UK, NKU form new agreement for accelerated pharmacy pathway
LEXINGTON, Ky. (August 3, 2026) — Northern Kentucky University (NKU) and the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy (UKCOP) have signed an articulation agreement establishing a 3+4 pre-pharmacy and Pharm.D. program, creating a streamlined pathway for NKU students to earn both a bachelor’s degree and a Doctor of Pharmacy degree in seven years instead of the traditional eight.
Under the agreement, eligible NKU students in the Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences, Pharmaceutical Sciences track, or the Bachelor of Science, Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences track, can apply early to UKCOP after completing at least 72 credit hours and the required prerequisite coursework. Students who are accepted into the program will begin Pharm.D. coursework in their fourth year, with qualifying courses transferring back to NKU to fulfill the remaining requirements for their bachelor's degree.
As part of the agreement, the pre-pharmacy advisor will meet with eligible students throughout their undergraduate careers to guide them through prerequisite coursework and the application process, and partner with NKU's undergraduate advisors to support students interested in the program. Admission to UKCOP remains competitive and is not guaranteed by eligibility alone; final admission decisions rest solely with the College of Pharmacy.
"This agreement gives NKU students a clear, supported path into one of the nation's top pharmacy programs," said Jason Edwards, director of enrollment management. "For students, it means they can move into their Pharm.D. studies a full year sooner, with an advisor guiding them through every step of the process. However, this partnership is about more than individual opportunity. Kentucky, like much of the country, continues to face a shortage of pharmacists, especially in rural and underserved communities. By making the path to a Pharm.D. shorter and more accessible for NKU students, we're helping build a workforce of pharmacists our state needs."
"This partnership creates an exciting opportunity for our students to accelerate their educational journey while maintaining the strong academic foundation they developed in the sciences at NKU,” said Bethany V. Bowling, Ph.D., dean of NKU’s College of Arts & Sciences. “By providing a clear pathway to the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy, we are helping talented students pursue rewarding health care careers and meet critical workforce needs across the commonwealth."
Pharmacists remain among the most accessible health care providers in the country. Nationally, nearly 90% of Americans live within five miles of a pharmacy, and in many rural counties, pharmacies outnumber physician offices, according to the National Association of Chain Drug Stores. In rural communities, a local pharmacist is often the only readily available point of contact for care. However, that care is under strain, with data from the Rural Health Information Hub showing that the number of pharmacies in rural communities declined nearly 6% between 2018 and 2023, roughly double the rate of decline in urban areas.
Kentucky is not immune to these trends. Pharmacy leaders, including the Kentucky Pharmacists Association, have pointed to workforce shortages affecting pharmacies across the Commonwealth, from major metro areas to small towns. Nationally, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects more than 14,000 pharmacist job openings a year through 2034, a number that current pharmacy school graduation rates are not expected to meet. Programs like the NKU-UK 3+4 pathway are designed to help close that gap by giving qualified students an earlier, more direct route into pharmacy careers, thereby helping ensure Kentucky communities, urban and rural alike, continue to have access to the patient care they depend on.
The agreement will be reviewed every three years to ensure it continues to meet the needs of students and both institutions.