What schools offer pharmacy in the Philippines?

Dozens of CHED-recognized colleges and universities offer BS Pharmacy across the country, concentrated in Metro Manila (UST, CEU, UP Manila, Adamson, FEU, UE, and more), with strong programs also in Baguio, Cavite, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Cebu, Dumaguete, Iloilo, and Davao. See the full region-by-region list in this guide.

Which universities have a pharmacy course near Metro Manila?

University of Santo Tomas, Centro Escolar University, University of the Philippines Manila, Adamson University, Far Eastern University, University of the East, Manila Central University, Arellano University, National University, Emilio Aguinaldo College, Philippine Women's University, and Lyceum of the Philippines University all offer BS Pharmacy within Metro Manila.

Where can I study pharmacy outside Metro Manila?

Outside Metro Manila, BS Pharmacy is offered at Saint Louis University in Baguio, De La Salle Medical and Health Sciences Institute in Dasmariñas, Angeles University Foundation in Pampanga, and Lyceum-Northwestern University in Dagupan for Luzon, plus multiple schools in Cebu, Dumaguete, Iloilo, and Davao. See the regional breakdown in this guide.

Are there pharmacy schools in Mindanao?

Yes. Davao City has several BS Pharmacy programs, including the University of the Immaculate Conception, University of Mindanao, San Pedro College, and Davao Doctors College. Students from across Mindanao commonly study in Davao or travel to Cebu, which also offers a CHED-approved Doctor of Pharmacy program.

Do state universities offer BS Pharmacy for free?

Yes, at qualifying state universities and colleges under RA 10931 (free tuition law), pharmacy students pay no tuition, though miscellaneous and laboratory fees still apply. University of the Philippines Manila and West Visayas State University are two well-known examples, though admission is competitive.

What is the difference between this list and a "best pharmacy schools" ranking?

This guide is a directory of where you can study pharmacy, organized by location. For a ranked list based on board exam passing rates, tuition, and program strengths, see our best pharmacy schools guides for the Philippines overall, Manila, and Cebu specifically.

Can I transfer between pharmacy schools in the Philippines?

Usually yes, subject to the receiving school's evaluation of your completed units, available slots, and entrance requirements. Transfer policies vary by school, so contact the registrar's office of your target school directly before assuming your credits will carry over.

Schools Offering Pharmacy in the Philippines (By Region)

TL;DR: BS Pharmacy is offered at dozens of CHED-recognized schools across the Philippines — heavily concentrated in Metro Manila (UST, CEU, UP Manila, Adamson, FEU, and more), with additional strong clusters in Baguio, Cavite, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Cebu, Dumaguete, Iloilo, and Davao. This guide lists them by region so you can find where you can actually enroll, not just which one ranks highest.

Introduction

"Where can I study pharmacy?" is a different question from "which pharmacy school is best?" — and most guides only answer the second one. If you're set on becoming a pharmacist but need a school near home, within your budget, or in a specific region, you need a directory, not just a top-10 ranking.

This guide lists CHED-recognized colleges and universities offering BS Pharmacy across Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao, based on official program pages, CHED recognition, and Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) board exam records. If you want rankings by board exam passing rate and tuition instead, see our best pharmacy schools in the Philippines, best pharmacy schools in Manila, and best pharmacy schools in Cebu guides — this post exists to complement those, not repeat them.

Disclaimer: School offerings, campuses, and program availability change year to year. Always confirm current BS Pharmacy admission with the school directly before applying.

Where Are Pharmacy Schools Located in the Philippines?

Pharmacy programs cluster around three regions — Metro Manila, Metro Cebu, and Davao — with additional standalone programs in Baguio, Cavite, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Dumaguete, and Iloilo. If you don't live near one of these clusters, expect to relocate or commute for the program.

Region	Notable Cities	Approx. Number of Schools in This Guide
Luzon (Metro Manila)	Manila, Caloocan	12
Luzon (outside Metro Manila)	Baguio, Dasmariñas, Angeles City, Dagupan, Batac	5
Visayas	Cebu City, Dumaguete, Iloilo City	6
Mindanao	Davao City	4

Which Schools Offer Pharmacy in Metro Manila?

Metro Manila has the largest concentration of BS Pharmacy programs in the country, which is why most students who can relocate end up studying here. These are the CHED-recognized schools offering BS Pharmacy within Metro Manila:

School	City	Notes
University of Santo Tomas	Manila	Oldest pharmacy faculty in the Philippines (est. 1871)
Centro Escolar University	Manila / Makati	Pioneer of the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) in the Philippines
University of the Philippines Manila	Manila	Free tuition under RA 10931; 5-year program
Adamson University	Manila	CHED Center of Development for pharmacy
Far Eastern University	Manila	Offers a ladderized Diploma in Pharmacy Technology option
University of the East	Manila	Budget-friendly private option
Manila Central University	Caloocan	Community pharmacy-focused curriculum
Arellano University	Manila	Multiple-campus network
National University	Manila	Also offers allied health programs
Emilio Aguinaldo College	Manila	Allied health sciences focus
Philippine Women's University	Manila	Dedicated School of Pharmacy
Lyceum of the Philippines University	Manila	Intramuros campus

If you're weighing these against each other, our best pharmacy schools in Manila guide ranks them by board exam performance and cost.

Which Schools Offer Pharmacy Outside Metro Manila (Luzon)?

If you're not based in Manila, several established programs exist across Luzon, giving you a closer option depending on your province:

School	City	Notes
Saint Louis University	Baguio	Top pharmacy program in Northern Luzon
De La Salle Medical and Health Sciences Institute	Dasmariñas, Cavite	Research-focused, tied to DLSHSI hospital
Angeles University Foundation	Angeles City, Pampanga	Serves Central Luzon students
Lyceum-Northwestern University	Dagupan, Pangasinan	College of Pharmacy serves Region I

Mariano Marcos State University in Batac, Ilocos Norte also offers BS Pharmacy and led all schools nationally in the November 2025 board exam with a 91.38% passing rate (53 of 58 examinees), according to results published by The Summit Express. Confirm current admission details directly with MMSU, since its profile isn't yet listed in our school directory under that specific campus.

Which Schools Offer Pharmacy in the Visayas?

The Visayas region, led by Cebu, has some of the strongest pharmacy programs outside Luzon — strong enough that the University of San Carlos was named the Philippines' top-performing pharmacy school nationally in 2025.

School	City	Notes
University of San Carlos	Cebu City	#1 pharmacy school in the Philippines (2025 PhLE); CHED-approved PharmD
Southwestern University PHINMA	Cebu City	One of the oldest pharmacy colleges in the region
University of Southern Philippines Foundation	Cebu City	More affordable private option
Silliman University	Dumaguete	Serves Central/Eastern Visayas
West Visayas State University	Iloilo City	State university; free tuition under RA 10931

Cebu Doctors' University in Mandaue City also offers a CHED-recognized College of Pharmacy (first BS Pharmacy graduates in 2008), but it doesn't yet have a profile in our school directory — check its official course page directly if you're considering it. For a ranked comparison of the Cebu options above, see our best pharmacy schools in Cebu guide.

Which Schools Offer Pharmacy in Mindanao?

Davao City is the main pharmacy education hub in Mindanao, giving students from across the island a regional option instead of having to travel to Cebu or Manila.

School	City	Notes
University of the Immaculate Conception	Davao City	Also offers a post-baccalaureate PharmD
University of Mindanao	Davao City	Large multi-college network
San Pedro College	Davao City	Pharmacy department under the School of Allied Health Sciences
Davao Doctors College	Davao City	Program started 2014, under College of Allied Health Sciences

If you're outside Davao, Cebu is the next-closest option with an established program and the region's only CHED-approved Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) track.

Free vs. Paid: A Quick Cost-Tier Breakdown

Before you pick a school by location alone, it's worth knowing which options are free or heavily subsidized versus fully private:

Free/subsidized (state universities under RA 10931): University of the Philippines Manila, West Visayas State University, Mariano Marcos State University. Admission is competitive (entrance exams like UPCAT), but tuition is covered for qualified Filipino students.
Mid-range private schools: Adamson University, University of the East, Manila Central University, Southwestern University PHINMA, University of Southern Philippines Foundation, and most regional schools outside Metro Manila fall in this tier.
Premium private schools: University of Santo Tomas and De La Salle Medical and Health Sciences Institute sit at the higher end of private tuition. See our pharmacy school tuition guide for exact per-semester ranges.

How to Choose Where to Study Pharmacy

Start With Location, Then Narrow by Fit

If relocating isn't an option, your region already narrows the list significantly — use the tables above to see what's realistically nearby before comparing further.

Check CHED Recognition and Recent Board Results

Every school in this guide holds CHED recognition for its BS Pharmacy program, but recent board exam performance still varies year to year. Check PRC's published top-performing schools list after each Pharmacist Licensure Examination cycle at prc.gov.ph.

Decide If You Want a Path to Clinical Pharmacy or PharmD

Not every school listed here offers an advanced clinical pharmacy or PharmD track — currently only CEU, UST, Adamson, USC, and the University of the Immaculate Conception have CHED-approved programs at that level. If a PharmD is part of your long-term plan, confirm this directly with the school before enrolling in the standard 4-year track.

Check Admission Requirements Early

Most schools require a high school diploma (K-12 or ALS equivalent), an entrance exam, and a science-heavy Senior High School background — STEM is the most common preferred strand, though some schools admit other strands with additional prerequisite coursework. State universities like UP Manila require the UPCAT specifically, so plan your application timeline around that exam schedule if a subsidized slot is your goal.

Compare the Full Cost, Not Just Tuition

Lab fees, supplies, uniforms, and board review costs add up regardless of school. Our pharmacy school tuition guide breaks down the full 4-year cost by tier.

Visit Before You Commit

Lab facilities, hospital tie-ups for internships, and faculty availability vary even among schools with similar reputations. A campus visit (or a virtual tour, if offered) tells you more than any list can.

Ready to find the right school? Browse pharmacy schools or compare tuition and reviews across hundreds of Philippine schools on SchoolFinderPH.

Schools Offering Pharmacy in the Philippines (Full List by Region)