Why Pharmacy?
Year after year, pharmacists are named one of the country’s most trusted professions. If you’re passionate about caring for others and interested in the health sciences, this may be the path for you!
Career snapshot
-
6 years
of college education
In only six years of college, you can earn a doctorate-level degree and begin your career in the rewarding and in-demand field of pharmacy.
-
30+
career pathways
Find your passion from 30+ career pathways or shape the future of care with advanced technologies and innovative treatments.
-
$137K
median annual wage
The national median annual wage for a pharmacist was more than $137,000 in 2024, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What do pharmacists do?
Pharmacists are doctors with specialized expertise in the composition and use of medicines. There are 30+ different career pathways you can pursue within the field of pharmacy. Here are some of those unique stories and experiences from our graduates.
Meet our Alumni
-
Academia | Uche, '04
Alumna Uche Anadu Ndefo remembers the moment in school it clicked for her that pharmacy touches the lives of real people. That realization has guided her through an accomplished career in academia.
-
Toxicology | Tucker, '92
Alumnus Tucker A. Patterson learned to value adaptability throughout his impressive career in neuropharmacology and toxicology. Learn about his experience as director of the U.S. FDA’s National Center for Toxicological Research.
-
Rural Health | Devin, '18
Alumnus Devin Drummond never imagined his career would take him to the northernmost end of the globe, but he found his passion working with a tribally owned and operated, not-for profit organization in Alaska.
-
-
Adventures in Pharmacy
Discover what it takes to become a pharmacist! Adventures in Pharmacy is an interactive weeklong summer camp offered through USC's Carolina Master Scholars Adventure Series for rising 9-12th grade students.
About the Adventure Series -
-
How do I become a pharmacist?
Practicing pharmacy requires a Doctor of Pharmacy degree. Begin the Pharm.D. program as early as your junior year of college and finish in six years. Gain a head start on your foundational coursework as a Pre-Pharmacy student at USC.