North Dakota State University’ Doctor of Pharmacy program is housed within its College of Health Professions. The College of Health Professions offers a number of health professions programs which allow our pharmacy students the opportunity to learn how to provide patient care using team-based, patient-centered principles.

We admit up to 85 students into our Doctor of Pharmacy program each year. There are two paths to gain admission into the pharmacy program. 

The first path is our “traditional” path.  Pre-pharmacy students (including transfer students) typically apply for admission to the four-year professional program during their second or third year of pre-pharmacy studies at NDSU. More information about the traditional pathway program, as well as general criteria for admission, can be found here: https://www.ndsu.edu/pharmacy/pharmd/application_trad/.

The second path is our “early admission path”, or EAP, program. This path is designed for high achieving high school students who seek an expedited path to the Doctor of Pharmacy degree. As long as you successfully complete all requirements to maintain your spot, we assure you a seat in the final four years of the PharmD program. Thus if you meet program requirements, it is a six-year path (saves up to 2 years of time in college).

Notable strengths of our program include: 

-      NDSU first time pass rates on the NAPLEX exam in 2019 (94.1%) exceed the national average (90.6%).

-      Tuition for in-state residents that ranks among the lowest in the country.

-      A high percentage of NDSU students who pursue a residency successfully match with PGY1 residency programs.

-      Tuition reciprocity agreements with a number of surrounding states. 

-      Last year the College of Health Professions awarded over $300,000 in scholarships to students.

-      Students are eligible for North Dakota Pharmacy Intern Licenses as soon as they complete one year of study at NDSU as a pre-professional student. This is sooner than other pharmacy programs nationwide.

-      A majority of our students work (for pay) as interns in the Fargo-Moorhead community, in either community or health system pharmacies.

-      Students have the opportunity to earn a master degree in business administration (MBA), a master degree in public health (MPH), or a doctorate in pharmaceutical sciences (PhD) jointly with their Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree.

-      NDSU Doctor of Pharmacy students are actively involved in leadership and community service. Students commonly participate in one (or more) of the 12 organizations offered through the College of Health Professions, as well as in one (or more) of the 300 student organizations at NDSU as a whole.

In January 2020, the College of Health Professions opened Aldevron Tower, a 74,000 square foot, six story building next to our existing Sudro Hall. The building contains expansive, state-of-the-art collaborative learning spaces to facilitate our commitment to inter-professional, team-based, patient-centered education. This includes a home health apartment, trauma bay and birthing suite, two medical/surgical hospital rooms, and a pediatric hospital room.

Aldevron Tower also contains the NDSU Pharmacy Practice Instructional Laboratory; a fully licensed pharmacy with dedicated learning environments including community and institutional practice areas, a simulated USP 797 compliant sterile compounding laboratory with ante room, a non-sterile compounding laboratory with high-temperature dishwashers, access to patient exam rooms for medication therapy management, and telehealth/telepharmacy for providing care to medically underserved rural communities.