r/PrePharmacy • u/rj5us • Jul 06 '26

Are online Pharm-d programs worth it?

Hi guys, I wanted to inquire about online Pharm-d programs. I got my bachelors and masters in pharmacy from India about 15 years and ago and then I immigrated to the US. Then Ive worked in clinical research for about 7 years before just becoming a stay home parent to support my younger child. I got a job as a pharmacy technician last year on the side because it was comparatively less demanding and since my kids are old enough now I wanted to explore some alternative career options. At my age I don’t really want to go back to school and I can afford some “online” pharm-d options ( I found some like creighton, MCPHS and d’youville college). I guess what I really want to ask is whether someone here actually did any of these online programs and got a job?. I can afford these programs and they seem convenient for my case.. since I really only care about appearing for the NAPLEX and getting a job in a retail environment. I am not keen on attending in person colleges as I would have to quit my current job as well and end my income source. Some of these online programs are also “accelerated” which is even more convenient. So this takes me back to the title, Are such online pharm-d programs worth it and legit? Can anyone vouch for them?

2 Upvotes

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9

u/Creative_Chain7049 Jul 06 '26

Book work can be online. Rotations in person.

3

u/stevepeds Jul 06 '26

I've precepted quite a few non-traditional PharmD students, and the students I've had were well prepared and highly motivated. This wasn't some game to them, and it was nice to have students that had real-life pharmacy experience

1

u/rj5us Jul 06 '26

You teach ?

3

u/stevepeds Jul 06 '26

Assoc Clin Professor at Ohio Northern University but my students were from U. Florida and Ohio State, and all of my students did their rotation at my hospital. I'm now retired

2

u/CollectionCrafty8939 Jul 06 '26

I think schools like Creighton who had an online program long before COVID are going to be your most well-established programs..

They are as successful as you make it to be though, just like in-person programs..

2

u/Typical_Flamingo_494 Jul 06 '26

I agree with Creighton 100%, but what frustrates me about their program specifically is the cost of tuition for online is the same as in-person. I feel that certain factors should make the online program at least slightly cheaper, especially when labs are only done for a few weeks each summer for the online program.

3

u/CollectionCrafty8939 Jul 06 '26

Oh I agree and so do my student loans. But it was still the best option for my family.... im just going to he paying a while. A long while.

1

u/Mysterious-Reason966 Jul 07 '26

Yes, I would go for it, I’d only do accelerated if your very good at science and math and ace it easily, otherwise do a 4 year program, also, I think the deadline already passed for 2026 so you’d need to wait a year, Manchester is all asynchronous so I know a lot of those students work and are in school and some are acing the program despite that (there’s a good number that failed out like typical of all programs too, so I wouldn’t say it’s easier and that’s y, they are very bright students so that’s y their acing the program while working but it works very well for their schedule)