Cedarville University Provides Pharmacy Pathway Through Partnership with Grace College
IN THE LAB
A CEDARVILLE PHARMACIST
CEDARVILLE, OHIO, Aug. 24, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — As the United States faces a continuing need for pharmacists and other health care professionals, Grace College is expanding opportunities for students to enter high-demand health professions through a new partnership with Cedarville University.
The agreement creates a direct entry pathway each year for a minimum of three Grace students to pursue a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree at Cedarville. Each student will receive a $30,000 tuition scholarship.
The partnership comes as the pharmacy profession is experiencing renewed interest and evolving workforce needs. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of pharmacists will grow 5% from 2024 to 2034, with approximately 14,200 openings each year during the decade. Meanwhile, applications to U.S. pharmacy schools increased 6% from last year, marking a second consecutive year of growth in applicants and applications, according to the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy.
“This partnership creates a clear and affordable pathway for Grace College students who believe God is calling them to serve through pharmacy,” said Dr. Jeff Bates, dean of Cedarville University’s School of Pharmacy. “By completing their prerequisites at Grace and transitioning directly into our Doctor of Pharmacy program, Grace students will reduce their financial cost for the program, complete the program in less time and still be prepared to become highly skilled, compassionate pharmacists. We’re excited to partner with Grace so that more pharmacists have a platform to care for patients and serve Christ.”
For Grace students, the partnership provides a defined route from their undergraduate education in Winona Lake, Indiana, to Cedarville’s four-year PharmD program in Ohio. Students will complete their required undergraduate coursework at Grace before transitioning to professional pharmacy education at Cedarville.
The pathway is designed to reduce some of the academic and financial barriers students can encounter when pursuing a professional health care degree. In addition to the $30,000 scholarship, qualified Grace graduates can receive up to $500 in reimbursement for campus visit expenses and assistance offsetting the PharmCAS application fee. Students also receive a Cedarville faculty adviser upon acceptance, a peer mentor and invitations to pharmacy student events.
To qualify for the PharmD pathway, students must complete at least 68 semester hours of undergraduate coursework, including prerequisites in chemistry, biology, anatomy and physiology, microbiology, calculus, communication, biblical studies and the humanities. Students must earn a grade of C or better in each prerequisite course and maintain a cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 2.75.
Students may apply to Cedarville’s PharmD program while completing their final prerequisites. Those who meet Cedarville’s published admission requirements receive preferred enrollment benefits. Cedarville may admit more Grace students based on class size availability.
The partnership also reflects changes taking place within the pharmacy profession. Pharmacists increasingly work as members of patient care teams in hospitals, clinics and other health care settings, in addition to traditional community pharmacy roles. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects increased demand for pharmacists in hospitals and clinics as these professionals provide medication management and other patient care services.
For Grace and Cedarville, the agreement extends beyond pharmacy and creates additional pathways for students seeking advanced education in health care. Qualified Grace graduates will also have preferred opportunities in three other Cedarville graduate healthcare programs: athletic training, PA (physician assistant) studies, and advanced nursing practice.
Students who meet individual program requirements and deadlines may receive guaranteed admission to Cedarville’s Master of Athletic Training program, a guaranteed interview for the Master of Medical Science in PA Studies program, guaranteed admission to the Master of Science in Nursing program or a guaranteed interview for the Doctor of Nursing Practice program.
Together, the programs give Grace students defined pathways into five graduate-level health care fields and expand the college’s ability to prepare students for careers serving patients and communities. The partnership also reflects Grace and Cedarville’s shared Christian mission of preparing health care professionals to combine professional excellence with compassionate, Christ-centered service.
Cedarville University, an evangelical Christian institution in southwest Ohio, offers undergraduate and graduate residential and online programs across arts, sciences and professional fields. With 7,265 students, it is among Ohio’s largest private universities and is ranked among the nation’s top five evangelical universities in the Wall Street Journal’s 2026 Best Colleges in the U.S. Cedarville is also known for its vibrant Christian community, challenging academics and high graduation and retention rates. Learn more at cedarville.edu.
Grace College is an accredited, Christ-centered institution of higher education located in the picturesque lakeside town of Winona Lake, Ind. Affiliated with Charis Fellowship, Grace College was founded in 1948. Today Grace offers more than 100 majors, minors, certificates and graduate programs through both on-campus and online delivery methods. Nearly all Grace College bachelor’s degrees can be completed in three years, and students can earn a bachelor’s and master’s in four total years through an accelerated degree program. Grace also has a ministry training center in Akron, Ohio. For more information, visit www.grace.edu.
Photo Cutlines:
CEDARVILLE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF PHARMACY AND NURSING — The class and lab work in Cedarville University’s pharmacy and nursing programs are located in the Health Science Center on campus.
CEDARVILLE SCHOOL OF PHARMACY — Pharmacy students get hands-on experience in one of the university’s pharmacy labs at Cedarville University.
CU PHARMACIST — A recent Cedarville University pharmacy student receives practical clinical experience at a nearby pharmacy. All pharmacy students participate in clinical opportunities in the Doctor of Pharmacy program.
All photos taken by Scott Huck
Attachments
- IN THE LAB
- A CEDARVILLE PHARMACIST
CONTACT: Mark D. Weinstein Cedarville University 937-766-8800 [email protected]
