College of Pharmacy Maintains Top National Ranking
Lexington, KY. (April 25, 2024) — The University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy (UKCOP) is proud to announce it has upheld its position as the sixth-ranked school of pharmacy in the United States, according to the latest U.S. News & World Report rankings for 2024. This designation places UKCOP among the top echelon of 141 accredited PharmD programs nationally.
Since the start of the U.S. News & World Report graduate school rankings 30 years ago, UKCOP has consistently ranked in the top 10 pharmacy schools, underscoring its long-standing reputation for excellence in education ("A growth industry", 1993). This continued success traces back even further, building on a rich history that saw the College ranked fifth nationally in 1973 by another journal before the U.S. News rankings were established (Margulies & Blau, 1973).
Since its previous recognition as a top ten college of pharmacy in 2020, UKCOP has reached significant milestones:
- Celebrated its sesquicentennial anniversary, commemorating 150 years of leadership and innovation in pharmacy education, practice, and research.
- Achieved reaccreditation through June 2032 by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), securing the most extended reaccreditation term possible and underscoring the College’s adherence to the highest standards of educational quality.
- Exceeded fundraising expectations within the Kentucky CAN campaign, raising $31.34 million—56% above the goal. This monumental success included establishing the University of Kentucky’s first named Deanship, enhancing the College’s leadership and legacy.
- Strengthened research capabilities and national prominence by welcoming eight new faculty members who will advance the College’s core research disciplines.
Dean R. Kip Guy expressed his pride in these achievements, stating, “Our faculty, staff, and students continue to push the boundaries of what is possible in pharmacy education and patient care. These accomplishments not only reflect our commitment to excellence but also position us uniquely to lead in an evolving healthcare landscape. Being recognized consistently as one of the top ten programs nationally is a testament to our community’s hard work and dedication.”
The ranking by U.S. News & World Report is based on peer assessments from deans and faculty members of other accredited pharmacy schools, reinforcing the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy’s reputation within the academic community.
For more information on rankings and methodology, visit U.S. News & World Report.
References
A growth industry. (Cover story). U.S. News & World Report. 1993;114(11):77. Accessed April 25, 2024.
Margulies, R. Z., & Blau, P. M. (1973). The Pecking Order of the Elite: America’s Leading Professional Schools. In Change (New Rochelle, N.Y.) (Vol. 5, Issue 9, pp. 21–27). Science and University Affairs for Educational Change, Inc.
We wish to remember and honor those who inhabited this Commonwealth before the arrival of the Europeans. Briefly occupying these lands were the Osage, Wyndott tribe, and Miami peoples. The Adena and Hopewell peoples, who are recognized by the naming of the time period in which they resided here, were here more permanently. Some of their mounds remain in the Lexington area, including at UK’s Adena Park.
In more recent years, the Cherokee occupied southeast Kentucky, the Yuchi southwest Kentucky, the Chickasaw extreme western Kentucky and the Shawnee central Kentucky including what is now the city of Lexington. The Shawnee left when colonization pushed through the Appalachian Mountains. Lower Shawnee Town ceremonial grounds are still visible in Greenup County.
We honor the first inhabitants who were here, respect their culture, and acknowledge the presence of their descendants who are here today in all walks of life including fellow pharmacists and healthcare professionals.