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7 top scholarships for pharmacy school students

Emma Woodward Hannah Smith
Written by
Emma Woodward,
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Hannah Smith
Published on November 16, 2023 | 5 min read

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Two pharmacists look through medications
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Key takeaways

  • A pharmacy degree is a significant investment. Scholarship awards can help to offset the cost.
  • Many pharmacy school scholarships renew annually. Be sure to fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year you are enrolled in your program of study, and re-apply to scholarships each year you are eligible.
  • To streamline the scholarship application process, be sure to stay organized. Keep your transcript, CV and references up-to-date and check application deadlines each year.

Pursuing a career in pharmacy requires a significant investment of money and time. According to American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy data, tuition and fees can amount to over $85,000 a year.

If you’re thinking about becoming a pharmacist and wondering how you’ll cover the cost of tuition, applying for pharmacy school scholarships can help lessen the burden. Here are some of the best scholarships available for pharmacy students in 2023 and 2024, what they’re worth and when to apply.

But don’t stop your search here. If you visit a scholarship search engine, you’ll find plenty of other pharmacy school scholarships available through schools, nonprofits and private organizations.

1. The Walmart Health Equity Scholarship for Pharmacy Students

The AACP partners with Walmart to offer scholarships for Pharm.D. students who demonstrate outstanding leadership and academic qualities and are interested in working in underserved areas. To apply, you must be enrolled in a Pharm.D. program and be in good academic standing. You’ll also be required to submit an essay in which you explain why you’re interested in working in a rural or high-need area, two letters of recommendation, a copy of your resume and your transcripts.

2. The NCPA Foundation Presidential Scholarship

The National Community Pharmacists Association offers a scholarship to pharmacy school students who exhibit leadership qualities and academic achievement. You must be a member of the NCPA to apply, and you must also be attending an accredited pharmacy school on a full-time basis during the term the scholarship is awarded. In addition to transcripts and a personal essay, applicants must submit a copy of their resume and a letter of recommendation from a school official or a pharmacy owner or manager.

  • Amount: $5,000, plus a travel stipend and complimentary convention registration
  • Deadline: Application for 2024-2025 school year anticipated to open in December 2023
  • Apply here: https://www.ncpafoundation.org/presidential/

3. Partners in Pharmacy

The NCPA also offers a Partners in Pharmacy scholarship to pharmacy students who exhibit “exemplary academic performance, community service and a demonstrated commitment to independent pharmacy.” To qualify, you must be an NCPA member attending pharmacy school full-time during the term the scholarship is awarded. As with the NCPA’s other award, you must submit a letter of recommendation from a school official or a pharmacy owner or manager, in addition to a personal statement and a copy of your resume.

  • Amount: $2,000, plus a travel stipend and complimentary convention registration
  • Deadline: Application for 2024-2025 school year anticipated to open in December 2023
  • Apply here: https://www.ncpafoundation.org/partners/

4. IMANA Scholarship

The Islamic Medical Association of North America (IMANA) offers a pharmacy scholarship based on academic merit to students in the United States. This scholarship is available to all qualified applicants regardless of religion, race or other background factors. Students with DACA status are also eligible to apply.

5. AFPE First Year Graduate School Scholarship

The AFPE First Year Graduate Scholarship through Phi Lambda Sigma is for pharmacy students in their final year of an ACPE-accredited Doctor of Pharmacy Program who plan to enroll in a Ph.D. program when they graduate. They’re also eligible if enrolled in a dual Pharm.D./Ph.D. program. Applicants must also be a member of Phi Lambda Sigma. To apply, applicants must submit two letters of recommendation, a statement discussing why they would like to attend graduate school, a list of accomplishments and achievements and a copy of their official transcript.

6. Community Pharmacy Scholarship

Pharmacists Mutual offers the Community Pharmacy Scholarship to students wishing to practice in an independent or small-chain pharmacy location or an underserved geographic or cultural community. To apply, students must submit a college transcript, a letter of recommendation and an essay describing how they’ve prepared for work in an independent or underserved setting.

7. The CVS Health Minority Scholarship for Pharmacy Students

CVS Pharmacy and the AACP offer a scholarship to pharmacy students from underrepresented groups who demonstrate leadership qualities, academic success and a strong commitment to advancing the pharmacy profession. You must be about to enter or in your first year of your Pharm.D. program to be eligible for this scholarship. You’ll also need to have a GPA of at least 2.0 and be a student from an underrepresented racial minority. Applicants must submit an essay, a copy of their resume, transcripts and two letters of recommendation: one from a faculty member and another from a pharmacist.

Additional ways to pay for pharmacy school

Pharmacy school scholarships can take the sting out of paying for tuition, but you’ll likely need to come up with additional sources of funding. Consider the following options as you begin pricing out pharmacy school and looking for ways to cover your out-of-pocket expenses.

The bottom line

Paying for pharmacy school can be a tall order, but plenty of scholarships are available to help you foot the bill. To increase your chances of securing as much aid as possible, make sure to do the following:

  • Research and apply to as many scholarships as you can.
  • Take note of all the requirements and important dates so you don’t miss anything.
  • If an essay or statement is required, make sure you have someone who can proofread it before you submit it and give you thorough feedback.
  • Have at least four references lined up.

Although some of these steps may be time-consuming, they are worth it. You could get thousands of dollars to help you pay for your degree, which translates to graduating from school with less debt — or none at all.

Written by
Emma Woodward Arrow Right Icon
Contributor, Personal Finance
Emma Woodward is a contributor for Bankrate and a freelance writer who loves writing to demystify personal finance topics. She has written for companies and publications like Finch, Toast, JBD Clothiers and The Financial Diet.