Medical College of Wisconsin Pharmacy School Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. The MCW School of Pharmacy has a network of more than 500 preceptors who train and mentor students at various practice sites across the state of Wisconsin. The Office of Experiential Education meets individually with each pharmacy student several times throughout the three-year PharmD program to understand their personal career goals and find clinical rotation opportunities that align.

In the 2024-2025 academic year, the MCW School of Pharmacy launched the Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (APPE) Rural Health Track. During their third and final year of the curriculum, students can complete all seven of their six-week APPE rotations at rural sites in Central or Northeast Wisconsin. This program allows students who wish to return to their hometowns or practice in a smaller community setting to build professional connections while they’re still in school.

Students in their third and final year can elect to complete one out-of-state APPE rotation. This allows students that are not from Wisconsin to return home for a rotation. Alternatively, students who may want to begin to network in a niche area of pharmacy – or those who want to pursue careers in other states – have one six-week rotation to begin building professional connections.

Yes, the Medical College of Wisconsin’s Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) curriculum was granted full accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE). The MCW School of Pharmacy has demonstrated, to the satisfaction of ACPE, that its PharmD program complies with stringent accreditation standards and has graduated its first class of students in May 2020.

Read more about MCW’s accreditation.

The Medical College of Wisconsin School of Pharmacy is located on a premier academic medical center, the Milwaukee Regional Medical Center. MCW pharmacy students can take the skywalk from their classroom to Froedtert Hospital, a Level I trauma center. During clinical rotations, students learn from pharmacists in specialized areas who see complex patient cases and may also be their professors. Thirty-two percent of School of Pharmacy faculty are practicing pharmacists in the Froedtert & MCW system.

MCW is also connected to Children’s Wisconsin via skywalk. Students on clinical rotations at Children’s perform calculations for body weight or body surface area dosing, assist with total parenteral nutrition and more.

A short drive from the MCW campus, the School of Pharmacy also has a close partnership with the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center. Students gain experience in the VA’s unique practice setting, where pharmacists have a scope of practice allowing them to independently prescribe medications.

The Medical College of Wisconsin is one of only 18 pharmacy schools in the country that offers an accelerated, three-year PharmD program.

We also offer an innovative Undergraduate Dual Degree program, where students who attend one of our 13 partner undergraduate institutions can earn their bachelor’s degree and Doctor of Pharmacy degree in six years, instead of the traditional eight. Visit our Undergraduate Dual Degree Program page to learn how you can save both time and money as you start your pharmacy career.

Please visit our Requirements page to view eligibility requirements and a list of prerequisite courses.

The MCW School of Pharmacy uses a pass/fail grading system in order to encourage collaboration, not competition, between students. We have found that this format has increased well-being and motivation, as well as decreased competition, anxiety and stress.

The MCW School of Pharmacy’s Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program is a 3-year accelerated program that runs year-round. The schedule for the first two years includes in-person classes Monday through Thursday, with weekly clinical rotations every Friday (beginning in the second quarter). In the third and final year of the curriculum, students are immersed in the practice setting full time, completing four required and three elective advanced experiential rotations.

The MCW School of Pharmacy’s average NAPLEX first-time pass rate across four cohorts (2020-2023) is 81%. Starting in academic year 2024-25, the MCW School of Pharmacy has introduced a new year-long NAPLEX Preparation course to support student success. Completion of the course is a graduation requirement.

The average class size at the MCW School of Pharmacy is 42 students per cohort. We are proud to offer a supportive, approachable and innovative learning environment. Small class sizes allow students to interact closely with renowned faculty and build connections with their peers.

Across the five Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) classes that the MCW School of Pharmacy has graduated (2020-2024), the average pharmacy residency match rate is 84%. Overall, our postgraduate training match rates have surpassed the national average. The PharmD Class of 2024 achieved a 96% overall postgraduate training match rate. More than 60% of students pursuing residencies or fellowships are continuing their training in Wisconsin.

The MCW School of Pharmacy offers four academic concentration options, allowing students to customize their Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) education to align with their career interests. Academic concentrations align elective courses, clinical rotations and co-curricular activities with a particular pharmacy career path.

The four concentrations are:

• Research
• Population Health
• Specialized Pharmacy Practice
• Entrepreneurship & Leadership 

These academic concentrations were added to the curriculum during the 2020-2021 academic year, with goal of enhancing student knowledge. Students pursuing an academic concentration will increase their experience in a specialized pharmacy field and increase their visibility in a competitive market for jobs and postgraduate residencies.

Current students value our small class sizes, which help build camaraderie with classmates and professors. “Your professors know you, your face and your name. You’re not just a number in an auditorium,” one student said.

Our three-year accelerated curriculum is important to students as well. “I’m a nontraditional student who is older, so it was easier to convince myself to pursue this program because it was only three years,” said one student.

Other students pointed to the partnership with Froedtert and Children’s Wisconsin, which are located on the same campus as the Medical College of Wisconsin. Through experiential education opportunities that begin your first year, you’ll have the opportunity to reinforce skills in a variety of real-life practice settings. In your third year, our Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences take you out of the classroom and immerse you in the practice setting full time, providing exposure to various pharmacy specialties and guiding you to your future career path.

While there are a few apartment complexes in Wauwatosa that are within walking distance to campus, a high percentage of pharmacy students live in Milwaukee, Brookfield, West Allis, New Berlin, Menomonee Falls, Waukesha or other nearby communities. The MCW campus has plenty of parking available (both surface lot and parking structure options) for students, faculty and staff.

To learn more, view the Pharmacy School Housing Guide.

For incoming students without MCW credentials, contact Kendra Kalscheur, Program Manager for Student Affairs and Enrollment, for information on housing options and roommate resources.

For current students with MCW credentials, please email mcwhousing@mcw.edu. A link will be emailed to you to log in with your MCW credentials to view current housing listings.

For more information, please visit the MCW Student Housing Resources page.

The MCW School of Pharmacy has a Wellness Committee that organizes opportunities for self-care, meditation and team-building activities with classmates. The Medical College of Wisconsin also hosts wellness events for students, hosting therapy dogs, wellness walks and study break events. MCW has a relationship with the Urban Ecology Center, where students can rent kayaks and take cooking or fitness classes. Events are published in a monthly MCW Wellness Calendar.

Current students say they enjoy using the Tonkens Gym, which is on-campus, free, and open 24/7. MCW students also have access to attend two free classes each month at the Wisconsin Athletic Club, located just down the road from campus.

“There are lots of resources because everyone recognizes that being a student is stressful. There’s a system that’s meant to help you,” says one student.

Current students say that working a pharmacy-related job helps them. “A lot of pharmacists who are managers will help quiz you and give you tips and tricks,” says one student.

“There’s no one right way to find the balance; you adapt and find your own way,” says another current student.

For more information, visit the MCW Student Health & Wellness Resources page.

MCW pharmacy students contribute to higher quality care in the Milwaukee community through hands-on patient care experiences that start in the first quarter of our PharmD program. Volunteer opportunities include: 

• Saturday Clinic for the Uninsured: MCW’s medical and pharmacy students run the primary care clinic under faculty supervision. They utilize an interprofessional model of care delivery that strives to understand, serve and promote the health and wellness needs of uninsured patients in Milwaukee while simultaneously educating future healthcare professionals.
• Bread of Healing Clinic: a no-cost medical clinic designed to serve people who experience barriers to accessing ongoing health care
• MCW Neighborhood Partners: providing health screenings to community members at food pantries and early childhood education centers
• Opioid Harm Reduction / Naloxone Administration Training 
• Building a Culture of Health with Hmong Communities

The Pharmacy Student Alliance (PSA) is the student government and programming body for MCW pharmacy students. MCW has student chapters of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy (AACP), the American Pharmacists Association (APhA), the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, and the Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin (PSW).

There are a number of committees students can participate in, focused on diversity, research, women’s advocacy and wellness. Additionally, students can join clubs (i.e. writing club, book club, plant club) or start their own club based on their own interests.

Please visit our Student Life page for more information.

If you have questions about the MCW PharmD program, the student experience, or living in Milwaukee, you can chat online with our current students! You can chat online with one of our Student Ambassadors for an inside look at the Medical College of Wisconsin, both in and out of the classroom. Visit our Chat With Us page.

Across the country, pharmacies have scaled back on their hours because there aren’t enough available pharmacists. As a result, many pharmacies are offering sign-on bonuses to attract new employees.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 2.4% employment growth for pharmacists between 2021 and 2031. In that time frame, a projected 7,700 jobs should be created.

Another trend is that consumers want to know more about the medications they’re taking. “Back in the day when people were given a medication, they just took it. Now, people want to know the value of the medication and if there are any concerns with it. So that creates more interaction with the pharmacist than we ever had before,” says founding dean and professor George E. MacKinnon III, PhD, MS, RPh, FASHP, FNAP.

As the U.S. baby boomer generation gets older, overall medication use across the country will increase. This is because prescription drug use increases with age. More pharmacists are needed to assist with this increase in medication use.

In addition to knowledge built in the classroom, MCW students have access to world-class research opportunities. As part of an academic medical center campus, students can take the skywalk to Froedtert Hospital, a Level I trauma center, or to Children’s Wisconsin, which was recognized as a 2024-2025 Best Children’s Hospital by U.S. News & World Report.

The MCW School of Pharmacy also offers a robust experiential education curriculum, with weekly clinical rotations beginning in the second quarter. By the end of their second year, students have completed more than double the amount of clinical rotation hours required by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE). For Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (APPE) rotations in their third year, MCW pharmacy students complete an additional six-week rotation compared to what is required by ACPE.

Starting clinical rotations early, through weekly Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences (IPPEs) that begin in the second quarter, is unique. Most PharmD programs do not offer electives until the final APPE year. The early clinical rotation structure affords MCW pharmacy students the opportunity to experiment in specialized areas of pharmacy practice to learn what they may or may not want to pursue in their careers.

Yes, pharmacists have a Doctor of Pharmacy degree. The PharmD degree signifies that pharmacists have a unique skillset centered on medications, their appropriate use, the monitoring of medications for their appropriate use, the outcomes associated with their use, and avoiding side effects or toxicologic issues with their use. Pharmacists are medication specialists that are an essential part of every healthcare team. Wisconsin is one of eight states that recognizes pharmacists as primary care providers, meaning their scope of practice allows them to see patients and prescribe medications.

According to U.S. News & World Report, pharmacists made a median salary of $132,750 in 2022, ranking the profession at #15 in Best-Paying Jobs and #15 in Best Healthcare Jobs.

Usually, it takes four years to earn a Doctor of Pharmacy degree. However, the Medical College of Wisconsin offers an accelerated PharmD program where you can graduate in three years. Out of 141 pharmacy schools in the U.S., the MCW School of Pharmacy is one of only 18 that offer an accelerated curriculum.

The MCW School of Pharmacy also offers an innovative Undergraduate Dual Degree program that allows students to earn their bachelor’s degree and Doctor of Pharmacy degree in six years, instead of the traditional eight. Students who attend one of our 13 partner undergraduate institutions are eligible. Visit our Undergraduate Dual Degree Program page to learn how you can save both time and money as you start your pharmacy career.

The cost of tuition is the same for in-state, out-of-state and international students. For a list of updated tuition rates, please visit the Pharmacy School Tuition & Fees Information page.

The cost of tuition is the same for in-state, out-of-state and international students. For a list of updated tuition rates, please visit the Pharmacy School Tuition & Fees Information page.

Each incoming student at the MCW School of Pharmacy is eligible to receive up to $10,000 in scholarships.

For more information, visit our Tuition and Financing Your Education page.

“I like to think of pharmacy as the engineering degree of the health sciences, and the reason: there are so many different career paths,” says founding dean and professor George E. MacKinnon III, PhD, MS, RPh, FASHP, FNAP. “The community pharmacy and hospital are our two most common practice environments. But we also have pharmacists that practice in long-term care, psychiatric or even correctional facility settings. You can work in industry, where medications are developed and tested to meet FDA guidelines.”

“Yes, I think a pharmacy career is worthwhile. It provides the opportunity to have an income that will support you and take care of all your needs. And like many other disciplines post-pandemic, there are also virtual options that have never been presented before, including telehealth and telepharmacy,” says Dr. MacKinnon.

“In terms of the future of the industry, with developments in personalized medicine and personalized care, developments in pharmacogenomics will continue to grow. The door is open in terms of opportunities.”

Read more about preparing for a career in pharmacy.

As healthcare professionals, pharmacists need to have a desire to help people. There are many different pharmacy settings – from ambulatory care to community pharmacist to psychiatric pharmacist. One requirement, no matter what career pathway you choose, is a passion for service to others.

Pharmacists must have a desire to continue to learn. Every year, there are new products released, new ways of understanding how to treat patients, new clinical guidelines, and more. Pharmacists are always learning. They are inquisitive and interested in learning why the body responds to medications in the way that it does.

For a list of prerequisites specific to the MCW School of Pharmacy, please visit our Requirements page.

In Wisconsin, as in several other states, the profession of pharmacy is changing rapidly. Drivers of this change include:

An increase in the aging population
The elderly population—age 65 and over—will increase rapidly in five-year intervals, from 777,500 in 2010 to 1,535,500 in 2040, nearly doubling in 30 years. The projected rise in the population aged 65 or older is anticipated to result in demands for pharmacy services especially in intermediate care, assisted living and group homes.

A reduction of pharmacists in the workforce due to retirements
There is a projected demand for pharmacists resulting from an anticipated surge in retiring pharmacists. In 2012, the Wisconsin Hospital Association reported that more than 20 percent of pharmacists in Wisconsin are aged 55 or older, and are expected to retire in the next 10-15 years.

Continued demand for primary care and health services in rural and urban areas
Similar to the primary care physician shortage, rural and low-income segments of Wisconsin’s health care system, and other regions within the state, are experiencing greater problems in meeting the demand for practitioners.

Increased demand for new types of pharmacists
There is a need for pharmacists who are trained to provide expanded services, including, medication monitoring, immunizations, and health screenings, as well as chronic disease management, acute ambulatory care and specialty pharmacy care.

The MCW Pharmacy School is preparing the next generation of pharmacists to practice at the top of their licenses, fully prepared for the new demands and opportunities of a rapidly-evolving profession.

Graduates of MCW’s Pharmacy School will be:

• Key providers in improving care for chronic disease and acute care
• Strategists in helping to ensure medical adherence
• Partners with patients to help ensure health and wellness across their lifespan
• Leaders in providing preventive care by increasing accessibility in the community to health screenings, immunizations and other important services
• Leaders in specialty pharmacy and public health areas, such as pediatrics, geriatrics and psychiatry

Pharmacists are in an excellent position to offset the primary care physician shortage, due to their expertise in medication management and patient counseling. In addition to nurse practitioners and physician assistants, training pharmacists to practice at the top of their licenses is a logical way to extend the reach of primary care services. Our decades of experience and expertise in training physicians and medical researchers positions MCW optimally to make a positive contribution in addressing the need for pharmacists across Wisconsin.

In April 2014, Wisconsin signed Act 294 into law, enabling “a pharmacist to perform any patient care service delegated to a pharmacist by a physician.” The legislation is changing the face of pharmacy by recognizing the expanded role pharmacists can serve in controlling healthcare costs. That is why MCW’s Pharmacy School implements an innovative and interprofessional curriculum that is designed to train the next generation of pharmacists to practice at the top of their licenses.