About the USC Mann PharmD Program

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

Entering ClassTotal AdmittedTotal Attrition
(Extended Time, Withdrew, or Academically Disqualified)
% Attrition of Matriculating Class% Graduated
2008-1218794.81%96.79%
2009-1318742.14%98.40%
2010-14189147.41%95.24%
2011-15189136.88%96.30%
2012-16185147.57%95.14%
2013-171952412.31%92.82%
2014-182012210.95%92.54%
2015-1918984.23%97.35%
2016-2019042.11%97.89%
2017-2118973.70%99.47%
2018-2219784.06%98.48%
2019-2319663.06%95.92%

 201820192020202120222023
North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX)171 first-time candidates 96.49% pass rate173 first-time candidates 95.95% pass rate182 first-time candidates 92.9% pass rate175 first-time candidates 93.7% pass rate170 first-time candidates
81.8% pass rate
162 first-time candidates
85.2% pass rate
California Pharmacy Jurisprudence Exam (CPJE)176 candidates
97.7% pass rate (Apr – Sept 2018)
155 candidates
84.5% pass rate (Apr – Nov 2019)
171 candidates
78.9% pass rate (May -Sept 2020)
159 candidates 71.1% pass rate (Apr – Sept 2021)155 candidates 70.3% pass rate (May – Sept 2022)178 candidates
74.2% pass rate (April – September 2023)

Area of Interest2019 Responses2020 Responses2021 Responses2022 Responses2023 Responses2024 Responses
Chain community pharmacy707164566043
Independent community pharmacy304140413632
Hospital837585778075
Clinic-based pharmacy383642342734
Consultant121316131610
Home care278483
Nursing home/Long-term care facility131114796
Academia98148116
Association management040021
Pharmaceutical industry253323384742
Managed Care212218182017
Government or regulatory agency71310777
Other pharmacy related field586653
Non-pharmacy related field122320
No plans for employment in the coming year437417
Lost to follow up0125900

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.

Michael Pazirandeh

What career possibilities are available to USC PharmD grads?

“There’s retail, inpatient, ambulatory care, managed care, industry, compounding, specialty, the list goes on and on … If you’re able to find the crossroads where competency and passion intersect, then you will have found that dream career where you pinch yourself every morning, not believing someone is actually paying you to do what you love. And that’s why USC is one of the best pharmacy schools out there in the nation. The amount of exposure and alumni connections available to you are second to none.”

Michael Pazirandeh

PharmD ’11

Principal Medical Scientist, Managed Care and Government Accounts at Gilead Sciences
Komal Patel

What inspired your career choices after USC?

“I became interested in finding innovative ways to improve health outcomes for patients because I spent nearly a decade leading advocacy efforts in California to change pharmacy laws to improve patient access to care. I became interested in improving access to patient care, because I was looking for ways for pharmacists to create next-gen business models. The possibilities truly are endless.”

Komal Patel

PharmD ’04

VP Healthcare Operations at Interwell Health
Ken Thai

How has USC added value to your life and career?

“USC is definitely true to its reputation of providing broad networking opportunities. I can name so many faculty members that have served as role models and mentors in my professional career.”

Ken Thai

PharmD ’02

CEO, 986 Degrees Corporation
Vinnie Dam

What does the Trojan Family mean to you?

“Being part of the Trojan Family has opened so many doors for me that I’ve lost track. Whether it’s because it brings prestige to my résumé or inspires a long conversation about football with a stranger, I am proud to be a part of the Trojan Family.”

Vinnie Dam

PharmD ’07, MS Regulatory Science ’07

Co-Founder & Chief Pharmacy Officer at Mixlab