First Year Free

At the U’s College of Pharmacy, the first year of your doctoral program comes with an unexpected perk—it’s completely free. Thanks to a groundbreaking scholarship endowment created by The ALSAM Foundation, every incoming PharmD student gets their first year of tuition covered, no strings attached.

“Usually, nothing in life is free,” says Kyle Turner PharmD’14, associate professor and assistant dean. “But in this case, it is.”

The initiative, now in its third year, has already transformed the program. Applications are up, classes are full, and students who never thought pharmacy school was within reach are pursuing their dreams.

“The First Year Free program has made me see how much of a difference affordability can make in shaping a student’s overall experience,” notes Stockton Welch, a second-year PharmD student. “It shows the U’s level of commitment to its students and has made a graduate education much more accessible.”

For Brian Farley, another second-year student with a wife and two children, the program removed crucial financial barriers. “Having a full year free means I take on less debt and will be able to get out of debt that much faster,” he remarks.

The impact has been immediate. Kamryn Shepherd MPA’23, the college’s prepharmacy student advisor, has watched class sizes grow from half full to capacity with waiting lists. Some prospective students are so surprised by the offer that they don’t believe it at first.

“We truthfully tell students that the first-year savings are not tacked on later,” says Shepherd. “It’s truly incredible.”

The program is made possible by The ALSAM Foundation, established by L. S. and Aline W. Skaggs, along with contributions from other alumni and donors—all investing in the next generation of pharmacists.