How to get into pharmacy school in 2027: GPA, prerequisites and PharmCAS without the PCAT
Find the GPA you need, the 2026-27 PharmCAS dates and fees, and the routes into a PharmD, with or without a bachelor's degree.
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To get into pharmacy school, you finish two or more years of prerequisite college courses, apply through PharmCAS and then pass an interview. You don't need the PCAT anymore. It was retired in January 2024, and no national test has taken its place. Most programs set a minimum GPA between 2.5 and 3.0, and the averages for admitted classes run from about 3.2 to 3.5. For fall 2027 entry, PharmCAS opened on July 9, 2026. Priority deadlines at many schools passed on October 1, 2026, so if you haven't applied yet, apply as soon as you can.
How do you get into pharmacy school in 2027?
A Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program usually expects at least two years of specific undergraduate courses before you start. Most students arrive after three or more years of college. Here are the steps most applicants follow:
- Take your prerequisite courses and earn a C or better in each one. UAMS, for example, asks for 60 semester credit hours of prerequisites.
- Keep your overall GPA and your science GPA above each school's minimum.
- Ask for letters of recommendation. USC Mann asks for three, and one has to come from a science professor.
- Apply through PharmCAS, plus any supplemental application a school requires.
- Go to an interview if you're invited.
- Complete the PharmD. A traditional program takes four years, and an accelerated one takes about three.
After you graduate, you need a license. The Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that every state requires pharmacists to be licensed, which means passing the NAPLEX and a pharmacy law exam (the MPJE or a state-specific test).
Do you still need the PCAT for pharmacy school?
No. The American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) says the PCAT was retired on January 10, 2024. The last tests were offered from January 3 to 9, 2024, and there have been no test dates since. Plenty of guides that still rank in search results say the PCAT is required. Those guides are out of date.
No single exam replaced the PCAT. Schools now rely more on your grades, your interview, your letters and your personal statement. Some schools make the change very clear: UAMS doesn't require the PCAT and won't review scores if you send them. A few programs still have other entrance requirements, so check each school's page in the PharmCAS directory before you apply.
What GPA do you need for pharmacy school?
Minimum GPAs usually fall between 2.5 and 3.0. The students who actually get in tend to have higher GPAs than that, at roughly 3.2 to 3.5. The minimum is the lowest GPA a school will consider, and the class average gives a better sense of where you stand.
| School | Minimum GPA | Recent class average | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| UAMS | 2.5 cumulative | 3.49 (2026 entering class) | Chemistry average 3.24, organic chemistry 3.11 |
| MUSC | 2.5 cumulative or 3.0 prerequisite | Not listed | You need to meet only one of the two minimums |
| USC Mann | 3.0 cumulative | Not listed | Applicants below 3.0 may be reviewed case by case |
| Concordia University Wisconsin | Not listed | About 3.2 (most recent P1 class) | Includes students from a range of ages and backgrounds |
Source: UAMS, MUSC, USC Mann, CUW. Last checked: November 13, 2026.
Your prerequisite GPA often matters more than your overall GPA. MUSC will consider you with a 3.0 prerequisite GPA even if your overall GPA is below 2.5, which shows how much weight it puts on science grades. Schools look closely at chemistry because pharmacology builds on it. If an early chemistry grade was weak, a better grade in organic chemistry or biochemistry later on gives the committee something to weigh against it.
Pharmacy school prerequisites: what to take
Requirements vary by school, but PharmCAS lists the courses that come up most often:
- General chemistry and organic chemistry, with labs
- General biology, microbiology, and anatomy and physiology
- Biochemistry
- Physics
- Calculus and statistics
- English composition and public speaking
- Economics, psychology or sociology, and other humanities courses
Look for small rules that can trip you up. At USC Mann, biochemistry has to be an upper-division course from a four-year institution. UAMS lets you apply before you've finished your prerequisites, but you have to complete General Biology I and General Chemistry I, with labs, before it makes a decision.
PharmCAS 2026-27 timeline, deadlines and fees
PharmCAS is the shared application that most US pharmacy schools use. Early decision is no longer offered through PharmCAS. Many schools set a priority deadline instead, and applying by that date can get you an earlier interview and better scholarship chances.
| Date or item | What it means for fall 2027 entry |
|---|---|
| July 9, 2026 | The PharmCAS 2026-27 application opened |
| October 1, 2026 | Priority deadline at MUSC and UAMS (now passed) |
| December 21, 2026 | UAMS deadline for scholarship eligibility |
| February 1, 2027 | UAMS final deadline. Also the USC Mann scholarship deadline |
| April 1, 2027 | MUSC final deadline |
| $180 | PharmCAS fee for your first program |
| $60 | PharmCAS fee for each additional program |
| Fee waiver | Limited and first come, first served. It covers the $180 fee, and you have to request it before you submit |
Source: PharmCAS fees, MUSC, UAMS, USC Mann. Last checked: November 13, 2026.
Some schools also charge their own supplemental fee on top of the PharmCAS fee. USC Mann says PharmCAS can take 2 to 5 weeks to process an application, so submit a few weeks before any deadline you're aiming for.
Do you need a bachelor's degree for pharmacy school?
Often you don't. UAMS, for example, doesn't require a bachelor's degree for its PharmD. Other schools, such as USC Mann, do. According to AACP's guide to program structures, you can get in a few different ways:
- 0-6 programs take students straight from high school. You spend about two years on pre-pharmacy courses and then move into the professional program.
- Early assurance programs let high school students reserve a spot ahead of time. You have to finish set courses and meet the admission standards along the way.
- Traditional entry means you apply after finishing prerequisites or a full bachelor's degree, then start a four-year PharmD.
- Accelerated programs run year-round and finish in about three years.
Community college can be a good way to take your prerequisites at a lower cost. Make sure your credits come from a regionally accredited college, and check whether a school wants certain courses, like USC's biochemistry, taken at a four-year institution.
If you're still in high school and aiming for a 0-6 program, admissions will look at your high school record. Strong AP Chemistry, AP Biology and SAT results help. Medly AI covers AP and SAT with exam-style questions and marking that explains how to earn the next point. The free plan includes 5 marked questions and 20 AI tutor messages a day, and you don't need a card.
Does pharmacy tech or healthcare experience help?
Yes, even though the schools we checked don't require it. Neither UAMS nor USC Mann lists work experience as a requirement. Experience still helps your application. USC Mann accepts letters of recommendation from pharmacists and employers, so a pharmacist who has watched you work can write about you in a way a lecturer can't. It also gives you real examples for your interview, like handling a confused patient or catching a problem with a prescription.
You don't need hundreds of hours. Regular work over several months shows you know what the job involves and still want to do it. Working as a pharmacy technician is the most common way to get this experience, and some employers help pay for school.
What happens at a pharmacy school interview?
Formats vary. UAMS runs an on-campus multiple mini interview (MMI), with a decision usually within two weeks. USC Mann uses a 20-minute traditional interview with a faculty member or alumnus and a current student, followed by a scenario-based assessment. USC says you don't need any pharmacy-specific knowledge. The interview tests how you communicate, reason and treat people, so practice explaining a decision out loud in under two minutes.
Frequently asked questions
Is a 3.2 GPA good for pharmacy school?
Yes, for many programs. A 3.2 is above the 2.5 to 3.0 minimums at most schools and close to the most recent class average at Concordia University Wisconsin. At schools like UAMS, where the class averages 3.49, strong chemistry grades and a good interview will matter more.
Will CVS pay for you to become a pharmacist?
It can help. CVS has announced tuition assistance for its pharmacy interns in the last two years of their PharmD. It also offers an online pre-pharmacy degree for CVS employees, including technicians. Check the current terms with CVS before you count on them.
Is pharmacy a declining field?
No. The BLS projects 5% growth in pharmacist jobs from 2025 to 2035, which it rates as faster than average. The median pay was $140,910 in May 2025.
Do any pharmacy schools still require the PCAT?
No. Nobody can take the PCAT anymore, because it was retired on January 10, 2024. A few programs list other entrance requirements, so check each school's page.
What are the admission requirements for the USC PharmD program?
USC Mann asks for a bachelor's degree, a 3.0 minimum GPA and its pre-pharmacy courses, completed with a C or better. You also need three letters of recommendation and an interview. Applicants below 3.0 may be reviewed case by case.
Can you get into pharmacy school without a bachelor's degree?
Yes. Many programs, including UAMS, accept you once you've finished the required prerequisites. 0-6 programs also admit students straight from high school.