The Pharmacy Student Population: Applications Received 2009-10, Degrees Conferred 2009-10, Fall 2010 Enrollments

Abstract

INTRODUCTION This report presents data that describe the 2009-10 pharmacy application pool, degrees conferred in 2009-10, and fall 2010 pharmacy program enrollments. Data for this report were requested from the one hundred and twenty (120) U.S. colleges and schools of pharmacy recognized by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) using five separate survey instruments. There were previously two professional education programs at U.S. colleges and schools of pharmacy: one leading to a baccalaureate in pharmacy, and the other leading to the doctor of pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree. However, June 30, 2005 marked the official expiration of the ACPE standards to the baccalaureate in pharmacy (B.S. Pharmacy) degree programs in accordance with the transition to the doctor of pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree as the sole professional degree program in the U.S. Some colleges and schools of pharmacy conferred degrees in the B.S. Pharmacy program until 2004-05. For the purpose of this report, students in doctor of pharmacy programs are categorized under Pharm.D.1 when the program leads to a doctor of pharmacy degree conferred as the first professional degree. Students who have already received a baccalaureate in pharmacy and are enrolled in a doctor of pharmacy degree program are categorized under Pharm.D.2. The following definitions refer to the race/ethnicity groups as used in this report. White, black or African American, and Hispanic or Latino refer to students of the respective race/ethnicity who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the U.S. or its territories. The Asian, native Hawaiian, or other Pacific Islander group includes students who are Chinese, Filipino, Hawaiian, Korean, Vietnamese, Japanese, Asian Indian, Guamanian, Samoan, or Pacific Islanders who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the U.S. or its territories. The American Indian or Alaska native classification includes Native Americans, Eskimos, and Aleuts who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the U.S. or its territories. Students listed under Other are those who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the U.S. or its territories, but for whom race/ ethnicity is unknown or are students of two or more races/ethnicities. Included in Foreign are all students who are foreign, nonpermanent residents of the U.S., regardless of race/ethnicity. 2009-10 APPLICATION POOL The 2009-10 Application Pool Survey was conducted online in October 2010, with an announcement and request for participation sent to the dean at each of the 120 colleges and schools of pharmacy in the U.S. recognized by ACPE. After follow-up correspondence and telephone calls, one hundred and twenty (120) colleges and schools (100.0 percent) submitted the requested information. The Pharmacy College Application Service (PharmCAS) provided application data for the 74 full-participating colleges and schools of pharmacy. Included in the application pool are students who applied for admission and submitted all required application materials between September 2009 and August 2010 for the entering class of fall 2010. Numbers reported represent the number of applications, not applicants, and may represent multiple applications submitted by individual applicants. During the period September 2009 through August 2010, the 120 reporting institutions received 111,744 applications for admission. The Medical University of South Carolina and the University of South Carolina merged to become the South Carolina College of Pharmacy and only accepted applications to the South Carolina College of Pharmacy. The Medical University of South Carolina is still in the process of phasing out its program. Therefore, 119 of the 120 reporting institutions received applications. When compared with entering class enrollment data for fall 2010 at these institutions, the resultant ratio was 7.7 applications received for every one entering student enrolled. …