Many future pharmacists begin their search close to home, assuming nearby programs will naturally be the most affordable or accessible. The KU School of Pharmacy challenges that assumption for out-of-state students.

 

 

For students from states with higher tuition costs, looking beyond home can open the door to unexpected opportunities. At the KU School of Pharmacy, out-of-state students often find a program that feels both affordable and inviting. It's an option that is both financially manageable and personally welcoming, even for those who start their search hundreds of miles away.

For Chicago native Stacey Manahan, exploring programs outside of Illinois opened up opportunities she hadn’t initially considered. Her experience offers a look at what out-of-state students may discover when they explore the KU School of Pharmacy.

Discovering the KU School of Pharmacy

Stacey first heard about KU through people she trusted. She learned about the university from both her cousin and a close family friend who had attended. Their experiences made her curious enough to take a closer look at the KU School of Pharmacy and KU’s Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) program. 

“I knew I was interested in pharmacy school, and KU offered a 6-year program that came with a diverse college experience,” said Stacey. 

At KU, that six-year option is commonly structured as a 2+4 pathway, with students completing pre-pharmacy coursework before entering the four-year professional Pharm.D. curriculum. While the Pharm.D. itself is fixed, the pre-pharmacy phase allows flexibility, and many students spend additional time completing bachelor’s degrees, honors coursework, or other academic experiences.

For Stacey, the 2+4 structure allowed her to begin building toward her Pharm.D. early in her college experience.

She already knew what she wanted from a pharmacy program. She hoped to find a school that would prepare her for many different paths and give her confidence as she entered the profession. When she explored KU further, she found a program that matched those goals.

“When choosing a pharmacy program, the most important factors to me were being part of a program that would give me a well-rounded pharmacy education and expose me to different avenues for pharmacists to consider for my future career. I knew I wanted a 6-year program that would make me well equipped for my pharmacy career and a competitive candidate for future jobs.” 

— Stacey Manahan

A Pleasant Surprise About Cost

A major moment in Stacey’s search was realizing that KU could fit her family’s budget. She learned that KU offers a reduced out-of-state tuition rate for Pharm.D. students. Once she reviewed scholarships and financial aid, the total cost became comparable to her in-state options — something she hadn’t expected. 

Many out of state students have a similar experience once they begin comparing scholarships, grants, and total tuition across programs. Because Pharm.D. tuition is structured differently than most KU programs, understanding total cost often requires reviewing pharmacy-specific tuition and scholarship information together.

For Stacey, this support made a meaningful difference. “KU was more affordable for me than staying in state for pharmacy school,” she shares. “I was awarded scholarships and grants every year that made the cost of tuition comparable to pharmacy schools in Illinois.”

Stacey’s experience isn’t uncommon, especially for students from states with higher pharmacy tuition. But in her case, understanding both KU’s out-of-state tuition structure for Pharm.D. students and the available scholarship support helped clarify what the program could look like financially.

Once these factors are considered together, KU becomes a financially realistic choice for many families. Stacey’s experience is one example of how that can play out.

Feeling Welcomed from the Very Beginning

Cost played a role in Stacey’s decision, but the people she met early on mattered just as much. She remembers that the community felt warm, encouraging, and genuinely invested in student success.

“What stood out to me the most about the KU pharmacy community was that everyone in the KU pharmacy community is passionate about their work, and wants you to learn and succeed. Even as a visiting high school student, faculty made time to meet with me and discuss their program.”
— Stacey Manahan

That first impression stayed with her once she arrived on campus. On her very first day, she was paired with a faculty mentor who checked in with her regularly and supported her throughout her time in the program.

“I was assigned a mentor on my first day of pharmacy school, Dr. Judy Wu, who met with me regularly to check in on my progress in school and talked about career paths to consider after graduation,” said Stacey. “She and other mentors made an effort to involve me in their research and presentations and have kept in touch after graduation. I always felt supported academically, personally, and professionally at any point during school.”

For out of state students who might worry about feeling lost on a large campus, stories like Stacey’s can offer reassurance. Support at KU is personal, consistent, and built into the culture of the school.

Academic Preparation that Builds Confidence

Stacey’s experience in the classroom and in her clinical rotations helped her feel confident as she moved into residency and eventually into her career. KU incorporates exam style assessments early in the curriculum so that students are familiar with the expectations long before their licensure exams.

“The KU pharmacy program prepared me well for my licensure exams and for my residencies. They gave NAPLEX and MPJE style exams early into the curriculum, so we were familiar with it by the time we took our licensure exams,” she says.

Stacey explains that this real-world experience aligned closely with her interests and helped her prepare for what came next.

“KU utilized several simulation-based learning activities that strengthened our communication skills with patients and other providers. The Experiential Education team also tailored my APPE rotations [clinical rotations] to my interests that gave me real world experience before applying to residencies.”

A Community that Becomes Family

Leaving home for a professional program can feel intimidating, but Stacey quickly found a community that felt like home. She formed close friendships right away, and those relationships continued long after graduation.

“One of the best parts of my time at KU were the friends that I made,” said Stacey. “The people I sat next to on my first day are still my best friends. You will spend so much time with your classmates in class and in club activities that you get to know each other quickly.”

She adds that the connections she made at KU followed her throughout her career. “I still keep in touch with everyone even after graduating and we have gone onto residencies and jobs in different states. Pharmacy is a small world, and it starts with the friends you make in school.”

Stacey’s Advice for Students Exploring Programs Beyond Their Home State

Stacey’s time at KU shaped her both personally and professionally, and she encourages students from out of state to consider looking beyond their local programs.

“Going to KU has made all the difference in my pharmacy journey. Going out of state gave me the opportunity to learn and train in an environment I otherwise would not have been exposed to that gave me a unique perspective entering my pharmacy career. I was able to meet new people and expand my professional network, all while having fun outside of school in Lawrence with my best friends.”

Her experience shows that choosing an out of state program can feel less intimidating once you meet the people, understand the financial support available, and imagine yourself in a community where you can grow.