M Pharma in USA: Guide for International Students on Masters in Pharmacy in US

Before discussing the top universities, let's first make you familiar with the reasons why studying for a master's in pharmacy in the USA is considered to be popular among the international students.

• Growth of Pharmacy: The pharmacy market in the USA is set to increase rapidly because of its high consumption of pharm products. As per the data, the market size of US pharmacy in 2020 was USD 534.21 billion. It is projected to grow from 560 billion in 2021 to 861.67 billion USD in the year 2028 at a CAGR of 6.3% in 2021-2028 period.
• Academics: USA is known for offering international students with academic education which is exemplary and best in the world. The pharmacy colleges in the USA are especially known for their groundbreaking research in the field.
• Top Universities: A majority of the top US universities offering a Master's degree in Pharmacy are ranked among the top 100 universities globally in QS World University Rankings 2023. Even some universities like University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, University of California, Purdue University are ranked in the Top 50 QS Rankings For Psychology Subject.

Suggested: Guide to Bachelor of Pharmacy in US

Master in Pharmacy in USA is a tad bit different from several other master's degree programs taught in the country. The M Pharm course in the USA is offered as a thesis or non-thesis and research course. Let's look at the course curriculum of the course.

• Duration: A typical master's degree in Pharmacy in USA takes around two to three years to complete depending upon your selection of course and the university.
• Content: The Psychology masters degree at most universities focuses on courses such as the principle of drug discovery, development, pharmacology, macromolecular structure, drug metabolism, pharmaceutics, biopharmaceutics, pharmacokinetics etc.
• Curriculum: The masters in psychology program is of minimum 35 credits, including 19 credits of some core courses, 13 credits of research and 3 credits in elective courses.

Suggested: Spring intake universities in US

In order to get admission to Masters in Pharmacy in USA, Indian students must fulfil certain eligibility criteria, which has been discussed in the next section.

The requirements for masters in pharmacy courses in USA are somewhat similar and basic. You must have to clear these criteria for the program. Let us check out the requirements to study masters courses after b pharmacy in USA.

1. Bachelor's Degree
2. Language Test Scores
3. GRE scores
4. Student Visa and Passport

Bachelor's Degree

A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university or an equivalent degree with a minimum B grade. A bachelor's degree in areas such as biochemistry, molecular biology, chemistry, engineering, pharmacy, and pharmaceutical sciences etc is also favoured. A minimum 3.0 GPA is preferred with your overall quality of transcripts.

Language Test Scores

The language test scores are required for all international students to get into universities in the USA for Pharmacy masters admission. The minimum scores as per two popular tests are TOEFL (80-100) and IELTS (6.0-7.0). Also make sure you appear in the tests at least 6 to 8 weeks prior to the deadline to get the scores in time.

GRE Score

The GRE score is not essential for applying for MS in pharmaceutics in the USA. Most of the colleges and the degrees have their own minimum acceptable score ranges. For instance, for an MBA in pharmaceutical management in USA, a score of 650 or above is considered. Whereas for other master courses a score of 600 or more is needed. However some universities also offer admissions to MS in pharmacy in USA without GRE.

Passport and Visa

A valid passport and student visa are a must to study masters in pharmacy in USA for Indian students. Do keep in mind to apply for your student visa as early as possible before travelling to the country.

To apply for masters in pharmacy in USA for international students, you must require some sets of documents to submit in the application. These may includes

1. Official Academic Transcripts
2. Bachelor's Degree Certificate
3. Test Scorecards
4. Letter of recommendation
5. Statement of Purpose
6. Updated CV or Resume
7. Work Experience Certificate (if required)
8. Proof of Financial Resources

The admission process for different M Pharm in USA for international students is quite easy to go, and cannot look more tedious, provided you have all the essential documents. Here is a step-by-step process to follow

• Choose the type of specialisations you want to pursue and find out the best university offers it.
• Visit the official website of your selected university and gather information about entry requirements.
• Fill out the desired application form with the required details.
• Scan and upload the required documents such as transcripts, scorecards, resume, etc.
• Complete the admission form and pay the application fees.
• Appear in the university interview (if required) with the respective director and show your soft skills.
• Once you are selected, you will get a conditional letter, accept it and book a seat at the university.
• You have to pay the deposit fees to book your seat by agreeing to all terms and conditions.

Now that you know much about the requirements for master in pharmacy in USA. Let's look at some best universities for the program.

M Pharmacy Colleges in USA are known for having stellar research opportunities along with its top notch academic education. With its high tech infrastructure, hands-on experience and outstanding career opportunities, pharmacy universities in USA have stood in various disciplines. Here we have curated a list of the best universities for MS in Pharmacy in USA.

1. Purdue University
2. University of Pittsburgh
3. University of Southern California
4. North East University
5. University of South Florida

Let's discuss each university

Purdue University

Purdue University offers admissions to masters degree in clinical pharmaceutical sciences. The university provides flexibility to students in selecting coursework to meet the individual needs and career objectives. It starts with the foundation of core courses of pharmaceuticals that focuses on designing and implementing research as well as on the discipline related background related to the research.

University of Pittsburgh

The MS in pharmaceutical sciences in USA at the university trains the students to improve the health of the community through outstanding basic, clinical and translational research. The masters in pharmacy program at Pittsburgh is a one year program for students focusing on drug discovery, its development, novel dosage formulation, and drug therapy optimization. It is offered in six different areas of specialization such as pharmaceutics, pharmacology, medicinal chemistry, etc.

University of Southern California

The M Pharm program at University of South Carolina is offered in pharmaceutical sciences majors. To earn this degree students are required to complete at least 24 units of formal coursework along with 4 units of thesis. Its three courses which is of 12 units are offered by the Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences along with a 4 units degree specific course.

Northeastern University 

The pharmacy masters program at this university evaluates the critical topics of contemporary focuses in the pharmaceutics and drug discovery. The course is integrated with cross-disciplinary knowledge about drugs and their therapeutic value. The program offers courses focused on novel drug delivery systems, biopharmaceutics and pharmacokinetics, physical pharmacy and polymeric dosage, or drug metabolism.

University of South Florida

The MS in Pharmaceutical programs at the university is designed to prepare the students with the required skills needed to understand the burgeoning technological advances in science at nanoscale. This course is all about how new nanomaterials and practicals can be applied in the drug delivery, diagnosis, treatment monitoring, tissue regeneration, personalised medicines and more. The major research areas are pharmacy, pharmaceutics, pharmaceutical at nano level.

Suggested: Comprehensive guide on MS in US

When it comes to studying at top destinations, like the USA. The cost is an important factor. The M Pharm in USA fees depend upon various factors. Broadly speaking the majority of the fees will be spent on your tuition fees and the cost of living. Let's discuss each one.

Tuition Fees

The tuition fees for Pharmacy in the USA may vary based on the type of programs and the university you choose. On an average, the fees for an M Pharm in USA ranges from 22,400 USD to 73,000 USD. Whereas for pharmaceutical mba in USA it is slightly more.

Cost of Living

The living costs in the USA will depend upon your lifestyle and preferences. An estimated cost for international students varies from  1,250 USD to 2,700 USD per month. It may cover all essential amenities such as transportation, housing, food, stationary, study materials etc.

Moving on from the cost of studying, let us take a look at the scholarships for Pharmacy courses in the USA.

Studying MS in Pharmaceutical Sciences in USA or any masters degree while staying in the country seems high to you. So to cope up with the expenses you can get your hands on numerous scholarships offered by the different pharmacy universities in the USA.

Some of the scholarships for master in pharmacy in USA for international students are given below.

Suggested: Which scholarships are suitable for Indian students in US

After completing MS in Pharmaceutics in USA, you have several options. Either you can opt for your higher education in PhD in Pharmacy or to get into a M Pharmacy Jobs in USA. Talking about higher studies you can pursue PharmaD in different specialisations such as pharmaceutical sciences, pharmacology, pharmacy management etc.

The other option is to get into some jobs after MS in Pharmacy in USA. For a better understanding about the jobs here we have tabulated the job profiles along with their salaries in USA.

Suggested: Highest Paying Jobs in USA for International Students

Now that you know all about the important information regarding the best universities for MS in pharmacy in USA, ranging from its admission requirements to the job opportunities in this domain. If you have any further questions, comment down below. For personal assistance regarding the admission process of M Pharm in USA, get our Yocket Premium. This will definitely be your second best decision after choosing an MS degree in US.