The University of Iowa College of Pharmacy offers top-ranked programs in state-of-the-art facilities. Pharmacy students at Iowa benefit from hands-on experiences in research, leadership, service-learning, and health care.

The college offers a professional program leading to a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree. First-year students enroll in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences for two years of pre-pharmacy study and then apply to the PharmD program. Admission is highly competitive and very selective.

The College of Pharmacy offers a Preferred Admission Program for first-year students who are committed to pursuing a career in pharmacy. This program provides easy assurance admission to the PharmD program for a select group of academically qualified high school applicants who know they wish to attend the University of Iowa.

Pre-Pharmacy Admissions

First-year students planning to apply to the PharmD program need to meet the requirements for admission to the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Students who designate themselves as a "pre-pharmacy" interest on their application receive specialized advising and assistance selecting course work in preparation for the PharmD program.

Preferred Admission Program

Students who are admitted to the Preferred Admission Program are guaranteed a seat in the University of Iowa PharmD program, pending successful completion of all prerequisite and PharmD application requirements and interview process. Typically, during the sophomore year, students in the Preferred Admission Program complete an application via PharmCAS and complete a face-to-face interview at the college. Once all requirements have been met, students will enter the College of Pharmacy, usually after two years of undergraduate study in Pre-Pharmacy in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. To be eligible for preferred admission as a
first-year student, you must have one or both of the following:

• Present an ACT Composite score of 25 or higher (SAT: 1200 or higher) and/or
• Present a cumulative high school GPA of 3.80 or higher (can be weighted or unweighted)

The University of Iowa College of Pharmacy has two deadlines for Preferred Admission applications.

• November 3 - Priority Deadline
• February 2 - Final Deadline

Students may be admitted to this college without a test score.

If not accepted under the Preferred Admission program, qualified applicants will remain in the Pharmacy Interest program within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and will be eligible to apply for competitive admission.

APPLYING TO PHARMD PROGRAM