Non-Profit Private
Accredited · New England Commission on Higher Education
Boston, Massachusetts
85.2% Acceptance Rate
MCPHS University — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
85.2%Acceptance Rate
3.41Avg GPA
1216Avg SAT
28Avg ACT
$58,975Annual Cost
$125,557Grad Salary
28.2%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
85.2%
Avg GPA
3.41
Avg SAT
1216
Avg ACT
28
Selectivity
Inclusive
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
New England Commission on Higher Education
SAT Middle 50%
1080–1340
ACT Middle 50%
23–33
Need-Based Aid
28.2% receive Pell
MCPHS University (Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences) is a specialized private institution dedicated to preparing students for careers in the healthcare and life sciences industries. With a rigorous, clinical-focused curriculum, the university provides world-class education that ensures graduates are ready to lead in clinical, research, and professional settings.
MCPHS University Acceptance Rate
Admission at MCPHS University is inclusive by design. 85.2% of applicants who meet basic eligibility are accepted.
What to Expect
- Eligibility First: A high school diploma or GED typically clears the main bar.
- Plan Ahead for Placement: Placement tests can shape which courses you start in. They are worth preparing for.
Selectivity at a Glance
Inclusive
Selectivity scale: Inclusive — 85.2% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.41 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.21 – 3.40
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 2.96
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
MCPHS University Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
MCPHS University follows a Rolling Admissions policy, meaning applications are reviewed as they arrive and there is no single fixed deadline, though the priority deadline of November 1 is recommended for the best chances of admission and financial aid.
Key Admission Dates
⏳ 82 days left — Early Action
Rolling Admissions — Apply Anytime
MCPHS University reviews applications continuously throughout the year. Seats and scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so applying early gives you a significant advantage for both admission and financial aid.
Early Action
November 1
💡 The scholarship deadline (December 1, 2026) often falls before the regular admission deadline. Submit your application and FAFSA early to be considered for maximum aid.
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
MCPHS University GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at MCPHS University is 3.41. That makes admissions here competitive, but not extremely selective. Most admitted students carry a mix of A's and B's.
In the 3.11–3.41 range, a high SAT or ACT score still carries real weight.
Note the scale: this figure reflects an unweighted 4.0 GPA. Add AP or IB coursework and the equivalent weighted GPA usually lands around 3.61–3.81.MCPHS University GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Selective, with solid academic performance as the expectation.
Recommended Strategy: A clear, defined strength in one activity or research area matters more than breadth.
This range is a rough map. Where you land determines what else needs to carry weight in your application.:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.41 – 4.00
Target/Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.21 – 3.40
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
3.01 – 3.20
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 3.00
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- MCPHS operates real patient-facing clinical centers as part of its educational model, including the Eye and Vision Center, Forsyth Dental Hygiene Clinic, NESA Acupuncture Treatment Center, and Balance Movement and Wellness Center
- Pharmacy admission is not one process: Direct Entry (from high school), 5-Year Accelerated PharmD, Year I/II Pre-Professional Transfer (Aug. 15 deadline, 2.50 GPA preferred), and Professional Entry via PharmCAS (June 1 deadline, bachelor's-level prerequisites) are distinct tracks
- Multi-campus institution - Boston, Worcester (MA), Manchester (NH), and online - so "which campus" is a real, program-specific decision, not just a location preference
- Test-optional for first-year admission; supplemental essay asks applicants to connect their specific healthcare-career choice to why MCPHS specifically, with no fixed word count published across sources
- Rigor Over Raw Number: Course rigor is read alongside the number itself. A 3.8 with a demanding schedule can beat a 4.0 without one.
- Trajectory Matters: Grades that climb toward graduation tend to matter more than a flat average. The trajectory tells its own story.
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Check Your Admission Chances at MCPHS University
Admission Chance Predictor
Built from MCPHS University's own verified admissions data — adjust the sliders below
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Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
✅ Verified Data: Institutional records for 2026.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
MCPHS University Test Requirements
Scores aren't just a formality at MCPHS University. Landing within or above the 2026 admitted class's middle 50% keeps you fully competitive, even where submission is optional.
Can I Get Into MCPHS University Without SAT or ACT?
MCPHS University considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt. Most applicants test 2–3 times.
MCPHS University Average SAT Score: 1216
Admitted students at MCPHS University average a 1216 SAT (out of 1600).
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1216 — Slightly Competitive
A 1216 average tracks near the middle of the national distribution.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1340 SAT or 33 ACT) to stand out. Below average? MCPHS University allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
Scored under 1080? A retake is worth it at MCPHS University. Two or three sittings is standard for competitive applicants, and there's no cap on how many times you can test.
SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Math | 620 | 540 | 700 |
| SAT Reading | 590 | 540 | 640 |
| SAT Composite | 1216 | 1080 | 1340 |
A score under 1080 puts you in the lower quarter of admits; 1340+ puts you ahead of three-quarters of the admitted class. (These percentiles mark where a given share of the admitted class scored at or below.)
View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1200
Can I get into MCPHS University with a 1350 SAT?
At 1350, your SAT is squarely in MCPHS University's favor. That said, admissions staff read the full file. GPA, activities, and essays still carry real weight even with a strong score in hand.
MCPHS University ACT Requirements
MCPHS University's admitted students average an ACT of 28.
ACT Competitiveness
ACT 28 — Competitive
An average of 28 is a respectable, above-average national benchmark.
ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Math | 28 | 23 | 33 |
| ACT English | 27 | 22 | 31 |
| ACT Composite | 28 | 23 | 33 |
Can I get into MCPHS University with a 33 ACT?
At 33, you're in the top quarter of MCPHS University's admitted class by ACT score. That's a real advantage, but admissions still reads GPA, essays, and activities alongside it.
The ACT's four sections, English, Math, Reading, and Science, are each scored independently on a 1–36 scale, and admissions staff do notice a lopsided breakdown. If one section trails the others significantly, that's worth addressing before you apply, particularly for STEM programs where Science carries extra weight.
Beyond the number itself, MCPHS University weighs your transcript rigor, activities, recommendations, and essays just as heavily. The ACT opens the door, and the rest of your file decides what happens next.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for MCPHS University
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
MCPHS University is accessible to students who show core competency. Focus on proving readiness for college-level work and locking in financial aid.
Answer the "why this healthcare career + why MCPHS" supplement as two connected questions, not one
MCPHS's supplemental essay explicitly asks applicants to explain both their reasons for choosing a specific healthcare career and why they're applying to MCPHS specifically - treat these as two threads that must connect (e.g., a specific clinical interest tied to one of MCPHS's actual patient-facing centers, like the Eye and Vision Center, Forsyth Dental Hygiene Clinic, or NESA Acupuncture Treatment Center), not two separate paragraphs, since a generic "I want to help people" answer fails to address the "why MCPHS" half of the prompt at all.
Choose the Direct Entry PharmD path deliberately over the 5-Year Accelerated Pathway
High school applicants aiming for pharmacy should understand MCPHS offers both a Direct Entry PharmD (a longer, straight-from-high-school professional track) and a separate 5-Year Accelerated PharmD Pathway - these are structurally different admission routes with different timelines, and picking the wrong one at the application stage means restructuring years of coursework later. State the specific pathway by name in application materials rather than saying "I want to study pharmacy," since MCPHS's own site treats them as distinct programs with separate admission pages.
If transferring in in a Pre-Professional entry, hit the August 15 deadline with a 2.50+ GPA
Students who've completed some college credit but haven't finished all pre-required classes should apply through the Year I/II Pre-Professional Transfer Admission track, which has a hard August 15 deadline and a preferred minimum overall college GPA of 2.50 - a meaningfully lower bar than the Professional Entry track's prerequisite-heavy PharmCAS application, making it a faster entry point for students who want to complete prerequisites at MCPHS itself rather than transferring in with them already done.
Post-bachelor's applicants: complete the exact prerequisite list before PharmCAS, not after
The Professional Entry track (June 1 PharmCAS deadline, for students with a bachelor's degree or completed prerequisites) requires a specific, named set of courses - Anatomy & Physiology, Biology I and II, Calculus I, General Chemistry I & II, Organic Chemistry I & II, Microbiology, and Statistics - each requiring a grade of C or higher and completed no more than ten years before matriculation. Map every one of these against a transcript before submitting PharmCAS, since a missing or "too old" prerequisite (e.g., a chemistry course taken 11 years ago) can derail an otherwise complete application discovered only after the June 1 deadline has passed.
Expert Insight:
The most common mistake is applicants treating "MCPHS pharmacy" as one undifferentiated application when it is actually multiple distinct admission tracks - Direct Entry, 5-Year Accelerated, Year I/II Pre-Professional Transfer (Aug. 15 deadline), and Professional Entry via PharmCAS (June 1 deadline, bachelor's-level prerequisites) - each with its own deadline, required documents, and GPA expectations; submitting the wrong application type, or assuming rolling review means deadlines don't matter, can push a start date back a full year even though MCPHS's overall acceptance rate is comparatively high.
MCPHS University Profile
Full Name
MCPHS University
City
Boston
State
Massachusetts
ZIP Code
02115-5896
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
New England Commission on Higher Education (NECHE)
Is a MCPHS University Degree Worth It?
Whether MCPHS University is worth it depends less on its reputation and more on your program choice, financial aid package, and career goals. Here's the data to weigh it against.
Admitted students' families report a median household income around $72,600, and graduates see a 3.04% unemployment rate.
How much does a degree from MCPHS University Cost?
Listed tuition runs $58,975/year at MCPHS University. Factor in Pell and federal grant aid, and most students land typically much lower.
At MCPHS University, 28.2% receive a Pell Grant and 65.8% carry federal loans. Filing FAFSA early and naming MCPHS University on it improves your shot at both.
How much does a MCPHS University Graduate earn?
Ten years out from enrollment, MCPHS University graduates report a median income of $125,557, about 209% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than MCPHS University. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham-Southern College | Birmingham, AL | 1197 | 24 |
| Samford University | Birmingham, AL | 1203 | 26 |
| University of Arkansas | Fayetteville, AR | 1174 | 25 |
| Harding University | Searcy, AR | 1187 | 25 |
| Dominican University of California | San Rafael, CA | 1194 | 26 |
| Eastern Connecticut State University | Willimantic, CT | 1200 | NA |
| University of New Haven | West Haven, CT | 1190 | NA |
| Howard University | Washington, DC | 1205 | 25 |
| Nova Southeastern University | Fort Lauderdale, FL | 1182 | 25 |
| Savannah College of Art and Design | Savannah, GA | 1178 | 25 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as MCPHS University. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Mobile | Mobile, AL | 1220 | 24 |
| John Brown University | Siloam Springs, AR | 1222 | 26 |
| Ouachita Baptist University | Arkadelphia, AR | 1212 | 25 |
| California Lutheran University | Thousand Oaks, CA | 1224 | 26 |
| University of Hartford | West Hartford, CT | 1207 | 29 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than MCPHS University. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Alabama at Birmingham | Birmingham, AL | 1251 | 26 |
| The University of Alabama | Tuscaloosa, AL | 1287 | 28 |
| University of Arizona | Tucson, AZ | 1261 | 26 |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott | Prescott, AZ | 1256 | 27 |
| Biola University | La Mirada, CA | 1258 | 27 |
Degree Programs at MCPHS University
Bachelor Degree Programs
Masters Degree Programs
Doctoral Degree Programs
Post-baccalaureate Certificate Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About MCPHS University Admissions
Graduates of MCPHS University earn a high median salary of $125,557/year, varying by field.
Tuition at MCPHS University runs high, at roughly $58,975+/year, so financial aid planning matters.
28.2% of MCPHS University students get a Pell Grant. Your odds depend mostly on household income, and filing FAFSA early still helps maximize what you're offered.
MCPHS University's acceptance rate is 85.2%, comparatively higher than most selective universities. Admission is more attainable here.
The average GPA of admitted MCPHS University students is 3.41, reflecting a competitive applicant pool.
There's no strict cutoff, but a GPA at or above 3.11 puts you in the standard applicant pool at MCPHS University. Below that, your essays and recommendations need to work harder to provide context.
A GPA of 3.01 or below makes admission tougher at MCPHS University, but strong test scores, activities, and essays, plus AP/IB coursework, can still keep you in contention.
MCPHS University weighs the SAT heavily. Scoring above 1216, and within the 1080–1340 range, keeps you competitive.
MCPHS University's deadline is November 1. Rolling Admissions applies too, so earlier is always better.
For priority financial aid consideration, get your FAFSA in before December 1, 2026. That's MCPHS University's scholarship priority date.
Transferring in is a well-trodden path here. Line up your transcripts, recommendations, and a strong personal statement before applying.
The biggest levers are academic performance, a clear extracurricular focus, and essays that stand out, plus a solid test score where the school considers one.
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