U.S. News & World Report ranks UW–Madison #6 Best Pharmacy School in 2026
Achieving its highest pharmacy school ranking since U.S. News & World Report began rating PharmD programs in 2000, the University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Pharmacy rose three spots to 6th in the nation in the latest 2026 rankings. UW–Madison has retained its Top 10 status continuously for the last 25 years and is among only four pharmacy schools to do so.
“The School’s reputation has been built and burnished by hard-working students, dedicated staff, a renowned faculty, and passionate, engaged alumni working together for the betterment of the pharmacy profession and the patients we serve,” says Steven Swanson, dean of the UW–Madison School of Pharmacy.
One aspect that distinguishes the UW–Madison School of Pharmacy is the track record of outstanding student outcomes.
- NAPLEX: Consistently performing among the best in the nation on the North American Licensure Examination, UW PharmD graduates earned a first-time pass rate of 94% in 2025, the fourth highest score in the country among pharmacy schools with class sizes of more than 100.
- ASHP Match Rate: UW PharmD students are selected for competitive residencies at impressive rates. In 2024 and 2025, 100% of students seeking residencies matched with prestigious programs in nearly every region of the U.S.
- Employment: Our graduates are in high demand with 99% of UW PharmD students landing placement within 90 days of graduation in 2025.
Underlying these student outcomes is the innovative PharmD curriculum and experiential learning that includes one of the top pharmacy global health programs. Led by award-winning faculty, UW pharmacy professors have won national recognition, ranging from the Rufus A. Lyman Award from the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) and Wiederholt Prize by the American Pharmacists Association to inducting members into national associations such as the American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP), American Pharmacists Association’s Academy of Pharmaceutical Research and Science (APhA-APRS), American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE), American Association of Pharmaceutical Sciences (AAPS), and American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).
“Our rise to the sixth spot in the nation is a testament to the exceptional academic environment we’ve built here at UW–Madison,” says Mel de Villiers, vice dean and associate dean for academic affairs at the UW–Madison School of Pharmacy. “The high caliber of our students is consistently proven through their residency match rates and top-tier national board scores. This success is made possible by our exceptional faculty and the dedicated preceptors who lead our innovative experiential learning and global health programs. It is their collective commitment to excellence that ensures our graduates are among the most sought-after pharmacists in the country.”
In addition to top student outcomes, an innovative curriculum, and leading pharmacy faculty and staff, the School is distinctive for its research output as a R1 institution. The School of Pharmacy has grown into a research powerhouse with over $19 million in sponsored research and faculty who hold nearly 100 patents and patent applications. With 11 research centers spanning medicinal chemistry to psychoactive substances housed at Rennebohm Hall, the School advances pharmaceutical science, translational research, clinical and educational practice, and social and administrative sciences.
“This historic milestone ranking is an exciting national recognition of the excellence of our PharmD program and reflects our special community who are passionately committed to ensuring our legacy as a preeminent pharmacy school.”
—Steve Swanson, dean of the UW–Madison School of Pharmacy
While rankings are just one measure (U.S. News & World Report ranks pharmacy schools based on peer assessment methodology), the School has built a reputation as one of the best places in the nation to become a pharmacist.
“This historic milestone ranking is an exciting national recognition of the excellence of our PharmD program and reflects our special community who are passionately committed to ensuring our legacy as a preeminent pharmacy school,” says Swanson.
