Ohio State College of Pharmacy maintains No. 4 national ranking
The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy remains the top-ranked pharmacy program in Ohio and fourth nationally in the latest U.S. News & World Report rankings released April 7, extending its more than decade-long run as a top 10 program nationwide. The rankings are based exclusively on peer assessments from deans, administrators and faculty at fully accredited pharmacy programs.
Since the previous ranking, the college has launched a new strategic plan under Dean Deanna Kroetz, PhD, BS Pharm ’85, focused on empowering learners, advancing research and innovation, transforming patient care, improving community health and ensuring long-term sustainability.
“This recognition speaks to the collective excellence of our faculty, staff and students and their shared commitment to advancing health for all,” Dean Kroetz said. “Our strategic plan has helped position the college to prepare the next generation of pharmacy leaders and to empower scientists, practitioners and educators to make a meaningful impact on human health.”
Student outcomes remain strong, with the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) Class of 2025 exceeding national licensure pass rate averages and recent graduates securing residency placements across 18 states and a wide variety of practice settings. Enrollment continues to grow in the college’s Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences (BSPS) program, with 150 new first-year students in AU25.
The college expanded access to pharmacy education through its Pathways and Recruitment Opportunities for Pharmacy Exploration and Learning (PROPEL) program, supported by a $1.15 million McKesson Foundation grant, along with new partnerships serving rural and urban communities. It launched a Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Preferred Pathway with Columbus State Community College to broaden affordable transfer options in a growing sector, while 15 PharmD students completed the inaugural Rural Appalachian Pharmacy Service-Learning course, including a service trip to Athens in October.
The college’s impact extends to community outreach and practice. In FY25, faculty, staff and students served nearly 9,600 patients and completed more than 3,800 service hours. The Partner for Promotion program marked 20 years of advancing sustainable pharmacy services. The college also received national recognition with selection as an AACP Academia Community Transformation Community Pharmacy Center of Excellence and participation in the National Academy of Medicine’s Action Collaborative on Combating Substance Use and Opioid Crises pilot project.
Research remains a defining strength of the college, with $28.6M in active research dollars, top 10 national AACP ranking for NIH funding in FFY24, 137 peer-reviewed publications in FY25 and continued support for the nation’s only NCI-funded P01 led by a pharmacy investigator. From 2020 to 2025, 96% of PhD graduates secured placement within three months, and 34 PhD students received fellowship support in FY26.
“The College of Pharmacy is at the forefront of pharmacy practice and drug discovery,” Dean Kroetz said. “As part of one of the nation’s most comprehensive health science campuses—anchored by a world-renowned academic medical center and strengthened by robust community and industry partnerships in Ohio and around the world—we are uniquely positioned to deliver exceptional academic programs and conduct groundbreaking research that shapes patient care and health outcomes globally.”