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Frequently Asked Questions

What is your accreditation status?

Harding University’s Doctor of Pharmacy program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education, 190 South LaSalle Street, Suite 3000, Chicago, IL 60603-3446, 312-664-3575; FAX 866-228-2631, web site www.acpe-accredit.org.

What is the on-time graduation rate for the most recent graduating class?

The Harding University College of Pharmacy offers a 3.5 year professional doctor of pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree pathway. The first cohort to complete this revised curriculum will graduate in December 2024. The following table provides a summary of on-time graduation rates for the last five graduating classes:

Class of: % On-Time Graduation % Cohort Graduating*

2019

88 (42/48)

94 (45/48)

2020

80 (47/59)

88 (52/59)

2021

80 (44/55)

96 (53/55)

2022

74 (26/35)

86 (30/35)

2023

85 (33/39)§

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% on-time graduation = # of graduates/# admitted X 100; *total graduate percentage per cohort; §Students still progressing 

What are the most recent year's NAPLEX (North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination) results for the first-time takers?

Thirty-six Harding alumni took the NAPLEX for the first time in 2022. The first-time pass rate for these individuals was 81%. The 2022 national average first-time pass rate for all graduates who tested between April 1, 2022, and March 31, 2023, was 80%. The NAPLEX pass rates for the past three years are reported on the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy website. 

What are some measures of student achievement for the most recent graduating class?

45 % of the class of 2023 obtained post-doctoral residency/fellowship positions upon graduation. This is up from 22% in 2022. 

The class of 2023 entered the workforce well prepared and ready for pharmacy practice at a time when healthcare providers are most in need. Prior to graduation, members of this class received the JR-COSTEP and the SR-COSTEP awards from the US Public Health Service, a scholarship from the Arkansas Medical, Denatal, and Pharmaceutical Association, A NABP scholarship, the United States Public Health Service Award, and was nominated Student of the Year by hospital pharmacists at the state's AAHP Fall Seminar. 8% of the class graduated with a dual degree in business (MBA) or Information Systems (Master of Science in Information Systems) MSIS. 

92% of graduates from the class of 2022 obtained positions in pharmacy. Since 2017, an average of 19% of students per cohort have obtained PGY1 residency positions upon graduation and 3% per cohort have obtained PGY2 residency/fellowship positions. Alumni have obtained high-ranking pharmacy positions at institutions such as Johns Hopkins, Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, Houston Methodist, Baylor Scott and White, Saint Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City, and Huntington Hospital in southern California. Locally, alumni serve the patients of Arkansas through innovative clinical pharmacy positions at community and hospital pharmacies throughout the state and within ambulatory care clinics such as ARcare.

Did you know that Pharmacy is part of the Center for Health Sciences?

As part of the Center for Health Sciences, Pharmacy is aligned with the department of Allied Health and Nursing. Interprofessional experiences at Harding are important key elements for student success.

When was the first class admitted?

The inaugural class was seated in the fall of 2008.

What degree is offered?

The College offers the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) as its single professional degree.

How long is the Pharm.D. program?

Our Pharm.D. four-year program transitioned to a 3 1/2 year program in June 2021. In preparation, students will have completed approximately 2 1/2 years of preprofessional courses and one year of professional experience or APPE (Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience).

Where can I complete my preprofessional courses?

Students may complete their preprofessional course requirements at Harding University or at any U.S. regionally accredited college or university. Be sure to review the HUCOP admissions information Web page for the list of required preprofessional courses. If you have any questions about the equivalency of any prepharmacy course to those required by the College, please contact the College via e-mail at pharmacy@harding.edu.

What is the tuition for pharmacy students?

Anticipated costs of attendance for the 2023-2024 academic year are as follows:

Summer Fall/Spring
First professional year* $1,079/credit hour $1,079/hour
Second professional year $1,079/credit hour $1,079/credit hour
Third professional year $8,090 $16,180/semester
Fourth professional year $8,090 $16,180/semester
*In Summer 2022 the program switched to a per hour tuition rate rather than a semester block rate. Students who began the program prior to Summer 2022 will continue with block pricing. The 23-24 rates are displayed above. Tuition for P3-P4 students taking fewer than 7 hours per summer term or 12 hours per fall/spring term is $1,079/credit hour.

  • Program fee $1,000 per semester (fall and spring) $500/summer
  • Books: $600 - $1,000 per semester (fall and spring)
  • Travel to practice experience sites: approximately $200 per semester P1 - P3 years; approximately $500 per practice experience during P4 year
  • University Technology Fee $324/per term
  • Graduation fee $315
  • Other student costs may include: laptop computer, room and board, health insurance, professional liability insurance, costs associated with clinical rotations such as food, lodging (if required) and any other requirements of the clinical site (e.g., criminal background check and/or drug screening); all of these are approximate costs and are subject to change

Note: Tuition and fees are subject to change based on the recommendation and approval of the Board of Trustees. Any new tuition and fee schedule is effective at the beginning of the summer term.

For specific financial aid information, contact the Student Financial Services Office at 501-279-4081.

Will I be required to find my own clinical sites or will the College locate these for me?

No student is required to find his or her own clinical sites. However, if a student knows of clinical sites near his or her home, there is a process in place to petition the Assistant Dean for Experiential Education for site verification and approval. The student should begin the petition process well in advance of the anticipated practice experience in order to allow ample time for appropriate site investigation and preceptor training. Not all potential sites identified by students will be deemed acceptable by the Assistant Dean for Experiential Education and approval is at the discretion of the Dean.

Where will I complete my clinical experiences?

The Pharm.D. curriculum includes clinical experiences in all professional years (P1 – P4). The early, or introductory, pharmacy practice experiences are located within a 1-hour driving radius of the HUCOP campus in Searcy, Arkansas. The advanced pharmacy practice experiences comprising the professional year may require relocation of the student to sites outside the Searcy area. Students may also petition the Assistant Dean for Experiential Education to complete selected experiences at other locations outside the HUCOP network of affiliated clinical sites. Additionally, students will have opportunities to participate in international mission-related clinical experiences.

Is there University housing available for pharmacy students?

Yes, students have access to Harding University housing facilities.

Will I be required to interview at the College before I will be considered for admission?

Yes, the College requires an on-site (or virtual) interview prior to admission to the Pharm.D. program. All expenses related to travel for the interview are the student’s responsibility, although low-cost accommodations may be available on campus.

What other health science programs does Harding University offer?

The College of Nursing offers the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree, a Master's Entry into Professional Nursing (MSN) degree for initial licensure and a graduate program for nurses seeking various tracks to become a Family Nurse Practitioner. 

The College of Allied Health offers a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Sciences and Disorders-Clinical (Speech-Language Pathology/Audiology), a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Sciences and Disorders-Non-Clinical, a Master of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology, a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (MS), and a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT).

What is the class size in the College of Pharmacy?

The College has approximately 120 students enrolled in the program. Class sizes may vary. The current target is 30 students per class. 

Contact Us

College of Pharmacy

501-279-5528

pharmacy@harding.edu

Location: Farrar Center for Health Sciences