Ferris State University’s College of Pharmacy is in the top tier of graduate pharmacy programs in the nation, based on new rankings from U.S. News and World Report.

Nationally, Ferris State’s program ranked 60^th in a list of 141 schools and colleges offering Doctor of Pharmacy degrees accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education. That’s up eight places from the prior ranking.

The U. S. News and World Report said rankings reflect peer assessments of academic quality and research.

Ferris State is in the top three programs in the nation in the Carnegie Class Doctoral/Professional Universities category and is ranked No. 1 among public Doctoral/Professional Universities that offer only the professional degree.

This recognition also reflects significant achievements in research funding from the National Science Foundation and National Institutes of Health, and advanced practice initiatives.

“Rankings continue to affirm what we’ve long known and celebrated – that Ferris State’s College of Pharmacy is one of the very best in the nation,” Dean Stephen Durst said. “We’re proud of the work of our faculty and staff, but also of the thousands of graduates who are serving their communities on the cutting edge of health care.”

Ferris State’s Pharmacy programs includes more than 1,700 hours of field experience, and coursework with a heavy emphasis on hands-on learning. Students spend the first and second academic years on the Big Rapids campus, and the third year on Grand Rapids’ Medical Mile. The final year of the four-year program utilizes clinical sites through both the upper and lower peninsulas.

Pharmacists are increasingly in demand. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the field is expected to grow by 3 percent through 2032, with about 13,400 openings for pharmacists projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or retire.

Information about the College of Pharmacy and how to apply can be found at ferris.edu/pharmacy.