In this article, we take a look at top pharmacy schools in Illinois, not only that but we will also consider the entry requirements for pharmacy schools in Illinois and the different programs offered.
This post can assist you if you live in Illinois and want to choose from the best pharmacy schools in Illinois. Finding the best pharmacy school that welcomes students from Illinois is only a few clicks away thanks to this thorough directory of Illinois pharmacy schools!
How Much Do Pharmacists Make In Illinois?
The annual pay of a pharmacist in Illinois may vary depending on a number of variables, including your education, work history, geographic region, industry, and firm size.
The average annual wage for a pharmacist in Illinois is $125,640; entry-level pharmacists receive $92,680, and those with more than 20 years of experience make $162,360.
Wonderful employment options are available in Illinois in Chicago, Bloomington, Carbondale-Marion, Springfield, and Rockford.
The major employers of pharmacists are retail pharmacies and hospitals, but grocery stores and outpatient care facilities also employ pharmacists, who make an average annual income of $124,300 and $147,340, respectively.
You can successfully launch your career as a pharmacist in Illinois with employment growth of 1.86% from 2015 to 2019.
How To Become A Pharmacist In Illinois
The licensing body in Illinois requires that pharmacists hold a license. Among the licensing criteria are:
- Completion of a first professional degree program in pharmacy lasting at least 5 years at an accredited university or pharmacy college;
- Completion of a practice experience program under the close supervision of a licensed pharmacist;
- Passing a test; and
- Paying a charge.
- Every two years, license renewal is necessary, and 30 hours of continuing education are required.
The List of 6 Pharmacy Schools In Illinois
Illinois offers some excellent possibilities for pharmacy schools. We have gathered the data you require to make the greatest choice for you, whether you are an Illinois resident or considering moving to the Northeast to receive the best education.
You must earn your Doctor of Pharmacy from one of the state’s pharmacy schools in order to pursue a career in this field.
1 Chicago State University
The specialty fields of pharmaceutics, medicinal chemistry, natural products/pharmacognosy, and physiology/pharmacology are all included in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences.
Pharmaceutics is the branch of pharmacy that deals with devising various dosage forms for medication delivery, figuring out how to store and keep drugs stable, and assessing how administration and formulation factors affect drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion in people.
Because it combines the physical, chemical, biochemical, analytical, and pharmacological principles used to understand the processes of drug action and drug design, medicinal chemistry is a science that is exclusive to pharmacy. The professional undergraduate student’s career in pharmacy is supported by the application of principles related to medicinal chemistry.
The pharmaceutical discipline known as pharmacognosy is focused on the biological, chemical, and therapeutic applications of medications derived from plants, microorganisms, and animals.
The Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences’ goal is to provide students with a solid knowledge base that is necessary for the professional pharmacy curriculum.
The faculty exposes and fosters in aspiring pharmacists the abilities of critical thinking, problem-solving, and lifelong learning while offering the best caliber training in pharmaceutical sciences.
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Admissions: Applicants must complete the following in order to be taken into consideration for admission to the CSU-COP:
Obtain a minimum of 54 semester hours of necessary, non-remedial course work from a US college or university that has received regional accreditation, or be in the process of doing so.
Prior to enrollment in the professional pharmacy program, all prerequisite courses must be successfully completed with a letter grade of C or better. Less than a C- is not acceptable.
2 University Of Illinois
Students who are interested in careers in the pharmaceutical, biomedical, or other healthcare industries or who intend to enroll in a PharmD program to become licensed pharmacists should consider the Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences (BSPS) program at UIC.
Pharmaceutical sciences include a wide range of disciplines that are related to the discovery and creation of novel medications and treatments to enhance people’s quality of life.
Any professional healthcare field or science PhD program can benefit from studying pharmaceutical sciences.
Pharmaceutical firms, chemical manufacturers, laboratories, biomedical and bioengineering facilities, professional consulting, as well as retail pharmacies, are among the industries that are looking for graduates with a background in pharmaceutical sciences.
The PharmD curriculum at UIC places a strong emphasis on a practice-ready, patient-centered program of study that also fosters interprofessional teamwork abilities. The program offers eight distinct concentrations that let students focus on subjects related to their professional aspirations.
UIC PharmD students transform throughout the course of the four-year program into adaptable, thoughtful, and analytical practitioners who are ready for leadership roles in delivering high-quality care in a variety of settings.
They provide a dual PharmD/PhD degree for students who want to advance their education. Students who are interested in both the clinical side of pharmacy and pharmaceutical science research should apply to this extremely selective program.
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Admission: You must have the following to enroll in the BSPS program:
- 58 minimum college credits
- Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75/4.00 (all coursework, including repeated courses)
- Minimum science and math GPA of 2.50/4.00 (any science and math coursework, including repeated courses)
- One recommendation letter from a professional source (professor, TA, or academic advisor)
Admission criteria for a PharmD degree include:
- A C- or above is required in each of the necessary courses for pre-pharmacy.
- Applicants must have a 2.50 (A=4.00) GPA or higher in three categories in order to be considered. (Total, pre-pharmacy prerequisites, and CGPA in the sciences)
3 Midwestern University
The Downers Grove Campus of the College of Pharmacy is dedicated to developing compassionate, patient-centered pharmacists.
Their student-centered curriculum is a three-year, year-round program that blends the most recent advances in basic and pharmaceutical sciences while stressing the clinical skills and experiences required for success.
CPDG will create your career as a pharmacist through the depth of its ties with the greatest medical centers, clinics, and pharmacy diversity in the region, as well as the proven track record of its alumni. This program will grant you a Doctor of Pharmacy degree (Pharm.D.). The program lasts three years full-time and has a class size of 125 students.
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Admission: Students applying for admission to CPDG must provide the following documentation:
- Completion of 62 semester hours or 90 quarter hours of non-remedial required courses from regionally accredited US colleges or universities or recognized postsecondary Canadian institutions that employ English as their major medium of teaching and documentation.
- A minimum cumulative GPA and science GPA of 2.50 on a 4.00 scale is preferred.
- Prerequisite course grades of “C” or above (grades of C- are not accepted)
- Admission does not require a Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT) score. However, if an applicant’s cumulative and science GPAs are less than 2.75, submitting PCAT scores is suggested to strengthen the application.
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4 Roosevelt University
With a Doctor of Pharmacy from Roosevelt University, you’ll be prepared to join the healthcare team and promote social justice via patient care.
Study in Schaumburg, Illinois, just outside of Chicago, near world-class hospitals and healthcare systems, community pharmacies, and large pharmaceutical corporations.
You can graduate from the Roosevelt PharmD program in three years, allowing you to pursue post-graduate training or join the job market a year earlier than in standard programs.
The student-to-faculty ratio at the institution is 6:1. In Roosevelt’s small classes, you’ll get to know your teachers and develop your abilities via hands-on activities and group projects. You can perform biological research and publish with the professional faculty at Roosevelt.
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Admission: The pre-pharmacy program is intended to prepare students for advanced study in a complex and changing sector of health professionals. All Doctor of Pharmacy applicants must finish a minimum of 53 semester credit hours or 79.5 quarter hours.
The general admission criteria for the Roosevelt University Doctor of Pharmacy program are mentioned below to assist prospective applicants in preparing for admission.
- Apply via PharmCAS, a web-based Pharmacy College Application Service.
- Complete a minimum of 53 semester credit hours of pre-pharmacy studies at an accredited institution or university.
- Complete all courses with a suggested grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.
- Earn a C- or above in all required coursework.
- Include at least two letters of recommendation with your PharmCAS application. If a school provides committee assessments for students, those can be used in place of the two letters of recommendation.
5 Rosalind Franklin University
Rapid changes in healthcare delivery are contributing to the broadening of pharmacy’s area of practice. Today’s pharmacists are industry leaders who do research to develop new and more effective pharmaceuticals and work to make communities healthy through patient education and advocacy.
Students begin their novel experiential pharmacy curriculum in hospital settings as early as the first academic quarter.
COP students benefit from Rosalind Franklin University’s dedication to inter-professional education in addition to studying from professionals in pharmacy practice and pharmaceutical sciences.
COP graduates understand and appreciate how to collaborate with their colleagues to improve health outcomes through team-based, patient-centered care after taking several sessions alongside students from RFU’s other clinical programs.
Their PharmD program is made to prepare you for a range of job pathways in pharmacy, including research, industry, public health, hospitals, academia, and community pharmacy, to mention a few.
Their small class size increases the chance for one-on-one guidance from the practitioner teachers.
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Admission: Candidates from any academic area or undergraduate major who have finished 65 semester hours (95 quarter hours) of undergraduate study at an authorized institution or university are welcome to apply to the College of Pharmacy.
- Competent candidates must have a cumulative GPA of 2.50 or higher.
- Candidates with a 2.50 science GPA or higher will be considered competitive.
- All prerequisite courses must be completed with a grade of “C” or above.
- For applicants with a cumulative GPA of less than or equal to 2.5, the PCAT is necessary.
- It is necessary to provide either two individual letters of recommendation or one committee letter.
- Candidates are urged to look for (paid or unpaid) experiences that will help them decide on pharmacy as their career.
Review the application guidelines and register for the Pharmacy College Application Service (PharmCAS).
6 Southern Illinois University
A master’s degree in pharmaceutical sciences, a concurrent PharmD/MBA program, a concurrent PharmD/MS Healthcare Informatics program, and a professional program leading to the doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) degree are all available from the SIUE School of Pharmacy.
Each program at the School uses an experiential learning method to give students a priceless education in practical situations.
Excellence in education, pharmacy practice, research and scholarship, and service are all valued at the school. The six-year study program is taught using a range of cutting-edge teaching techniques and is based on the most recent research and technology in pharmacy and other fields.
One of the safest university campuses in the country is at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, which is situated on 2,660 gorgeous acres in southern Illinois, about 25 minutes from St. Louis.
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Admission: The doctor of pharmacy program at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) uses a 2+4 approach. This implies that candidates are accepted into the four-year professional degree program after completing at least two years of college. At SIUE, the first two years can be finished.
The following criteria will be used to evaluate applicants:
- Average grade point in pre-pharmacy courses
- Grade point average for pre-pharmacy mathematics and science courses
- Recommendation letters
- A transcript of grades
FAQs
How many pharmacy schools are in Illinois?
There are currently 6 schools in Illinois that are acknowledged as ACPE-accredited and that provide the PharmD.
How long does it take to become a pharmacist in Illinois?
Both PharmD courses and prerequisites for the PharmD program are included in this four-year undergraduate degree.
With the last year of the BS overlapping with the first year of the PharmD program, students can finish the BSPS and PharmD program in seven years instead of the customary eight.
What is a good GPA for pharmacy school?
A 3.0 cumulative GPA is preferred by the majority of pharmacy programs, and letter grades of at least “C” are frequently needed in the prerequisite courses.
Take classes in pharmaceutical science if they are available, and do your best to succeed.
Is UIC pharmacy school hard to get into?
To be eligible for admission consideration, students must have cumulative, science/math, and pre-pharmacy prerequisite coursework GPAs that meet or surpass 2.50 (on a scale of 4.00). Over the past few years, the prerequisite GPA has generally been 3.3 on a 4.0 scale.
How can I increase my chances of getting into pharmacy school?
You should strive for a minimum GPA of 3.0, submit two letters of recommendation, finish the prerequisite courses and undergraduate prerequisites, take the PCAT or CASPer if necessary, and obtain some practical, clinical experience to increase your chances of admission to pharmacy school.
How many years does it take to be a pharmacist?
The six-year Doctor of Pharmacy program consists of ward rounds and a one-year internship at a hospital, as well as five years of clinical and community-based theoretical study.
Students earning a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy have the option of lateral admission straight into the fourth year of Pharm.D program.
What year of pharmacy school is the hardest?
After speaking with students at multiple Texas pharmacy schools, it appears that P1 year is typically the most challenging.
Some claim that the transition from undergraduate to graduate level studies is to blame. Some claim that things simply get simpler as time passes.
What is a pharmacy major called?
Students interested in biomedical research, pharmaceutical and biotech businesses, and pharmacy, pharmaceutical science, and administration majors can pursue these interests through an interdisciplinary curriculum.
Students who major in this subject examine how the properties of pharmaceuticals are related to biology, chemistry, biochemistry, and other sciences.
What is the hardest thing about pharmacy school?
The 5 Hardest Things About Pharmacy School:
- A demanding course load.
- Costs of tuition
- living expenses, and other expenses associated with pharmacy school.
- A “poor” rotation.
- Maintaining a healthy mind and body.
Is UIC a good pharmacy school?
According to US News & World Report, the UIC College of Pharmacy is the best pharmacy school in Illinois. In the nation, according to US News & World Report, is placed seventh.
Is pharmacy becoming saturated?
Finding work in any area of their profession is quite tough because there are over 10,000 pharmacists graduating every year into a job market that is entirely saturated.
On a national basis, the number of employment accessible to these recent graduates declines each year, and competition increases. Do you have suggestions about these pharmacy schools in Illinois? Please leave a comment below.