University of Kentucky Quick Facts
| Duration: 4 Years | Courses: 70 | Faculty: 58 |
| Applications (Fall 2024): 234 | Acceptance Rate: 49% | Est. Class Size: 108 |
Program Description
The University of Kentucy College of Pharmacy (UKCOP) has a successful tradition as one of the leading pharmacy schools in the country. Established in 1870, the College has been ranked among the top 10 programs for more than 35 years and is currently ranked 6th in the nation by U.S. News and World Report. Graduates of UKCOP rank among the best in the nation in first time pass rates (98% in 2018) on the national licensing exam.
UKCOP provides the type of world-ready education that ensures you will be a leader in the field. Located on a full health care campus with a level 1 trauma center, the Children’s Hospital, and VA hospital, UKCOP is a preeminent institution for clinical pharmacy education.
PharmD Program Highlights
- Public Institution
- No Baccalaureate Required
- $500 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)
- Participates in the PharmCAS-facilitated Drug Screening Service
Location
Location: 789 S. Limestone, 114K Lee T. Todd, Jr. Building, Lexington, Kentucky 40536-0596
Interactive mapAcceptance Rate for University of Kentucky
49%: See other Schools with an acceptance rate under 49%
NAPLEX Pass Rates
First-time NAPLEX pass rates for University of Kentucky graduates, by graduation year, compared with the national average.
| Graduation Year | First-Time Pass Rate | National Average |
| 2025 | 92.7% | 86.8% |
| 2024 | 71.9% | 75.9% |
| 2023 | 74.8% | 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): | $27,643 | per year |
| Tuition (Out-State): | $53,212 | per year |
| Mandatory Fees: | $1,544 | 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: 2.5 | Minimum Prerequisite GPA: 2.5 | Standardized Tests: Not required (PCAT discontinued) |
| Program Prerequisites | |
| Total number of college SEMESTER HOURS that must be completed prior to matriculation: | 70 |
| Total number of basic science college SEMESTER HOURS that must be completed prior to matriculation: | 30 |
Course Prerequisites Table
| Course Title | Semester Hours |
| Biology I and Lab: General Biology I with biology lab; equivalent of UK BIO 148 & 155 | 4 |
| Microbiology and Lab: Microbiology lecture with lab; equivalent of UK BIO 208 & 209; BIO 308 & Lab also acceptable | 4 |
| General Chemistry and Labs: Inorganic Chemistry with corresponding labs; equivalent of UK CHE 105 & 111; CHE 107 & CHE 113 – In-person labs required | 8 |
| Organic Chemistry and Labs: Organic Chemistry with corresponding labs; equivalent of UK CHE 230 & 231; CHE 232 & 233 – In-person labs required | 8 |
| Human Anatomy: Equivalent of UK ANA 209. See UKCOP Transfer Equivalency guide on UKCOP website to ensure coursework is accepted. If taking an Anatomy & Physiology (A&P) course, 6 hours of A&P I and II are necessary. | 3 |
| Physiology: Equivalent of UK PGY 206 or BIO 350. If Anatomy & Physiology (A&P), 6 hours of A&P I and II are needed. | 3 |
| Statistics: Statistics or biostatistics; equivalent of UK STA 291, 296 or BST 230 | 3 |
| OPTION 1: College Algebra & Elementary Calculus (6-7 semester hours); equivalent of UK MA 109 OR MA 110 & MA 123 OR OPTION 2: Calculus I (4 semester hours); equivalent of UK MA 113; UK MA 137 accepted; AP Calculus score of 3 or above required to satisfy Calculus requirement | 4 |
| Business: A business course in microeconomics, macroeconomics, accounting, or finance; equivalent of UK ECO 201, ECO 202, ACC 201, or FIN 300 | 3 |
| English I and II: Two semesters of writing-intensive coursework (ENG 101 & 102). A completed bachelor’s degree satisfies this prerequisite. Equivalent of UK WRD/CIS 110 & 111 or WRD/CIS 112 | 6 |
| Oral Communications: Basic public speaking; equivalent of UK WRD/CIS courses | 3 |
| Elective Courses: Enough elective courses to total a minimum of 70 hours, including prerequisites. Biochemistry (BCH 401G), Chemistry (CHE 550), Genetics (BIO 304), and Physics (PHY 211) courses are encouraged. Additional electives include UK core courses, dual degree prerequisites (if needed), and healthcare-related courses. UK healthcare-related courses include CLA 131, PHR 222, PHA 200, COM 311, CPH 201, CLM courses, HHS courses | 21 |
| Total | 70 |
Prerequisite Coursework Policies
Online coursework: science courses with labs: Varies; science courses without labs: Varies; non-science courses: Yes. Contact [email protected] before registering for any prerequisite to ensure authorization.
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. Contact [email protected] before registering for any prerequisite to ensure authorization.
Completion timing: Applicants must complete all course prerequisites by end of spring term prior to entering the program. Prerequisite coursework may be completed in the summer prior to entering the program only by approval. Contact [email protected] for prerequisite coursework guidance and/or to request a summer course approval.
Letter of Recommendation Requirements
Three (3) evaluations (letters of reference) are required.
Recommended But Not Required: Pharmacist, Professor (Math), Professor (Science)
Accepted: Employer, Faculty Advisor, Health Care Professional, Supervisor, Teaching Assistant
Not Accepted: Clergy, Co-Worker, Family Member, Friend, Politician, Pre-Health Advisor
Committee letters: Accepted (counts as more than one: Varies)
Three letters of recommendation are required; at least one of the three letters should be from a professor of science or math or a pharmacist.
Interview Information
Interview Format: Multiple Mini Interviews (MMI), Other interview format
Online interview option: Yes, but only on a case-by-case basis
Interviews are required and applicants must be invited to interview. The interview assesses the applicant’s communication skills, confidence, maturity, motivation, character, and ability to interact with others. Invitations are sent beginning two weeks prior to interview dates. See website for interview dates: https://pharmacy.uky.edu/apply/pharmd-program/pharmd-how-apply
More about the interview process
Applying
Deadline
May 3, 2027
Priority application deadline: October 1, 2026
Applicants submitting applications by the Priority Deadline will receive full consideration for: – Incentive Award consideration – Waiver of $80 UK College of Pharmacy application fee (do not pay fee if submitting by priority deadline; fees are not refundable) – Preferred interview invitation placement
First day of classes: August 16, 2027
Application fee: $80.00
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? 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 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
Contact Information
Website: http://pharmacy.uky.edu/
Social Profiles
| Facebook https://www.facebook.com/UKCOP/ | Instagram @uk_collegeofpharmacy |
University of Kentucky: Frequently Asked Questions
How hard is it to get into University of Kentucky?
The acceptance rate is approximately 49%, so qualified applicants have a reasonable path in.
What is the tuition at University of Kentucky?
First-year tuition is about $27,643 for in-state students and $53,212 for out-of-state students (2022–23 AACP survey), before fees.
What GPA do you need to get into University of Kentucky?
University of Kentucky requires a minimum overall GPA of 2.5. Admitted students typically exceed the floor, so treat it as a baseline rather than a target.
When is the application deadline for University of Kentucky?
For the 2026–27 cycle, University of Kentucky’s final PharmCAS deadline is May 3, 2027. A priority deadline of October 1, 2026 offers earlier review.
Is a bachelor’s degree required at University of Kentucky?
A bachelor’s degree is not required; finishing the prerequisites is what counts at University of Kentucky. The PharmD itself takes four years.
What is University of Kentucky’s NAPLEX pass rate?
92.7% of University of Kentucky’s first-time candidates passed the NAPLEX in 2025, per NABP data.