Virginia Commonwealth University

Courses

52

Faculty

54

Applications (Fall 2024)

244

Est. Class Size

94

Tuition, full 4-year program

$116,908

Program Description

We are the oldest pharmacy school in Virginia, tracing our roots back to 1898. Our primary teaching facilities are located on the Medical College of Virginia Campus in Richmond, the state capital. We are 1 of 18 Health Science Centers nationwide meaning that our campus has four other health sciences schools and a major academic health center with several hospitals and clinics that offer tremendous opportunities for hands-on interprofessional patient care. Moreover, we have satellite campuses at INOVA (http://bit.ly/VCU-INOVA) and the University of Virginia (http://bit.ly/VCU-UVA) extending our reach and providing additional perspectives on healthcare delivery. We partner with a multitude of community organizations that welcome student pharmacists who are interested in areas such as geriatrics, cardiology, mental health, ambulatory care, and underserved communities. Most importantly, we believe our students represent the future of healthcare and we do all we can to help each student shape their path. Take the time to get to know us and see what we have to offer.

PharmD Program Highlights

• ●Public Institution
• —No Baccalaureate Degree Required
• ●$1000 deposit to hold acceptance
• ✓Conducts interviews of applicants
• ●Participates in Early Decision Program (EDP)
• ✓Minimum Three (3) Letters of Reference are required
• ✓Utilizes the Centralized Criminal Background Check (CBC)
• —Does not participate in the PharmCAS-facilitated Drug Screening Service

Location

Location: Room 500, Smith Building, 410 North 12th Street, Box 980581 Richmond, Virginia 23298-0581

Campus location — the map loads when it scrolls into view.

Interactive map

Acceptance Rate for Virginia Commonwealth University

31%: See other Schools with an acceptance rate under 31%

NAPLEX Pass Rates

First-time NAPLEX pass rates for Virginia Commonwealth University graduates, by graduation year, compared with the national average.

This school National average

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

First professional year, 2022–23 academic year (most recent AACP tuition survey); later years may differ — confirm current rates with the school. Branch campus locations: Falls Church, VA (INOVA)
Charlottesville, VA.

Requirements

GPA and Test Scores

Course Prerequisites Table

Prerequisite Coursework Policies

Online coursework: science courses with labs: No; science courses without labs: Yes; non-science courses: Yes. Any online prerequisite coursework must be completed at a regionally accredited college or university.

Pass/fail grades: science courses with labs: Yes, but only if no letter grade option available; science courses without labs: Yes, but only if no letter grade option available; non-science courses: Yes, but only if no letter grade option available.

Completion timing: All prerequisites must be completed before the start of the first-year fall semester (typically mid-August), and all offers of admission are contingent on successful completion of the courses listed above.

Letter of Recommendation Requirements

Three (3) evaluations (letters of reference) are required.

Recommended But Not Required: Pharmacist, Professor (Science), Supervisor

Accepted: Employer, Faculty Advisor, Health Care Professional, Pre-Health Advisor, Professor (Any Subject Area), Professor (Liberal Arts), Professor (Math)

Not Accepted: Family Member, Friend

Committee letters: Accepted (counts as more than one: Varies)

Applicants are required to submit three (3) evaluations to the PharmCAS system in order for their application to be considered complete. These evaluations should ideally be completed by a: 1. Faculty member, professor or adviser (preferably in the sciences) 2. Health care professional (preferably a pharmacist) 3. Supervisor Due to the fact that the Pharm.D. program is science intensive, it is in every applicant’s best interest to receive a recommendation from an individual that can truly speak to their pursuits in that area.

Interview Information

Interview Format: Individual applicants with one interviewer, Individual applicants with two or more interviewers

Online interview option: Yes

Applicants selected for an interview will be contacted by phone to arrange an onsite or virtual interview appointment. A typical interview session includes an overview of VCU School of Pharmacy; a tour of the school and campus, weather permitting; panel opportunities with current students and our faculty and alumni; individual interviews; and a timed written assessment.

Applying

Deadline

May 3, 2027
Priority application deadline: November 2, 2026
First day of classes: August 23, 2027

General School Information

Program

Dual Degree Program? Yes
Part of an academic health center? Yes
Pharmacy observation hours required? Recommended, but not required
Supplemental application requirement? Yes
Baccalaureate degree preferred for admissions? Not Required
Follows the AACP Cooperative Admissions Guidelines? No
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: Send a foreign transcript evaluation report (FTER) to PharmCAS
TOEFL required: Yes
A recent TOEFL score (within the last two years) must be submitted to PharmCAS for applicants who have a language other than English as their first language AND who have resided in the U.S.A. for fewer than 10 years. We also recommend a TOEFL score for those who show a deficiency in English. A minimum score of 80 on the TOEFL iBT is required.

Contact Information

Website: http://www.pharmacy.vcu.edu

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