Wayne State named among Top 10 pharmacy schools for NAPLEX pass rates

Becker’s Hospital Review, a must-read publication for health care leaders, recently placed the Wayne State University Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in the #10 spot on its list of “Top 20 pharmacy schools by NAPLEX pass rates.”

Pharmacy Class of 2022 Convocation grads and faculty
Wayne State Pharmacy Class of 2022 Convocation

According to the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP), 92% of WSU Applebaum students who took the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX) in 2022 passed, putting Wayne State’s Doctor of Pharmacy program in the top 10 of the 144 ranked pharmacy schools. The national pass rate was 78%.

“This class of students experienced many changes in their lives and learning during the COVID-19 emergency. To see them succeed in NAPLEX, as well as achieve outstanding employment and residency placements, says so much,” said Associate Dean for Pharmacy Susan L. Davis. “We are so proud of their strength and talent as well as the ability of our program to provide consistently excellent pharmacy education.”

NABP, which published the NAPLEX passing rates report at the end of January 2023, aims to advance the science behind exams and inform the practice of pharmacy. Data is compiled in conjunction with partner organizations and used to better understand new or evolving issues in the areas of pharmacy education, workforce demographic changes, trends in continuing pharmacy education and health care delivery systems.

“I am very proud of our students’ success, which is derived from their hard work,” said WSU Applebaum Dean Brian Cummings. “Their success on the licensing exam demonstrates that WSU Applebaum is training some of the top pharmacists in the nation. Further, it’s a testament to the dedication of our faculty, staff and support personnel to student success and quality of instruction and experiential training.”


About us

The Doctor of Pharmacy program at Wayne State University is a four-year curriculum in the heart of Detroit. Approximately 100 students are enrolled in each year of the program. WSU Applebaum information meetings for prospective students take place at 6 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month. The application process for the Doctor of Pharmacy program begins each July.

An anchor in urban health care

The Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences is built on more than 100 years of tradition and innovation in the heart of Detroit. We have grown deep roots in our city, harnessing its powerhouse hospital systems and community service organizations as vibrant, real-world training grounds for students, with an ongoing focus on social justice in health care. And our research at all levels – from undergraduates to veteran faculty members – translates into creative solutions for healthier communities.

Wayne State University is a premier urban research institution offering approximately 350 academic programs through 13 schools and colleges to nearly 24,000 students.

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