About Us

A Tradition of Excellence, A Legacy of Caring

Mercer University College of Pharmacy stands as the top-ranked private pharmacy school in the Southeast, as recognized by U.S. News & World Report for the past 20 years. This distinction reflects our unwavering commitment to academic excellence, student-centered learning, and compassionate healthcare leadership.

We offer two prestigious doctoral degrees: the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) and the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Pharmaceutical Sciences, along with a Master of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences (MS). Our student body includes future pharmacists and researchers from across the United States and around the world. They study alongside a distinguished faculty of expert clinicians and renowned scientists. The College is also home to four specialized research, teaching, and learning centers that fuel discovery and innovation in pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences.

A Legacy of Excellence in Pharmaceutical Education

Southern College of Pharmacy located in the Broad Building in Atlanta.

Founded in 1903 as the Southern College of Pharmacy, Mercer’s College of Pharmacy has built a national reputation for pioneering change in pharmaceutical education. After operating independently for decades, the College joined Mercer University in 1959 and became an integral part of the University’s health sciences mission.

After several relocations across Atlanta, the College settled in its current home on Mercer’s Cecil B. Day Campus in 1991. This move positioned the College in close proximity to leading healthcare institutions, supporting its mission of collaboration, research, and clinical excellence.

In 1981, Mercer became the first pharmacy school in the Southeast, and the fifth in the nation, to offer the PharmD as its sole professional degree. The College expanded again in 1988, launching Mercer’s first PhD program in pharmacology, pharmaceutics, toxicology, or medicinal chemistry. In 1993, the College introduced a dual PharmD/PhD program with an additional focus in experimental pharmacotherapeutics for high-achieving students pursuing academic and research careers.

Mercer College of Pharmacy's first graduating class
The College of Pharmacy’s first graduating class (1903-’04)

A Strategic Focus on Pharmacy Education

In 2006, the College became the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, reflecting its national growth and the addition of new programs, including the Physician Assistant Program (2008), Georgia’s first Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Residency (2010), and the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program (2010).

To strengthen its commitment to pharmaceutical education, Mercer realigned its programs in 2013. The College of Pharmacy returned to its core focus, while newly established departments in Physical Therapy, Physician Assistant Studies, and Public Health formed the College of Health Professions.

Today, Mercer University College of Pharmacy continues to lead in education, research, and service, preparing the next generation of pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists to improve health outcomes locally and globally.