The UCSF School of Pharmacy and its PharmD program have again earned top honors, ranking No. 1 in the West and No. 2 nationwide in the U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 list of best pharmacy schools.

Released every four years and based on peer assessment surveys, the rankings place the school among the nation’s most respected PharmD programs out of more than 140 pharmacy schools.

Redesigned beginning with the entering class of 2018, the school’s PharmD curriculum integrates foundational science with hands-on clinical experience. Students are trained to approach problems through both a scientific and patient-focused lens, preparing them for a wide range of careers across health care, industry, and research. The program is further strengthened by extensive experiential learning opportunities and partnerships.
 
“Our curriculum integrates rigorous science with real-world clinical experience, ensuring that our graduates are prepared to lead in a rapidly evolving health care landscape,” said Dean Kathy Giacomini, PhD, BSPharm. “We’re preparing students not just to practice pharmacy, but to innovate and lead.”

The school also offers an innovative master’s degree in AI and Computational Drug Discovery and Development, along with joint-degree options that expand students’ training. In addition, the school administers five PhD programs in the quantitative biosciences through the UCSF Graduate Division. 

Research excellence remains a defining strength. The UCSF School of Pharmacy has consistently led the nation’s pharmacy schools in National Institutes of Health funding, a reflection of the trust placed in its faculty scientists and the school’s sustained leadership in drug discovery, bioengineering, pharmacokinetics, computational biology and translational research. In 2025, faculty secured $45.7 million in funding to advance science and translate discoveries into more precise and effective therapeutics.