IntroductionFirst-Generation College Students (FGCS) comprise a large demographic of health professions programs. Although FGCS in pharmacy education have been studied, robust data describing FGCS who pursue a Doctor of Pharmacy degree is sparse. The objective of this study was to describe the FGCS applicant population within pharmacy education from 2017 to 2023, and to compare them to continuing-generation college student (CGCS) applicants. MethodsWe conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study using national PharmD application data from Pharmacy College Application Service (PharmCAS) between 2017 and 2023. ResultsOf the 83,446 applicants, 26% identified as a FGCS with analysis demonstrating the breadth of differences between FGCS and CGCS. FGCS were found to be older, more likely of minority status, and more likely to come from disadvantaged backgrounds. FGCS also submitted a greater number of applications per student, were less likely to matriculate, and were more likely to be denied by at least one program. DiscussionImportant differences between FGCS and CGCS in the pharmacy school applicant pool were identified. These differences highlight the importance of studying recruitment strategies and support programs for FGCS pharmacy applicants, strategies to increase completed applications, and decrease melt in FGCS once they are accepted into programs.