UAMS College of Pharmacy
The survey was sent to all 51 graduating students and closed on May 31, 2026; the response rate was 94%.
21 of 29 (72%) non-residency-bound graduates received an employment offer by the close of the survey (average offers received = 2). 19 respondents accepted a residency or fellowship position.
20 of 29 (69%) of non-residency-bound graduates accepted a position by the close of the survey.
- Overall, 17 graduates who accepted positions will practice in Arkansas, with the majority settling in central Arkansas. Excluding residency and fellowship positions, 3 will practice pharmacy outside of Arkansas, see Table 3.
- 15 graduates (excluding residency and fellowship) who accepted a position did so in a community setting (chains, independent, mass-market, specialty pharmacies, consultant, etc.), see Table 2.
- The average full-time salary for graduates (excluding residency and fellowship and with full-time defined as ≥32 hours per week) is $115,215 per year (n=16).
- The average hourly wage for graduates (excluding residency and fellowship) with full-time employment in any area of pharmacy practice is $60 (n=16), see Table 2.
- Among graduates entering residencies, the average annual stipend reported is approximately $51,500 (range $44,000 to $64,000).
Most frequently offered benefits include paid vacation, retirement plans, health insurance, paid holidays.
90% of respondents have student loans with an average of $148,000 and totals ranging from $30,000 to $480,000.
Approximately 6% of respondents plan to own a pharmacy in the future.
- Plan to own, 3 of 48
- Do not plan to own, 32 of 48
- Undecided, 13 of 48
Table 1. Position Information
Non-Residency Bound Graduates
| Accepted a position prior to graduation (excluding residency) | Number | Percent (out of 65) |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | 20 | 69% |
| No | 1 | 3% |
| No offer received | 8 | 28% |
| Require moving to a different city or state for a position | Number | Percent (out of 38) |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | 2 | 10% |
| No | 18 | 90% |
| Worked with employer prior to accepting a position* | Number | Percent (out of 38) |
|---|---|---|
| Yes – I worked for them prior to pharmacy school | 4 | 20% |
| Yes – I worked for them as an intern | 8 | 40% |
| Yes – I worked with them during one of my rotations | 6 | 30% |
| No – I have no previous working experience with my employer | 8 | 40% |
Table 2. Salary Information by Position Type
Non-Residency Bound Graduates*
| Position environment | Full-time accepted offers | Avg full-time hourly rate (min, max) | Avg hrs/week (min, max) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chain Community Pharmacy (e.g. CVS, Express Rx, Kroger, Walgreens, Walmart) | 8 | $64 ($60, $65) | 34 (32, 40) |
| Independent Community Pharmacy (e.g. Bryant Family, Kavanaugh, Park West) | 5 | $57 ($55, $60) | 39 (36, 40) |
| Hospital Pharmacy (e.g. Baptist, CHI St. Vincent, UAMS) | 5 | $56 ($55, $57) | 40 (40, 40) |
| Nuclear Pharmacy (e.g. Cardinal, PharmaLogic, Jubilant, RLS) | 0 | NA | NA |
| Industry (e.g. Medical Science Liaison, Clinical Lead) | 0 | NA | NA |
| Other† (Consultant, Specialty Pharmacies) | 2 | $58 ($58, $58) | 40 (40, 40) |
†Other: long-term care pharmacy (1), specialty pharmacy (1).
Table 3. Position Location Information
Non-Residency Bound Graduates
| Location | # Respondents (n=38) |
|---|---|
| Central Arkansas (Little Rock area) | 13 |
| North Central Arkansas (Mountain Home area) | 0 |
| South Central Arkansas (El Dorado area) | 0 |
| West Central Arkansas (Russellville area) | 0 |
| East/East Central Arkansas (Helena/Forrest City area) | 0 |
| Northeast Arkansas (Jonesboro area) | 0 |
| Southeast Arkansas (Monticello area) | 1 |
| West Arkansas (Fort Smith area) | 0 |
| Northwest Arkansas (Fayetteville area) | 2 |
| Southwest Arkansas (Texarkana/Hope area) | 1 |
| Out of state | 3 |
| Out of country | 0 |