Entrepreneurship education in doctor of pharmacy programs: a national survey of course prevalence, characteristics, and assessment methods

Abstract Entrepreneurship and innovation are increasingly being recognized as important for pharmacy practice transformation, advancement, and the sustainability of the profession. However, the extent and nature of entrepreneurship education in Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) programs remain largely unknown. This study characterizes the prevalence, content, entrepreneurial skills and attitudes, pedagogical approaches, and assessment methods in colleges and schools of pharmacy in the United States (US). A cross-sectional descriptive survey was developed, validated, and administered to all 142 accredited colleges and schools of pharmacy in the US from June to August 2025. A total of 107 institutions responded for a 75% overall response rate. Sixty-three institutions (59% of respondents and 44% of all accredited institutions) indicated that they offer at least one entrepreneurship focused course. The most common content included in these courses was business plan development (96%), communication (85%), and leadership (81%). The most frequently taught skills were communication (89%), business plan development (89%), and problem-solving skills (87%). Twenty-two institutions (21%) indicated that they included entrepreneurial content elsewhere in their curricula including in pharmacy management (36%), introduction to pharmacy (18%), and pharmacy leadership (14%) courses. While entrepreneurship education is offered in PharmD programs at many colleges and schools of pharmacy in the US, variability remains in course content, structure, and assessment methods. These findings provide a national baseline for understanding entrepreneurship education in colleges and schools of pharmacy in the US and may help inform future curriculum development and assessment.