The nation’s pioneer in expanding the scope and impact of pharmacy education and the profession, USC also is renowned for attracting and preparing future leaders for the field.
At the USC Alfred E. Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, formerly known as USC School of Pharmacy, we attract students who share our commitment to innovation, and our desire to solve intractable health issues, shape the future of the profession, and improve the lives of people everywhere.
Learn about USC Mann:
- The top private school of pharmacy in the nation, according to U.S. News & World Report.
- Ranked #1 by Pharmacy Technician Guide, which cited the School’s high NAPLEX pass rates, research activity, high graduation rate, student-to-faculty ratio and faculty credentials.
- Noted as #1 in the nation for PharmD degrees by Higher Learning Today, which cited the school’s long history, vibrant student life, high NAPLEX pass rates and emphasis on clinical training.
- Ranked #2 in the nation for PharmD degrees by College Magazine, which cited the school’s vast and supportive alumni network, high first-time NAPLEX pass rates, wide range of degrees and experiential opportunities.
Promising Futures
How will my choice of graduate school benefit me? Beyond ensuring that the pharmacy program is accredited through the American Council for Pharmacy Education (which USC has through 2031), look at the outcomes of our Trojan pharmacy graduates:
Earned an average pass rate of 92.37% on the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX) over the past five years (2018-2022)
Achieved an on-time graduation rate of 95.9% (Class of 2023)
Rank #4 in the nation for highest average salary, according to a SoFi report
Top-Notch Students
Many factors make USC an exciting destination, but it all starts with the students. USC PharmD students – all of whom have already completed a four-year undergraduate degree – come to the USC Health Sciences Campus near downtown Los Angeles from all over the country and many parts of the world to be part of this historic institution.
The USC PharmD Class of 2028:
176 members
has an average undergraduate GPA of 3.51
36% first-generation college students
Meet Our Esteemed Faculty
At USC Mann, you will be taught by acknowledged leaders in pharmacy education, research and service. The faculty includes:
Steven W. Chen, a national leader on expanding the scope of pharmacy practice to improve patient outcomes and save healthcare dollars
California’s first advanced practice pharmacist, Richard Dang, who served as president of the California Pharmacists Association (2021-22)
Lisa W. Goldstone, past president of College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists, the nation’s leading organization of psychiatric pharmacists
Cardiology expert Tien M.H. Ng, a nationally recognized expert in heart failure management who has been awarded Professor of the Year 13 times
Yong (Tiger) Zhang, an expert in chemical biology, drug design and discovery, protein engineering, and immunotherapy
The size and breadth of the USC Mann faculty – 80+ full-time and hundreds of clinical professors – make it easier for you to find a mentor (or several mentors) whose interests complement and support your professional goals.
Dynamic, Inclusive Student Experiences
The PharmD student experience at USC Mann is uniquely inclusive and community-oriented. We have:
Dozens of student organizations helping to build community connections, communication skills and leadership abilities
Numerous student affinity groups such as the Black Pharmacy Society, Family Support for Professionals, LatinX Advancing Pharmacy, RxPride, and more
A state-of-the-art campus facility for student programs, services, and events – the Margaret and John Biles Leadership Center – designed to encourage meetings and collaboration
A dedicated student success team including a director for student success and engagement and an assistant director for career and academic counseling
A robust Project Wellness initiative working to lead, shape and foster a culture of well-being for students, staff and faculty
A dynamic Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Initiative working to foster an equitable and inclusive culture in the School
Advancing Pharmacy Practice
USC has a decades-long track record of advancing the practice of pharmacy, and its setting in one of the nation’s largest urban centers gives students access to diverse clinical and practice experience opportunities. The school:
- is located on a major health sciences campus near downtown Los Angeles, with three adjacent medical centers
- maintains research and teaching collaborations at Keck Hospital of USC, Cedars-Sinai Health System, Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, Los Angeles General Medical Center, USC Verdugo Hills Hospital and more
- operates three School-run pharmacies, with a fourth – the USC South Los Angeles Pharmacy – in the active planning stages
- has over 300 experiential sites in Southern California
Global Focus
Our school’s location in vibrant, multicultural Los Angeles is a distinct advantage in our role as a leading international school for the study of pharmacy in all its dimensions.
60 of the 177 entering students in the PharmD class of 2026 were born outside the U.S., from countries including Armenia, Indonesia, Iran, South Korea, the United Kingdom and Vietnam
PharmD students in their P4 year can choose an international advanced pharmacy practice experience (APPE) to fulfill an elective, six-week rotation. Recent placements include universities in Japan, Ireland, the Republic of Korea, Hong Kong SAR of China, Taiwan, Egypt, Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey. Additionally, future destinations may include India, Dubai, Columbia and Kenya
USC maintains nine international offices, and the USC alumni association has a large international program, including 26 clubs in locations ranging from Sao Paulo to London to Taipei
Trojan Family: “Lifelong, Worldwide”
Alumni, students, and faculty are part of the renowned Trojan Family—a strong, connected community known for professional achievement, community outreach, and innovative curricular and care models. Our motto “lifelong, worldwide” reflects alumni dedication to supporting new generations of USC students and graduates on every continent.
USC Mann has a network of thousands of PharmD alumni, many serving in leadership positions in all major pharmacy, health care and pharmaceutical companies, in government agencies and in academia. Approximately 50 percent of practicing pharmacists in Southern California are graduates of USC.
