University of Rhode Island Quick Facts
| Duration: 0-6/7 Years | Courses: | Faculty: 59 |
| Applications (Fall 2024): 406 | Acceptance Rate: 21% | Est. Class Size: 91 |
Program Description
The Doctor of Pharmacy program at the University of Rhode Island, College of Pharmacy is a 0/6 program. While most of our first-year students come directly from high school, we sometimes accept a small number of transfer students into the first professional year (P1) of the curriculum. Please note, we are not accepting transfer applicants for the Fall of 2019. The 6-year curriculum stresses critical thinking, active learning, and clinical experience to prepare you for practice in a variety of professional settings. Students have the opportunity to take professional electives that will advance their knowledge in different areas of pharmacy, including hospital, clinical (e.g. geriatrics, pediatrics, palliative care), manufacturing, managed care, drug analysis, administration, and research. The clinical portion of the program provides students with hands-on experience in hospitals, nursing homes, community pharmacies, government institutions, home healthcare settings, and other industries. We will work with you to place you in early and advanced experience practice sites that are aligned with your educational and career goals.
Graduates of our program have a strong record of passing the national licensing examination (NAPLEX). Average scores over the past five years are above the 90 percentages for graduates taking the exam for the first time. Amongst graduates of the last five years, more than 92.5% reported pharmacy related employment by September following graduation on their AACP graduating student survey. For the class of 2018, 38% of graduates were accepted to either a residency or fellowship trainging program. Job responsibilities vary from staff pharmacists, manager, clinical specialist, consultant, executive, to professor. Ninety-two percent of graduates indicate that they would select the URI College of Pharmacy if they were starting their pharmacy programs over again.
PharmD Program Highlights
- Public Institution
- No Baccalaureate Degree Required
- $300 deposit to hold acceptance
- Conducts interviews of applicants
- Does not participate in Early Decision Program (EDP)
- Minimum Two (2) Letters of Reference are required
- Does not utilize the Centralized Criminal Background Check (CBC)
- Does not participate in the PharmCAS-facilitated Drug Screening Service
Location
Location: 7 Greenhouse Road, Kingston, Rhode Island 02881
Interactive mapAcceptance Rate for University of Rhode Island
21%: See other Schools with an acceptance rate under 21%
NAPLEX Pass Rates
First-time NAPLEX pass rates for University of Rhode Island graduates, by graduation year, compared with the national average.
| Graduation Year | First-Time Pass Rate | National Average |
| 2025 | 91.8% | 86.8% |
| 2024 | 82.8% | 75.9% |
| 2023 | 80.3% | 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): | $13,586 | per year |
| Tuition (Out-State): | $32,068 | per year |
| Mandatory Fees: | $8,336 | 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: 2.7 | Standardized Tests: Not required (PCAT discontinued) |
| Program Prerequisites | |
| Total number of college SEMESTER HOURS that must be completed prior to matriculation: | 42 |
| Total number of basic science college SEMESTER HOURS that must be completed prior to matriculation: | 29 |
| Total number of college QUARTER HOURS that must be completed prior to matriculation: | 0 |
Course Prerequisites Table
| Course Title | Semester Hours |
| Fundamentals of Human Anatomy and Physiology I Fundamentals of Human Anatomy and Physiology II Fundamentals of Human Anatomy and Physiology Lab I Fundamentals of Human Anatomy and Physiology Lab II | 8 |
| Introductory Biochemistry | 3 |
| Prinicples of Biology I Principles of Biology Lab I | 4 |
| General Chemistry Lecture I and II General Chemistry Lab I and Lab II Organic Chemistry Lecture I and II Organic Chemistry Lab | 16 |
| Communication Fundamentals I | 3 |
| Principles of Economics: Microeconomics | 3 |
| Introduction to Research Writing | 3 |
| Ethics | 3 |
| Calculus I | 3 |
| Introductory Medical Microbiology Lecture Introductory Medical Microbiology Lab | 4 |
| Introductory Biostatistics | 4 |
| Total | 54 |
Prerequisite Coursework Policies
Online coursework: science courses with labs: Varies; science courses without labs: Varies; non-science courses: Varies.
Pass/fail grades: science courses with labs: Varies; science courses without labs: Varies; non-science courses: Varies.
Completion timing: By the end of the spring semester prior to the start of the Fall P1 year.
Letter of Recommendation Requirements
Letters of recommendation are not required.
For admission directly out of high school to the PharmD program, we require a minimum of two letters: one from a science or math teacher and one from a guidance counselor or a teacher from another subject area. No letters are required to be submitted when applying for the professional program through PharmCAS if 0 – 6 entry due to previous submissions.
Interview Information
Interview Format: Individual applicants with two or more interviewers
Online interview option: No
For students admitted to the PharmD program through direct entry from high school, students must complete a formal interview during the sophomore year after submitting an application. The interview with faculty from the College of Pharmacy assesses the students’ verbal and written communication skills, understanding of the pharmacy profession, and commitment to patient care.
Applying
Deadline
November 2, 2026
First day of classes: September 7, 2027
General School Information
Program
Dual Degree Program? Yes
Part of an academic health center? No
Pharmacy observation hours required? Recommended, but not required
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
Additional Program Pathways
This school also offers the following PharmD entry routes and pathways (2027 application cycle):
- The University of Rhode Island – Professional Entry (4 years) — Other; application deadline April 1, 2027
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, Other Non-Citizens (e.g. DACA Students)
Foreign transcript policy: Send a foreign transcript evaluation report (FTER) to PharmCAS AND Send an original foreign transcript directly to the school
TOEFL required: Yes
Contact Information
Website: https://web.uri.edu/pharmacy/
Social Profiles
| Facebook https://www.facebook.com/universityofri/ | Instagram @universityofri |
Common Questions About University of Rhode Island
How hard is it to get into University of Rhode Island?
University of Rhode Island accepts roughly 21% of PharmD applicants, in line with many competitive PharmD programs.
What is the tuition at University of Rhode Island?
First-year tuition is about $13,586 for in-state students and $32,068 for out-of-state students (2022–23 AACP survey), before fees.
What is the minimum GPA for University of Rhode Island?
University of Rhode Island does not publish an overall GPA floor, but requires at least a 2.7 in prerequisite coursework.
When is the application deadline for University of Rhode Island?
For the 2026–27 cycle, University of Rhode Island’s final PharmCAS deadline is November 2, 2026.
Do you need a bachelor’s degree to get into University of Rhode Island?
A bachelor’s degree is not required; finishing the prerequisites is what counts at University of Rhode Island. The school also offers a direct-entry pathway straight from high school.
How do University of Rhode Island’s graduates do on the NAPLEX?
In 2025, the first-time NAPLEX pass rate was 91.8%, as reported by NABP.
