your undergraduate studies, and you must complete all prerequisites before you apply. You’ll also need a valid intern pharmacist license from the California Board of Pharmacy. While the Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT) is not required, a high score on this exam may help you stand out from other applicants. All applications must be submitted through the PharmCAS service.

2. Chapman University - Irvine, CA

Program Length: 33 Months

Program Details: Chapman University’s School of Pharmacy is in Irvine, California. This 142-credit accelerated pharmacy program is spread across eight 15-week trimesters with two-week breaks between each semester. Classes will include “Integrated Therapeutics: Cardiology,” “Integrated Therapeutics: Endocrinology,” and “Pharmacy Law & Ethics.” At Chapman, you’ll start participating in experiential learning opportunities at local independent pharmacies during your very first trimester and go on to full-fledged clinical rotations during your third year of the program at local hospitals throughout Irvine and other communities in Orange County.

Most coursework and clinical hours are scheduled between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, though occasionally, practicums may be scheduled on weekends.

Chapman University’s PharmD program is often spoken of as one of the best fast-track pharmacy programs in the nation on account of its 6:1 student/teacher ratio, its expansive research funding from government and business sources, and its high North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX) pass rates.

How Fast Can You Complete Chapman University Pharmacy Program: Since Chapman University’s pharmacy program consists of a carefully planned curriculum that must be taken in a specific sequence, its 33-month completion cycle is inflexible.

Admission Requirements: Chapman University uses PharmCAS to process applications to its accelerated PharmD program. You must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher in all undergraduate work. You’ll need to submit a personal statement, two letters of recommendation, and a list of employment and extracurricular activities with your application. All applicants must have a composite score of 50th percentile or higher on the PCAT exam. You must complete all prerequisites (62 credits) with a grade of “C” or higher before courses start.

3. University of the Pacific - Stockton, CA

Program Length: 3 Years

Program Details: University of the Pacific’s 144-credit PharmD program in Stockton is one of the accelerated pharmacy programs that will accept students before they earn their Bachelor’s degree so long as they complete at least 68 credits of prerequisites. Courses like “Dispensing, Compounding, and Calculations,” “Integrated Clinical Sciences: Neuropsychiatric Disorders I & II,” and “Pharmacy Practice Management” introduce you to the full administrative, pharmaceutical, social, behavioral, and clinical science aspects of the pharmacy field. The program culminates with a two-part capstone experience that will allow you to apply what you’ve learned in the classroom to a problem you’ve encountered in the field.

Students are frequently tapped to work alongside faculty on research projects involving drug delivery, drug design, and other cutting-edge topics. You’ll pursue clinical rotations at UOP’s Stockton-based Medicare Part D Outreach Clinics as well as in hospitals, research facilities, and retail pharmacies throughout California from Redding to San Diego. University of the Pacific’s Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy also offers a unique dual degree program in conjunction with its Pharmaceutical and Chemical Sciences Program.

How Fast Can You Complete University of the Pacific Pharmacy Program: UOP’s accelerated pharmacy program has been explicitly engineered to provide the maximum amount of education in the least amount of time, so you won’t be able to customize its curriculum. All students graduate in eight semesters (36 months.)

Admission Requirements: Entry into this pharmacy program is highly competitive. While you don’t have to complete all prerequisites before applying, completing them will give you a better chance of acceptance. You must have a GPA of 2.7 or higher in all undergraduate work. UOP only requires AP/IB/CLEP test scores if you use these exams to fulfill a prerequisite. You must submit two letters of recommendation and an essay explaining how this fast-track pharmacy program will help you meet your career goals along with your PharmCAS application.

4. Touro University California - Vallejo, CA

Program Length: 3 Years

Program Details: The PharmD program at Touro University’s campus in Vallejo, California, builds 300 introductory clinical hours into its classroom curriculum to help students become practice-ready for more advanced experiential assignments. During your first two years, you’ll work in local facilities like the student-run Free Clinic, the Mobile Diabetes Education Center, and local vaccination programs. During the third year of this accelerated pharmacy program, you’ll participate in eight six-week clinical rotations—a full one-third more than the number of practicum hours mandated by accreditation standards.

Tauro’s courses use a block model: Instead of enrolling in multiple classes concurrently, you’ll take a single class that focuses simultaneously on the science, underlying pathologies, and medications used to treat those pathologies. Your courses will include “Pharmacy Administration 1, 2, 3, & 4,” “Integrated Systems: Bacterial Foundations & Bacterial Applications.” Tauro also offers you the opportunity to earn micro-credentials like its unique certificate in Advanced Pharmacy Practice that will authorize you to perform assessments on patients affected by common chronic diseases and order and interpret drug therapy-related tests in coordination with that patient’s primary care provider.

How Fast Can You Complete Touro University California Pharmacy Program: This fast-track pharmacy program’s curriculum is coordinated in a precise manner so that you don’t have the option of taking classes out of sequence. All students will graduate from Tauro University’s PharmD program in six semesters (36 months.)

Admission Requirements: The PharmD program offered by Touro University in Vallejo is another of the fastest pharmacy programs that doesn’t require successful candidates to have a Bachelor’s degree. However, you must complete at least 72 undergraduate credits at an accredited college or university to apply.

You must have a GPA of 2.75 or higher in all undergraduate work. You’ll need to submit one letter of recommendation with your PharmCAS application. Qualified applicants will be invited to sit for interviews. On the day of your interview, you will be asked to write an essay on a non-pharmacy-related subject. All applicants must be citizens or permanent U.S. residents.

5. Roseman University of Health Sciences - Henderson, NV

Program Length: 3 Years

Program Details: Roseman University of Health Sciences pioneered the block model that’s used in many fast-track pharmacy programs. In courses like “Fundamentals of Drug Action and Metabolism,” “Endocrine Systems: Pharmacology and Medicinal Chemistry,” and “Self-Care Therapeutics,” students explore and integrate all the information related to a single pharmacological issue in an in-depth fashion.

Experiential learning plays a vital role in this accelerated pharmacy program. You’ll spend between 459 and 464 hours participating in introductory pharmacy practice experiences (IPPE), such as working in local university-affiliated clinics and shadowing third-year PharmD students during their practicums. Additionally, you’ll spend between 1,440 and 1,680 hours participating in advanced pharmacy practice experiences such as working in a hospital-based or retail pharmacy. The curriculum culminates with a capstone class, offering self-assessment checklists and in-class reviews that will prepare students for licensure exams and job interviews.

This PharmD program is offered both at Roseman University’s campus in Henderson, Nevada and at its campus in South Jordan, Utah.

How Fast Can You Complete Roseman University of Health Sciences Pharmacy Program: As with all accelerated pharmacy programs that utilize the block teaching model, no divergence from Roseman University’s curriculum is permitted. All students graduate in three years (36 months.)

Admission Requirements: You must complete all prerequisites with a grade of 3.0 or higher before you apply to this accelerated PharmD program. You’ll also need to submit a letter of recommendation from a faculty member. Students applying to the fast-track pharmacy program must submit applications through the PharmCAS service.

6. Regis University - Denver, CO

Program Length: 3 Years

Program Details: One of the things that puts Regis University’s PharmD track at the top of the list of the best fastest pharmacy programs is the number of certificates it offers that can help newly graduated pharmacists establish their cred. While enrolled in this 150-credit program, you can earn certificates in data science, pharmaceutical industry affairs, healthcare business management, or healthcare quality and patient safety. Its NAPLEX first-time pass rate is significantly higher than the national average, too. Regis also offers the opportunity to earn Master’s degrees in health informatics, health services administration, and business administration while you’re enrolled in the PharmD program.

This accelerated pharmacy program is identical to Regis University’s four-year PharmD track, except that it’s year-round, so students don’t get summers off. The curriculum combines team-based teaching with an integrated curriculum approach. You’ll take courses like “Integrated Pharmacotherapy 1-12”, “Pharmacy and the United States Health Care System,” and “Ethics and Advocacy in Pharmacy.”

Experiential learning begins in the spring semester of your first year with five IPPE assignments that utilize sites within the local community. The program’s final year is dedicated to seven six-week APPE experiences in community agencies, inpatient hospital health systems, ambulatory care clinics, retail pharmacies, and other healthcare-related facilities throughout the Metropolitan Denver Area.

How Fast Can You Complete Regis University Pharmacy Program: Curricula as tightly integrated as Regis University’s PharmD educational model don’t leave room for variation. You’ll complete this program in three years (36 months.)

Admission Requirements: You don’t have to complete all prerequisites before applying to this program, but you must complete them before graduation. Regis doesn’t have a minimum GPA for candidates it accepts into this program, but the higher your GPA (especially in math and science classes), the more likely you are to be accepted. You’ll need to submit your application through PharmCAS and include one letter of recommendation.

Qualified applicants will be invited to interview with representatives of the Admissions Committee and members of the School of Pharmacy faculty. These interviews play an important role in determining whether or not you’ll be accepted into this program.

7. Pacific University Oregon - Forest Grove, OR

Program Length: 3 Years

Program Details: The fast-track pharmacy program at Pacific University-Oregon is the only accelerated PharmD program in the entire Pacific Northwest. Coursework is identical to the university’s traditional four-year program, except that the accelerated program is year-round, so it offers fewer breaks.

Uniquely among accelerated pharmacy programs, Pacific University uses the STREAM educational model, which emphasizes a multidisciplinary approach that involves problem-solving, critical thinking, and collaboration, along with learning information and acquiring skill sets. The curriculum includes classes like “Social & Administrative Science Foundations,” “U.S. Healthcare & Evidence-Based Practice,” and “Law & Regulatory Affairs.” Though most of your courses will be conducted in the classroom, a few will be offered online utilizing asynchronous technology.

You’ll begin 360 hours of IPPE experiences toward the end of your first year and complete 1,920 hours of APPE experiences before you graduate. You’ll spend the summer months working in a pharmacy setting, either in a hospital or a retail establishment. For students planning on a career as a pharmacy researcher-clinician, Pacific University offers a dual PharmD/Master’s of Pharmaceutical Sciences degree.

How Fast Can You Complete Pacific University Oregon Pharmacy Program: This accelerated pharmacy program is specifically designed to be completed in three continuous years without exception.

Admission Requirements: Pacific University accepts between 60 and 80 students every year. Applications must be submitted through PharmCAS. You must submit at least two letters of recommendation with your application.

At a minimum, you should have a GPA of 2.7 in all undergraduate work, but the most competitive applicants will have a GPA of 3.1 or higher, particularly in prerequisites. While Pacific University will accept applicants who have not yet earned a Bachelor’s degree, more than 75 percent of those accepted into the program have completed an undergraduate degree. The strongest applicants are those with some previous pharmacy experience.

8. Midwestern University - Downers Grove, IL

Program Length: 3 Years

Program Details: The first two years of Midwestern University’s fast-track pharmacy program are devoted to required coursework and introductory pharmacy practice experiences. You’ll begin IPPEs the summer following your first year in the classroom. IPPES occur at local community pharmacies such as Walgreens and CVS, as well as local hospitals and clinics throughout the Chicago metro area.

Unlike many other accelerated pharmacy programs, Midwestern University integrates pharmacy study prerequisites like “Human Physiology I & II” and “Biochemistry I & II” into its PharmD curriculum. Other classes include integrated reviews by organ systems, so you’ll be studying the cardiac system, the renal system, the pulmonary system, and other anatomical-physiological networks by turn.

Your third year will concentrate on four six-week advanced pharmacy practice experiences to help you understand what pharmacists do in community, hospital, ambulatory care, and general medicine practice settings. Midwestern University partners with many premier healthcare facilities throughout the Chicago area, including Rush University Medical Center, University of Chicago Medical Center, and Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

How Fast Can You Complete Midwestern University Pharmacy Program: As is the case with all of the shortest pharmacy programs, this program has been expressly engineered so that students will complete it in exactly 12 quarters (36 months.)

Admission Requirements: Midwestern University accepts 80 students into this program every year. Applicants must have completed at least 62 credits of prerequisite coursework at an accredited U.S. or Canadian college or university with a minimum GPA of 2.5 or higher. Midwestern University is looking for PharmD students who are passionate about the field of pharmacy, so preference is given to applicants who demonstrate a commitment to the pharmacy profession through previous work and volunteer experiences.

9. Medical College of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, WI

Program Length: 3 Years

Program Details: One of the reasons why Medical College of Wisconsin’s expedited PharmD program is considered one of the best fastest pharmacy programs is its outstanding NAPLEX first-time pass rates, which are significantly higher than the national average. Other factors that contribute to the program’s reputation for excellence are its low student-to-teacher ratios, the research opportunities it offers students, and the certifications it offers in point-of-care testing, medication therapy management, and immunization training that can help make you more competitive in the job market.

This PharmD track is a year-round program that includes the summer term as well as two conventional academic semesters. The curriculum combines classroom instruction, skills intensives in MCW’s state-of-the-art Patient Care Lab, and introductory and advanced pharmacy practice experiences in community settings and healthcare facilities throughout Milwaukee. You’ll enroll in courses like “Health Care Systems and Patient Safety,” “Hematology & Oncology,” and “Pharmacy Law.” You’ll have the opportunity to choose a focused concentration in either research, population health, specialized pharmacy practice, or entrepreneurship and leadership.

Experiential learning is prioritized highly in this accelerated pharmacy program. Your IPPE experiences begin in the second semester of your first year. Your third year will be entirely devoted to seven six-week APPEs at local retail pharmacies, hospitals, ambulatory care clinics, physicians’ offices, acute care practice settings, and similar healthcare venues. You’ll also receive extensive training in basic medical tests (for illnesses like strep, sinus infections, and the like), vaccine administration, and other patient care services.

How Fast Can You Complete Medical College of Wisconsin Pharmacy Program: Students can complete this program in six semesters plus two summer terms (36 months.)

Admission Requirements: Medical College of Wisconsin accepts applications for this program through PharmCAS. You must finish all prerequisites and general education courses at an accredited college or university in Canada or the U.S. before you apply to this program with a minimum GPA of “C” or above. Three professional or academic references must be submitted with your application, along with a personal statement demonstrating your written communication skills. Qualified candidates will be invited to interview.

10. D'Youville University - Buffalo, NY

Program Length: 3 Years

Program Details: D’Youville University offers its 141- to 145-credit PharmD program both on campus and online. Online students will spend five days of intensive in-person skills training at the D’Youville University campus in Buffalo every trimester. Both tracks require you to take didactic classes, skills labs, and experiential rotations in order to graduate. Courses include “Principles of Drug Action I, II, & III,” “U.S. and New York State Pharmacy Law,” and “Population Based Health Care.” You’ll begin doing IPPE rotations in your very first trimester. Online students will do their clinical rotations at pharmacies and healthcare facilities in their home areas.

Students hone their patient skills at D’Youville’s cutting-edge Interprofessional Education and Simulation Center before they begin APPE rotations in the final year of the PharmD program. You’ll do six advanced pharmacy practice programs, each lasting six weeks. These clinical experiences include an institutional clinical rotation, an institutional operations rotation, an advanced community practice rotation, an ambulatory practice rotation, and two elective rotations. D’Youville’s Office of Experiential Education maintains relationships with pharmacies throughout all parts of the U.S. and may even be able to present you with an opportunity to do one of your APPEs abroad in Haiti, Uganda, Ecuador, Turks and Caicos, London, or China.

How Fast Can You Complete D'Youville University Pharmacy Program: The estimated completion time for this fast-track pharmacy program is nine trimesters (36 months.)

Admission Requirements: When applying to this program, you’ll need to submit two letters of recommendation along with your PharmCAS application. All prerequisites must be completed before you apply to this program.

11. Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine - Erie, PA

Program Length: 3 Years

Program Details: The accelerated pharmacy program at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine has several strengths that make it one of the best fast-track pharmacy programs. First, classroom instruction and practice are tightly integrated, so you start clinical experiences in the summer of your first year of studies. Second, LECOM emphasizes interprofessional relationships, so you’ll work closely with student pharmacists, physicians, nurses, dentists, and all the other healthcare providers who will become your colleagues once you begin working professionally.

Corequisites like biochemistry, anatomy, and physiology will be part of your core curriculum. Other coursework will include classes like “Effective Communication in Pharmacy Practice,” “Complementary and Alternative Medicine,” and “Pharmacogenomics.” Laboratory demonstrations and hands-on exercises will teach you how to prepare compound pharmaceuticals and intravenous preparations.

Your final year of study will be spent participating in advanced pharmacy practical experiences in community pharmacies, acute inpatient care settings, hospital pharmacies, and ambulatory clinics. LECOM’s time-saving PharmD track also offers joint PharmD/Master’s programs in Biomedical Sciences, Health Services Administration, Biomedical Ethics, and Medical Education.

How Fast Can You Complete Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine Pharmacy Program: This year-round curriculum has been carefully planned, so there’s no room for individual variation. All students are tasked with completing the curriculum in nine semesters plus two summers (36 months.)

Admission Requirements: This program is only open to applicants who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the United States. You must complete all 54 credits of prerequisites before you apply. Although LECOM doesn’t impose a minimum GPA cutoff, the college highly recommends that applicants carry a GPA of 2.7 or higher in their prerequisite work. You must submit two professional references with your application.

12. Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences - Worcester, MA

Program Length: 34 Months

Program Details: Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences is the largest college of pharmacy in the United States and the second-oldest. Its state-of-the-art laboratory facility contains a model pharmacy where you’ll get the opportunity to learn new skills in simulated community and institutional practice environments.

The patient-centered curriculum consists of 138 credits and offers courses like “U.S. Healthcare and Public Health Systems,” “Self-Care Therapeutics/Pharmacotherapeutics,” and “Pharmacology/Toxicology/Medicinal Chemistry.” You’ll start IPPEs at the beginning of your second year by shadowing pharmacists and other members of interprofessional teams as they work in local pharmacies and healthcare facilities.

Your third year focuses extensively on 10-week-long APPE rotations in outpatient orthopedic settings, inpatient acute, acute rehab settings, and subacute rehab settings. Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences is one of the few accelerated pharmacy programs that allows you to participate in international APPEs in locations like Cape Town, Beijing, Seoul, London, Bolivia, Mexico, India, and Peru. In your final semester, you’ll participate in a graduate capstone seminar as well as a NAPLEX readiness course.

How Fast Can You Complete Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Pharmacy Program: MCPHS’s curriculum is specifically paced to be completed in six semesters and two summers (34 months.)

Admission Requirements: MCPHS uses the PharmCAS application process. You must submit a personal statement and one letter of recommendation with your application. This program is only open to graduates of accredited colleges and universities with a GPA of “C” or higher.

13. University of Maryland Eastern Shore - Princess Anne, MD

Program Length: 3 Years

Program Details: Though University of Maryland Eastern Shore is a historically Black college, it accepts students of all ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds into its top-ranked accelerated pharmacy program. The school offers students the opportunity to participate in clinical practice experiences in many areas of pharmacy that may be off-limits to PharmD students at other schools, such as emergency medicine, pediatrics, and infectious diseases.

Like several other accelerated pharmacy programs, UMES’s 164.5-credit curriculum has been designed to offer a broad foundation in biomedical, social, administrative, and clinical pharmacology. You’ll take courses like “Fundamentals of Drug Action and Metabolism,” “Concepts in Diversity and Communication For The Pharmacist,” and “Therapeutics of Self-Care and OTC Products.” UMES divides the academic year into a fall term and a spring term, each of which is longer than a conventional semester. You’ll also be attending class during the summer.

You’ll begin clinical experiences in your first year of studies with two three-week rotations in a local retail pharmacy and a healthcare facility. In the summer following your Year 2 and throughout your third year, you’ll continue clinical experiences with eight rotations through traditional and more specialized practice settings.

How Fast Can You Complete University of Maryland Eastern Shore Pharmacy Program: Courses begin in July each year. Because of the highly structured nature of University of Maryland Eastern Shore’s curriculum, the length of this fast-track pharmacy program is inflexible: It will take you six terms plus two summers (36 months) to complete it.

Admission Requirements: Admission candidates must submit their applications through PharmCAS. UMES uses a holistic review process. Students must obtain a “C” or better grade in all prerequisites. Qualified candidates will be invited to interview.

14. Appalachian College of Pharmacy - Oakwood, VA

Program Length: 3 Years

Program Details: The State of Virginia’s only accelerated pharmacy program can be found at Appalachian College of Pharmacy. This 140-credit PharmD curriculum involves more than 1,700 clinical hours, including 100 hours of community service learning experiences. You’ll rotate through hospitals, community retail pharmacies, and ambulatory care centers, documenting your clinical experiences in a professional portfolio, which will become very useful once you graduate and are actively looking for employment in the field of pharmacy.

Pharmacy practice experiences can take place in rural care dispensaries, health fairs in remote areas, occupational healthcare expos, mobile health clinics, and through international outreach efforts in places like the Dominican Republic and El Salvador. Appalachian College of Pharmacy divides clinical experiences into different categories than most fast-track pharmacy programs. In Years 1 and 2, you’ll take early pharmacy practice experiences (EPPEs) and core pharmacy practice experiences (CPPEs); these will be scheduled in locations within 100 miles of the college. In your final year, you’ll take APPEs at sites located in all parts of the U.S.

The 151-credit curriculum also includes classroom courses like “Applied Clinical Pharmacokinetics,” “Drug Information, Clinical Research, and Biostatistics,” and “Pharmacotherapeutic Considerations in Special Populations.” Courses vary in length between 10 and 30 days. During your first year, you’ll take one class in the morning and the other in the afternoon, while during your second year, you’ll take one full day of classes on alternate days throughout the week. Classes meet at Appalachian College of Pharmacy’s campus in Oakwood, Virginia, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.

How Fast Can You Complete Appalachian College of Pharmacy’s Pharmacy Program: Appalachian College of Pharmacy’s expedited PharmD program takes nine semesters (36 months) to complete.

Admission Requirements: ACP accepts applications through PharmCAS. Seventy-five students are admitted every year. You must complete all prerequisite coursework with a grade of “C-“ or higher. All applications must be accompanied by two letters of recommendation.

15. University of Saint Joseph - West Hartford, CT

Program Length: 3 Years

Program Details: University of Saint Joseph strives to educate pharmacists who do more than dispense medication. You’ll graduate from University of Saint Joseph’s accelerated pharmacy program as a bona fide healthcare provider who works closely with physicians on prescriptions and advises patients about the medications they take. While University of Saint Joseph is grounded in the Catholic educational tradition, it welcomes students of all religions and cultures.

The 160-credit curriculum utilizes a modified block educational model that concentrates on a single subject at a time. Coursework includes classes like “Basic and Applied Pharmacokinetics,” “Pharmacy Law,” and “Evidence-Based Practice 1-4.” University of Saint Joseph offers a number of innovative electives, too, such as “The Molecular Biology of Carcinogenesis and Targeted Cancer Therapy” and “Advanced Herbals and Dietary Supplements.” USJ offers a joint PharmD/Master’s of Public Health (MPH) degree.

Beginning in your second year, classroom instruction will alternate with experiential learning opportunities. Pharmacy practice hours account for more than 50 percent of the university’s PharmD curriculum hours. IPPE practicums include precepted transactions in community and institutional pharmacy settings, while APPE rotations are scheduled for ambulatory, acute, community, and institutional healthcare settings where students have the opportunity to work with diverse patient populations.

How Fast Can You Complete University of Saint Joseph Pharmacy Program: All students admitted at the same time move as a cohort through University of Saint Joseph’s curriculum and graduate 36 months after they begin classes.

Admission Requirements: This program is available to applicants who’ve graduated with a Bachelor’s degree with a cumulative GPA of 2.8 or higher. All prerequisite coursework must be completed before you apply. Your application must be submitted through the PharmCAS service and contain a personal statement that addresses your professional goals as well as two letters of recommendation.

16. Roosevelt University - Schaumburg, IL

Program Length: 3 Years

Program Details: If you are passionate about promoting social justice through access to healthcare, then Roosevelt University’s accelerated pharmacy program may be right for you. Through a combination of didactic instruction and experiential learning, this program teaches students how to provide patient-centered services.

Like several other accelerated pharmacy programs, Roosevelt integrates basic science courses like biochemistry into its core curriculum. You’ll also take classes like “Professional Development & Leadership I-IV” and “Public Health and Health Policy,” in addition to integrated class sequences that review individual organ systems and the pharmacological remedies used to heal system pathologies.

Clinical rotations occur at some of the most prestigious healthcare facilities in the northwestern part of Chicago and its suburbs, including Rush University Medical Center, University of Chicago Hospital, and Northwestern University Hospital. Roosevelt University also allows you to pursue dual degree pathways such as a PharmD/Master’s of Business Administration (MBA) or PharmD/Master’s of Pharmaceutical Sciences track.

How Fast Can You Complete Roosevelt University Pharmacy Program: Coursework begins in the summer term. Roosevelt University’s fast-track pharmacy curriculum must be pursued in a specific sequence, so it takes all students 36 months to graduate.

Admission Requirements: Roosevelt University uses the PharmCAS system to process applications. Two professional references must accompany all applications. Applicants to this program must complete at least 53 undergraduate credits in science, math, and general education courses with a grade of “C-“ or higher. While the PCAT exam isn’t mandatory, it’s highly recommended.

17. Sullivan University - Louisville, KY

Program Length: 3 Years

Program Details: Students enrolled in Sullivan University’s fast-track pharmacy program complete their didactic coursework in the first two years before they move on to clinical rotations in a variety of practice settings in their final year of the program. Your first two years at Sullivan will consist of four 11-week quarters (10 weeks of instruction and one week of assessment), while your final year will consist of four 12-week quarters.

The university’s 176-quarter-credit curriculum follows guidelines set forth by the Accreditation Council of Pharmacy Education and includes classes like “Pharmacy Law and Ethics,” “Public Health Issues,” and “Communication & Collaborative Solutions.” You’ll also take laboratory courses that will educate you on how to perform pharmacy calculations and the importance of ensuring patient safety.

During your final year, you’ll participate in eight clinical rotations at sites within the Louisville community, such as St. Matthews Community Pharmacy, Walgreens Pharmacy, and Baptist Health Hospital. You’ll also have the opportunity to partner with organizations such as the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) and KY Organ Donor Affiliates (KODA.) Selected PharmD students may be invited to participate in fellowships that will focus on teaching, scholarship, and service, preparing them for a career in academic pharmacy.

How Fast Can You Complete Sullivan University Pharmacy Program: Sullivan University has planned its accelerated PharmD curriculum carefully so that it takes 12 quarters (36 months) to complete.

Admission Requirements: Sullivan University aims for an incoming class of 50 each year. Like many other accelerated pharmacy programs, Sullivan University uses PharmCAS to process applications. You’ll need to submit a statement of purpose and two letters of recommendation with your application. Qualified candidates will be invited to Sullivan University’s campus in Louisville for an interview.

18. South College - Knoxville, TN

Program Length: 3 Years

Program Details: South College in Knoxville offers Tennessee’s only accelerated pharmacy program. During your first year of enrollment, you’ll focus on mastering the foundational science behind the practice of pharmacy by taking integrated courses that combine didactic education with the learning of occupational skills. You’ll also begin hands-on patient encounters through IPPEs

Your second year of studies will concentrate on broader issues both in pharmacy and healthcare generally. You’ll continue applying the knowledge and skills you’ve learned to patient interactions. Coursework during your first and second years will include courses like “Integrated Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacology 1, II, & III” and “Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Assessment.”

Your final year will be devoted to clinical rotations. Every student must complete APPEs in an ambulatory care practice setting, an acute care practice setting, a community practice setting, and an institutional practice setting. You’ll also get five APPEs in elective practice settings such as nuclear medicine, veterinary pharmacy, and critical care medicine. IPPE and APPE practice sites include chain and independent community pharmacies, teaching and community hospitals, long-term care facilities, managed care facilities, pharmaceutical companies, home infusion therapy companies, regulatory agencies, family practice clinics, and veterinary hospitals. APPE sites don’t have to be in Knoxville, either; you can complete your clinical rotations at many locations throughout the U.S.

South College also offers an accelerated PharmD option at its campus in Savannah, Georgia.

How Fast Can You Complete South College Pharmacy Program: South College-Knoxville’s 225-quarter-credit accelerated PharmD curriculum has been carefully designed to include a prescribed number of lecture, laboratory, and clinical hours and takes exactly 12 quarters (36 months) to complete.

Admission Requirements: Like many other accelerated pharmacy programs, South College-Knoxville accepts PharmD applications through the Pharmacy College Application Service. You must complete all prerequisites with a grade of “C” or higher before you apply. You must submit at least two letters of recommendation. (Three are preferred.)

South College-Knoxville also offers an Early Assurance Readiness Program for high school students who are sure they want a career in pharmacy.

19. William Carey University - Biloxi, MS

Program Length: Two Years and Ten Months

Program Details: William Carey University offers one of the shortest accelerated pharmacy programs: this accelerated pharmacy program will take you significantly less than three years to complete. WCU’s comprehensive 142-credit curriculum focuses on every aspect of pharmacology that you’ll need to incorporate into your professional practice, involving foundational, pharmacotherapeutic, social, and administrative sciences. You’ll enroll in courses like “Public Health & US Healthcare Systems,” “Principles of Drug Action I, II, & III,” and “Pharmacoeconomics.” Your third-year studies will culminate with a global capstone class that will prepare you for your NAPLEX examination and professional practice.

WCU’s attention to experiential learning makes its PharmD track one of the best shortest pharmacy programs. Two five-week IPPE rotations at the end of your first year of school will teach you basic community pharmacy skills such as prescription orders and order entry, compounding and dispensing, sterile products, record-keeping, patient interviewing, patient counseling, and inventory control. Advanced pharmacy practice experiences comprise 1,400 hours; affiliated sites include community pharmacies and healthcare facilities throughout Biloxi and surrounding communities in Harrison County.

William Carey University is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention. While the university admits students of all religions and cultural backgrounds, Christian teachings play a central role in the university’s educational offerings, and that includes its PharmD program.

How Fast Can You Complete William Carey University Pharmacy Program: It will take you 12 terms (34 months) to matriculate from William Carey University’s accelerated pharmacy program.

Admission Requirements: Applications must be submitted through PharmCAS. All prerequisites must be completed with a grade of “C-“ or higher at an accredited U.S. or Canadian college or university before you begin your WCU coursework. You must submit a statement of purpose and two professional references with your application. William Carey University accepts early acceptance/priority decision students into this PharmD program.

20. West Coast University - Los Angeles, CA

Program Length: Less Than Three Years

Program Details: Comparatively high NAPLEX pass rates distinguish West Coast University’s PharmD track as one of the best accelerated pharmacy online programs. You’ll access didactic coursework through a distance learning format, but you’ll visit WCU’s Center for Graduate Studies in Los Angeles, California, for one week every trimester, where you’ll learn hands-on skills such as pharmaceutical compounding in a state-of-the-art simulation environment.

WCU’s curriculum entails courses like “Professional and Interprofessional Development I & II,” “Pharmacogenomics & Biotechnology,” and “Biostatistics and Drug Literature Evaluation.” Classes include two capstone skills labs—which you’ll participate in at WCU’s Los Angeles campus—where you’ll apply the pharmacotherapy knowledge you’ve learned in your coursework to clinical scenarios. You’ll also participate in Board preparation courses designed to prepare you for the NAPLEX exam.

You’ll participate in real-time IPPE clinical practice experiences through outreach activities such as wellness fairs and immunization clinics. West Coast University partners with pharmacies and healthcare facilities throughout California, so you’ll have many options for APPE experiences.

All students enrolled in this PharmD program must hold valid California Pharmacy Internship licensure, which they can apply for through West Coast University’s Office of Experiential Education before their first fall semester starts.

How Fast Can You Complete West Coast University Pharmacy Program: Even though West Coast University’s PharmD program relies upon distance learning technology, you can’t move through it at your own pace. This accelerated pharmacy program will take 33 months to complete.

Admission Requirements: West Coast University will accept applicants who have not earned a Bachelor’s degree so long as they’ve completed a specific 63-credit list of prerequisites from an accredited college or university in the U.S. with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher. WCU accepts applications through the PharmCAS service. All applications must be accompanied by two letters of recommendation. Qualified applicants will sit for interviews.

21. American University of Health Sciences - Signal Hill, CA

Program Length: 3 Years

Program Details: While American University of Health Sciences in Signal Hill, California, offers one of the best accelerated pharmacy programs around, students who may benefit most from this PharmD program will probably be students with a solid Christian belief system. AUHS is open about its adherence to Christian values; besides foundational pharmaceutical science coursework, the 183-quarter-credit curriculum includes courses like “Judeo-Christian Ethics” and “Judeo-Christian Leadership.” Other courses you’ll be taking during your first two years in this program include “Pharmacy Law and Regulatory Design,” “Epidemiology, Public Health & Policy,” and “Pharmacy and U.S. Healthcare Systems.”

Each 12-week quarter consists of 10 weeks of instruction and one week of assessment. The curriculum integrates basic and clinical science so that pharmacotherapy is taught within the context of disease states. You’ll complete four IPPE rotations during the first two years of the program and six six-week APPEs during your final year.

How Fast Can You Complete American University of Health Sciences Pharmacy Program: American University of Health Sciences has tailored its curriculum so that its accelerated pharmacy program takes 12 quarters (36 months).

Admission Requirements: This PharmD program admits 60 students each year. You must submit three letters of recommendation and a personal statement along with your PharmCAS application. You must complete all prerequisites with a grade of “C” or better before you apply. While the PCAT exam isn’t required, it’s strongly recommended.

22. Larkin University - Miami, FL

Program Length: 3 Years

Program Details: What makes Larkin University one of the best accelerated pharmacy programs? Larkin University is so invested in helping its PharmD students succeed that at the end of every two-week academic block, the university presents each student with a detailed report of how well they’ve been performing.

Larkin University’s unique block format allows students to take a deep dive into one subject area at a time, thereby boosting their engagement with the information they’re responsible for understanding. Conceptual classes like “Ethics and Law” and “Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmacology and Toxicology II” alternate with reviews of diseases associated with various organ systems and the pharmacological remedies used to treat these illnesses.

Experiential learning, including introductory and advanced pharmacy practice experiences, constitutes a significant portion of Larkin University’s PharmD curriculum. Clinical rotation sites include Larkin Community Hospital as well as other community pharmacies and healthcare facilities throughout Miami Gardens and other communities in the metro Miami area. Larkin University’s three-year PharmD program is Florida’s only accelerated pharmacy program.

How Fast Can You Complete Larkin University Pharmacy Program: Larkin University’s expedited PharmD program is nine semesters (36 months) long.

Admission Requirements: Larkin University accepts applications for its fast-track PharmD program through the PharmCAS service. You’ll need to submit two letters of recommendation and a statement of purpose with your application. While the PCAT isn’t required, taking the exam may improve your entry chances. Sixty prerequisite credits must be completed before you can apply.


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