University of Montana Quick Facts
| Duration: 4 Years | Courses: 64 | Faculty: 42 |
| Applications (Fall 2024): 69 | Acceptance Rate: 40% | Est. Class Size: 59 |
Program Description
The curriculum offered by the Skaggs School of Pharmacy consists of a six-year program leading to the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree. The pre-professional portion of the curriculum is spent in studies of the basic physical and biological sciences and in course work necessary to satisfy the University’s general education requirements.
During the first three professional years of the Pharm.D. program, students devote their time to the study of the pharmaceutical sciences and pharmacy practice. Areas of study include biochemistry, microbiology, pharmaceutics, medicinal chemistry, pharmacology, social administrative pharmacy, and therapeutics.
PharmD Program Highlights
- Public Institution
- No Baccalaureate Degree Required
- $150 deposit to hold acceptance
- Conducts interviews of applicants
- Participates in Early Decision Program (EDP)
- Minimum One (1) Letters of Reference are required
- Utilizes the Centralized Criminal Background Check (CBC)
- Does not participate in the PharmCAS-facilitated Drug Screening Service
Location
Location: 32 Campus Drive Missoula, Montana 59812-1512
Interactive mapAcceptance Rate for University of Montana
40%: See other Schools with an acceptance rate under 40%
NAPLEX Pass Rates
First-time NAPLEX pass rates for University of Montana graduates, by graduation year, compared with the national average.
| Graduation Year | First-Time Pass Rate | National Average |
| 2025 | 91.3% | 86.8% |
| 2024 | 83.3% | 75.9% |
| 2023 | 83.0% | 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): | $5,515 | per year |
| Tuition (Out-State): | $27,418 | per year |
| Mandatory Fees: | $9,794 | 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: | 64 |
| Total number of basic science college SEMESTER HOURS that must be completed prior to matriculation: | 28 |
Course Prerequisites Table
| Course Title | Semester Hours |
| Human Form & Function (Human Anatomy & Physiology) 1 & 2 | 6 |
| College Chemistry I & 2 (with labs) | 10 |
| Applied Calculus | 4 |
| College Writing I | 3 |
| Cell & Molecular Biology | 4 |
| Organic Chemistry I & 2 (with at least 1 lab) | 8 |
| Intro to Statistics | 4 |
| Intro to Sociology or Psychology | 3 |
| Public Speaking | 3 |
| Electives | 19 |
| Total | 64 |
Prerequisite Coursework Policies
Online coursework: science courses with labs: Varies; science courses without labs: Yes; non-science courses: Yes.
Pass/fail grades: Not accepted.
Completion timing: Ideally, prerequisites will be completed by the end of spring term prior to starting the pharmacy program in the autumn.
Letter of Recommendation Requirements
One (1) evaluations (letters of reference) are required.
Accepted: Employer, Health Care Professional, Pharmacist, Supervisor
Not Accepted: Clergy, Faculty Advisor, Family Member, Friend, Pre-Health Advisor, Professor (Any Subject Area), Professor (Liberal Arts), Professor (Math), Professor (Science), Teaching Assistant
Committee letters: Not Accepted
Students applying for admission will be required to complete at least 20 hours of observation in a pharmacy or healthcare setting, preferably in a pharmacy. A volunteer or paid experience serving a patient population can be substituted for the observation hours. The PharmCAS letter of recommendation must be from someone involved with the applicant in such an observation/experience.
Interview Information
Interview Format: Individual applicants with two or more interviewers
Online interview option: Yes
Online interviews will be offered once a month beginning in October. Applicants will be notified by e-mail if they qualify for an interview. Admission offers for strong candidates are made within one to two weeks of the interview. Students who are not initially offered a seat in the class may be reviewed for admission or a wait-list offer at the end of the review cycle.
More about the interview process
Applying
Deadline
May 3, 2027
Priority application deadline: December 1, 2026
First day of classes: August 30, 2027
Application fee: $50.00
General School Information
Program
Dual Degree Program? Yes
Part of an academic health center? No
Pharmacy observation hours required? Yes
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, Canadian Citizens, Foreign (non-US) Citizens with a Visa
Foreign transcript policy: Send a foreign transcript evaluation report (FTER) to PharmCAS
TOEFL required: Yes
The University of Montana requires TOEFL scores for international students who are not already enrolled at UM.
Contact Information
Website: http://www.umt.edu/pharmacy/
Social Profiles
| Facebook https://www.facebook.com/UMTpharmacyschool/ | Instagram @umtpharmacyschool |
University of Montana: Frequently Asked Questions
How hard is it to get into University of Montana?
About 40% of applicants are admitted to University of Montana’s PharmD program, in line with many competitive PharmD programs.
What is the tuition at University of Montana?
Per the AACP’s 2022–23 survey, residents pay around $5,515 for the first year, while non-residents pay about $27,418.
Does University of Montana have a GPA requirement?
University of Montana requires a minimum overall GPA of 2.5. Admitted students typically exceed the floor, so treat it as a baseline rather than a target.
What is University of Montana’s PharmCAS deadline?
Applications for the 2026–27 cycle are due by May 3, 2027 through PharmCAS. A priority deadline of December 1, 2026 offers earlier review.
Do you need a bachelor’s degree to get into University of Montana?
No — University of Montana admits students who have completed the prerequisite coursework, with or without a bachelor’s degree. The PharmD itself takes four years.
What is University of Montana’s NAPLEX pass rate?
In 2025, the first-time NAPLEX pass rate was 91.3%, as reported by NABP.