California Northstate University

California Northstate University Quick Facts

Program Description

California Northstate University College of Pharmacy located just outside of Sacramento offers multiple early assurance pathways for entry into the Doctor of Pharmacy program, including a 0-6 pharmacy program. CNUCOP provides unique learning experiences to our students through the use of active learning to deliver our curriculum and is dedicated to educating and training future pharmacists to provide competent, evidence-based care focused on improving patient outcomes and advancing the pharmacy profession. Through a variety of interprofessional activities, in collaboration with the College of Medicine and Sacramento State University School of Nursing, our students learn how to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary care team.

Two combined degree programs (the Executive Masters of Business Administration/PharmD and the Masters of Pharmaceutical Sciences/PharmD) are offered at CNUCOP. Additionally, our robust experiential program provides opportunities for 4th-year pharmacy students to complete rotations throughout California.  More detailed information is located at pharmacy.cnsu.edu.

PharmD Program Highlights

• Private Institution
• Baccalaureate Not 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: 9700 West Taron Drive Elk Grove, California 95757

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Acceptance Rate for California Northstate University

16%: See other Schools with an acceptance rate under 16%

NAPLEX Pass Rates

First-time NAPLEX pass rates for California Northstate University graduates, by graduation year, compared with the 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.

Requirements

GPA and Test Scores

Course Prerequisites Table

Prerequisite Coursework Policies

Online coursework: Accepted for all prerequisite courses. Online courses must have been taken at a regionally accredited institution.

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. Pass/fail may not be accepted for science and/or math courses. However, general education courses may be taken pass/fail.

Completion timing: All prerequisite coursework must be completed by the start of New Student Orientation, which is in early August of each year.

Letter of Recommendation Requirements

Two (2) evaluations (letters of reference) are required.

Conditionally Accepted: Faculty Advisor, Pre-Health Advisor, Professor (Any Subject Area), Professor (Liberal Arts), Professor (Math), Teaching Assistant

Not Accepted: Clergy, Co-Worker, Family Member, Friend, Politician

Committee letters: Conditionally accepted (counts as more than one: No)

Two letters of recommendation are required and must be written/typed on official letterhead and include contact information for the person writing the letter. Additionally, the letter must be sent directly from the reference to PharmCAS. A letter of reference from a science or math professor and healthcare professional or supervisor is preferred. If the student has been out of school for over five years, a letter from a recent supervisor and a healthcare professional can be submitted in place of the letter from a science professor. Letters of recommendation from family or friends are not acceptable. A Teacher’s Assistant letter is accepted, if approved and signed by the science course professor.

Interview Information

Interview Format: Multiple Mini Interviews (MMI)

Online interview option: Yes

Applicants will participate in two multiple mini interviews (MMI) with faculty members. A writing sample is also required. Interviews are conducted virtually with the option to visit our campus.

More about the interview process

Applying

Deadline

June 1, 2027
Priority application deadline: March 1, 2027
General Admission Scholarships are available to applicants who apply to CNUCOP’s PharmD program based on academic standing at the time of application. Those meeting the Priority Application Deadline of March 1, 2027 will have priority consideration for a General Admission Scholarship.
First day of classes: August 9, 2027

General School Information

Program

Dual Degree Program? Yes
Part of an academic health center? No
Pharmacy observation hours required? No
Supplemental application requirement? No
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 Video

International Applicants

Foreign (non-U.S.) citizens considered: Yes
Applications accepted from: US Citizens, US Permanent Residents, Canadian Citizens, Foreign (non-US) Citizens with a Visa, Foreign (non-US) Citizens
Foreign transcript policy: Send a foreign transcript evaluation report (FTER) to PharmCAS
TOEFL required: No
International applicants who have not completed 2 years or at least 40 semester units at a US college/university may be required to take the TOEFL or IELTS. The minimum preferred TOEFL IBT score is 80 and the minimum preferred IELTS score is 6.5. Additional information pertaining to international applicants is available by emailing [email protected].

Contact Information

Website: http://pharmacy.cnsu.edu/

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