Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

About Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

ACPHS began in 1881 as Albany College of Pharmacy and adopted its present name in 2008 as its academic portfolio expanded. It remains a specialized institution: nearly all current programs connect to pharmacy, health, laboratory science, behavioral science, public health, or biomedical research. This concentration can create a cohesive environment for students with established health or science interests, but applicants seeking a broad selection of unrelated humanities, engineering, business, or arts majors should compare other institutions carefully. The college offers undergraduate, master’s, and professional pharmacy education. Its facilities and experiential work include the Stack Family Center for Biopharmaceutical Education and Training, research opportunities, community health initiatives, and a nonprofit student-operated pharmacy. The PharmD curriculum also incorporates required clinical rotations. These resources make applied learning central to the institution’s identity rather than an optional supplement. A material institutional change is underway. ACPHS and Russell Sage College reported in June 2026 that a change-in-ownership step had been completed, but that the final merger remained subject to federal approval anticipated in summer 2027. They stated that both colleges would continue operating separately with their own programs, people, and identities in the interim. MSCHE still lists ACPHS as an accredited institution. Students entering in 2026 or 2027 should obtain written confirmation about the institution that will award their degree, program accreditation, tuition commitments, records, and any transition arrangements.

Undergraduate applicants may use either the Common Application or the ACPHS application. The published cycle uses a non-binding Early Action deadline of November 15 and a Regular Decision priority deadline of February 1; applications received after February 1 are considered on a rolling, space-available basis. The spring application deadline is December 15, and the enrollment deadline for Early Action and Regular Decision applicants is May 1. Applicants should confirm that these dates apply to their intended entry term before submitting. High-school preparation requirements vary by program. Current tables generally call for four years of English, three or four years of mathematics, and three years of science, with chemistry, physics, pre-calculus, or particular social-science work required or recommended depending on the major. Pharmacy Early Assurance expects four years each of English and mathematics, including pre-calculus, plus three years of science including chemistry and physics. Graduate admission is program-specific. The general minimum is a completed bachelor’s degree and a 3.0 GPA, together with required prerequisites. A complete application normally includes transcripts, an essay, a résumé or CV, and at least two references; testing requirements vary. International graduate applicants need a course-by-course credential evaluation for non-US study and proof of English proficiency unless eligible for a waiver. Some online or hybrid programs cannot issue an I-20. Direct-entry professional PharmD applicants use the pharmacy-specific process and should verify prerequisites through the current PharmD admissions material.

ACPHS offers Bachelor of Science programs across biomedical and health-related disciplines. The current undergraduate portfolio includes biomedical sciences, biotechnology, clinical laboratory sciences, forensic psychology, forensic science, health sciences, microbiology, nursing, pharmaceutical sciences, psychology, and public health. Pre-health pathways, minors, combined programs, and transfer arrangements provide additional ways to shape a course of study. Applicants should use the current catalog and individual program pages because professional preparation, laboratory requirements, and external accreditation can differ substantially by major. At the graduate level, the college lists Master of Science programs in biomedical sciences, biotechnology, clinical laboratory sciences, cytotechnology and molecular cytology, health data science, molecular biosciences, and pharmaceutical sciences. Delivery varies: selected programs have in-person, online, or hybrid formats. Some combined bachelor’s/master’s pathways shorten the route through both credentials, subject to program-specific requirements. Pharmacy students can enter through several routes. High-school applicants may pursue a six-year early-assurance pathway that combines a BS with the PharmD. Students with college credit may enter a pre-professional year, while applicants who have completed the required prerequisites can apply to the first professional year through PharmCAS. The professional PharmD includes experiential education and clinical rotations, with the college reporting more than 500 eligible rotation sites. A PharmD is a professional doctorate and is not the same credential as a research PhD; ACPHS does not currently list a PhD among its program types.

Key Highlights

• Founded in 1881 and renamed Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in 2008
• Specialized academic mission centered on pharmacy, health sciences, and biomedical fields
• Separately accredited and operating while a merger with Russell Sage awaits final approval
• Applied facilities and initiatives include CBET and a nonprofit student-operated community pharmacy

Student Life & Environment

ACPHS offers a residential experience on a compact, professionally focused campus. South Hall houses first- and second-year students, while Holland and Princeton Suites provide apartment-style accommodation for upper-level students. Published amenities include furnished rooms, air conditioning, laundry, and live-in residence staff. South Hall residents must purchase the Gold meal plan; the 2026–27 price had not yet been published on the tuition page as of August 20, 2026. Student involvement extends beyond health-profession organizations. The college identifies clubs involving interests such as photography, gaming, and multicultural activities, along with student government. Recreation options include intramural or club basketball, volleyball, skiing, dance, and pickleball, plus fitness equipment and group classes. Intercollegiate Panthers teams compete in basketball, cross country, soccer, track and field, and women’s volleyball. Support services include academic and career guidance, peer mentoring, counseling, health services, and campus safety. Career services provide individual guidance, job fairs, panels, employer postings, and support with internships and employment. Because ACPHS is a specialized and relatively compact institution, prospective students should visit or attend a virtual session to judge whether its close-knit, health-science-centered social environment offers the breadth they want.

Location & Surroundings

ACPHS is located at 106 New Scotland Avenue in Albany, New York’s state capital. The campus sits in an urban health and education district near hospitals, research centers, and other health-care institutions. That setting is relevant to a college whose programs rely on laboratories, clinical education, community work, and professional exposure. The institution also describes eateries, parks, museums, and cultural activities within walking distance. Albany combines the functions of a state-government center and a regional medical and educational hub. For students, this can provide access to public-health, laboratory, pharmacy, hospital, and government settings without living in a much larger metropolitan area. The immediate campus is compact, and both residents and commuters should assess transportation needs for internships, clinical placements, or pharmacy rotations that may occur away from campus. Parking is permit-based and limited by residence and academic status. The official 2026–27 fee schedule lists annual permits of $280 for Albany commuters and $360 for campus residents. Students should not assume that every clinical or experiential site will be reachable on foot or by public transportation.

Costs & Career Outcomes

For 2026–27, ACPHS publishes annual tuition of $42,600 for BS programs and the two pre-professional Pharmacy Early Assurance years. Tuition for each professional PharmD year, P1 through P4, is $49,300. Most MS courses cost $1,640 per credit, while Health Data Science, Clinical Laboratory Sciences, and Cytotechnology and Molecular Cytology have a reduced $1,200-per-credit rate under the terms shown on the official fee page. These figures replace the record’s older $28,900 tuition value for planning purposes, but the supplied database number has not been altered. Mandatory or commonly applicable charges include a $350 full-time activity fee, $300 full-time health and wellness fee, $280 full-time technology fee, laboratory fees of $100 per lab course, and a one-time $350 orientation fee for new and transfer students. Health insurance is listed at $3,704 unless the student supplies proof of other coverage by the stated deadline. International students pay an additional $200 fee. Annual 2026–27 college housing charges are $7,100 for South Hall, $8,400 for a two-bedroom Holland or Princeton suite, and $7,600 for a four- or five-bedroom suite, plus a $40 resident activity fee. The meal-plan price remained undetermined on the published page, so applicants cannot yet calculate a complete residential total. Institutional scholarships, grants, loans, work-study, campus employment, research-assistant work, and resident-assistant roles may help with costs. Career outcomes will vary substantially among licensed pharmacy, laboratory, research, data, public-health, and further-study pathways; students should compare program-level placement, licensure, and debt information rather than relying on a single institution-wide claim.