University of Iowa Quick Facts
| Duration: 4 Years | Courses: 72 | Faculty: 58 |
| Applications (Fall 2024): 242 | Acceptance Rate: 40% | Est. Class Size: 118 |
Program Description
The University of Iowa’s College of Pharmacy has a superb national reputation. Its PharmD program is ranked 17th in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.
The college is the fourth-oldest pharmacy college at a state-supported university and has been educating pharmacists since 1885. In that time, it has developed nationally and internationally recognized research programs in pharmaceutics, medicinal and natural products chemistry, clinical pharmaceutical sciences, pharmaceutical socioeconomics, and pharmacy practice. Its faculty is recognized worldwide.
The PharmD program is widely known for its personalized atmosphere and emphasis on individual attention – a result of its low student-to-faculty ratio – and its location on a world-class health sciences campus. It is adjacent to University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, one of the nation’s largest public university teaching hospitals.
For more information, please visit: https://pharmacy.uiowa.edu/ https://pharmacy.uiowa.edu/
PharmD Program Highlights
- Public Institution
- No Baccalaureate Required
- $250 deposit to hold acceptance
- Conducts interviews of applicants
- Participates in Early Decision Program (EDP)
- Minimum Two (2) Letters of Reference are required
- Utilizes the Centralized Criminal Background Check (CBC)
- Does not participate in the PharmCAS-facilitated Drug Screening Service
Location
Location: 180 S. Grand Ave, Iowa City, Iowa 52242
Interactive mapAcceptance Rate for University of Iowa
40%: See other Schools with an acceptance rate under 40%
NAPLEX Pass Rates
First-time NAPLEX pass rates for University of Iowa graduates, by graduation year, compared with the national average.
| Graduation Year | First-Time Pass Rate | National Average |
| 2025 | 84.8% | 86.8% |
| 2024 | 78.6% | 75.9% |
| 2023 | 75.2% | 76.4% |
Source: NABP, NAPLEX Passing Rates for 2023–2025 Graduates (March 2026). First-attempt pass rates. National average covers all graduates of ACPE-accredited programs.
Tuition
| Tuition (In-State): | $27,606 | per year |
| Tuition (Out-State): | $37,470 | per year |
| Mandatory Fees: | $1,798 | per year |
First professional year, 2022–23 academic year (most recent AACP tuition survey); later years may differ — confirm current rates with the school.
Requirements
GPA and Test Scores
| Minimum GPA: No minimum | Minimum Prerequisite GPA: No minimum | Standardized Tests: Not required (PCAT discontinued) |
| Program Prerequisites | |
| Total number of college SEMESTER HOURS that must be completed prior to matriculation: | 72 |
| Total number of basic science college SEMESTER HOURS that must be completed prior to matriculation: | 40 |
Course Prerequisites Table
| Course Title | Semester Hours |
| Rhetoric | 4 |
| Principles of Chemistry I (lab required) | 4 |
| Principles of Chemistry II (lab required) | 4 |
| Calculus | 4 |
| Statistics | 3 |
| Principles of Biology I or Foundations of Biology (lab required) | 4 |
| Principles of Biology II or Diversity of Form & Function (lab required) | 4 |
| Basic Physics (NOT needed if students completed one year of high school physics) Lab is recommended, but not required. | 3 |
| Organic Chemistry I (lab not required) | 3 |
| Organic Chemistry II (lab not required) | 3 |
| Principles of Human Anatomy | 3 |
| Human Physiology | 3 |
| Biochemistry | 3 |
| Microbiology (lab required) | 4 |
| 16 semester hours of General Education coursework is required for admission with 6 of those 16 credit hours dedicated to the Social Sciences. Social Science courses are defined as Anthropology, Economics, Public Health, Political Science, Psychology, or Sociology. | 16 |
| Total | 65 |
Prerequisite Coursework Policies
Online coursework: Accepted for all prerequisite courses. May be satisfied with online courses if taken for credit at a regionally-accredited university, college, or community college.
Pass/fail grades: Accepted for all prerequisite courses.
Completion timing: Students must complete the majority of their prerequisite courses by the end of the spring term. However, students are allowed to take remaining math/science prerequisites and elective courses in the summer term prior to their enrollment in the fall term. Summer grades must be posted by Friday, August 13, 2027.
Letter of Recommendation Requirements
Two (2) evaluations (letters of reference) are required.
Recommended But Not Required: Employer, Faculty Advisor, Health Care Professional, Pharmacist, Professor (Any Subject Area), Professor (Liberal Arts), Professor (Math), Professor (Science), Supervisor, Teaching Assistant
Accepted: Pre-Health Advisor
Not Accepted: Clergy, Co-Worker, Family Member, Friend, Politician
Committee letters: Conditionally accepted (counts as more than one: No)
Applicants are required to submit two (2) letters of recommendation/evaluations via PharmCAS. It is recommended but not required: 1. One of the two evaluators should be from a college-level instructor (professor, lecturer, teaching assistant). A letter from a science instructor is preferred. 2. The second evaluator should be from a reference who knows you professionally such as a work or volunteer supervisor. We will not accept letters from a politician, friend, family member, or coworker of equal standing. If a candidate has two evaluators from an academic setting OR two evaluators from a professional setting, that is also accepted.
Interview Information
Interview Format: Individual applicants with two or more interviewers
Online interview option: Yes
Selected applicants will be invited to interview via email from August to April. Interviews will be held in this similar time frame. Each interview day consists of a 30 minute closed-file interview with 2 or 3 interviewers, a handwritten essay, a tour of the Pharmacy Building given by current pharmacy students, a chance to hear from a faculty panel and a current PharmD student panel, and overview of the PharmD program. These sessions are designed to provide more information about the PharmD program at the University of Iowa. After attending an interview, candidates will hear back from the admissions committee within 2-3 weeks with an admissions decision.
Applying
Deadline
March 1, 2027
Priority application deadline: November 2, 2026
Applicants who submit their PharmCAS application by this deadline will be given priority scholarship consideration and have the benefit of knowing their admissions decision sooner. We have a rolling admissions process so the class may fill as the final application deadline approaches.
First day of classes: August 16, 2027
General School Information
Program
Dual Degree Program? Yes
Part of an academic health center? Yes
Pharmacy observation hours required? No
Supplemental application requirement? No
Baccalaureate degree preferred for admissions? Not Required
Follows the AACP Cooperative Admissions Guidelines? Yes
Is preference given to in-state applicants vs. out-of-state applicants? No
Pharmacy School Tour Video
International Applicants
Foreign (non-U.S.) citizens considered: Yes
Applications accepted from: US Citizens, US Permanent Residents, US Temporary Residents, Canadian Citizens, Foreign (non-US) Citizens with a Visa, Foreign (non-US) Citizens, Other Non-Citizens (e.g. DACA Students)
Foreign transcript policy: Do not send any foreign transcript documentation. School only considers U.S. credentials. If you have completed your course prerequisites at a foreign institution, you may be ineligible for admission to these particular pharmacy programs.
TOEFL required: Yes
International candidates whose first-language is not English are required to take the TOEFL. Please see: https://admissions.uiowa.edu/academics/english-proficiency-requirements for more information.
Contact Information
Website: http://pharmacy.uiowa.edu/pharmd-admissions
Social Profiles
University of Iowa: Frequently Asked Questions
What percentage of applicants does University of Iowa accept?
University of Iowa accepts roughly 40% of PharmD applicants, in line with many competitive PharmD programs.
What is the tuition at University of Iowa?
First-year tuition is about $27,606 for in-state students and $37,470 for out-of-state students (2022–23 AACP survey), before fees.
What is the minimum GPA for University of Iowa?
University of Iowa does not publish a hard GPA minimum; applications are reviewed holistically, with prerequisite grades carrying the most weight.
What is University of Iowa’s PharmCAS deadline?
Applications for the 2026–27 cycle are due by March 1, 2027 through PharmCAS. A priority deadline of November 2, 2026 offers earlier review.
Do you need a bachelor’s degree to get into University of Iowa?
No — University of Iowa admits students who have completed the prerequisite coursework, with or without a bachelor’s degree. The PharmD itself takes four years.
How do University of Iowa’s graduates do on the NAPLEX?
In 2025, the first-time NAPLEX pass rate was 84.8%, as reported by NABP.