Pharmacy Degree in Denver, CO — Salary & ROI 2026
Pharmacy degree analysis for Denver, CO. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$64K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$160K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5.5 yrs
in Denver
Cost of Living
128
index (100 = avg)
Pharmacy in Denver, CO Overview
Denver is one of Colorado's top college towns, with 31 institutions and a student population of 74,098. Public tuition averages $11,380/year here — well below the national average, making it a cost-effective choice. Although national enrollment in Pharmacy has been declining, graduates with skills in Pharmacology and Drug Interactions remain competitive in the job market. The adjusted starting salary in Denver is approximately $64,000, growing to $160,000 by mid-career.
Category
Healthcare
Local Colleges
31
Public Tuition
$11,380/yr
Private Tuition
$49,039/yr
Room & Board
$14,960/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,823/yr
Unemployment
5.8%
Graduation Rate
65%
Pharmacy Salary in Denver (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Denver's cost of living index of 128 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Pharmacy salary: $50,000 starting, $125,000 mid-career, $140,000 senior level.Denver adjustment factor: 1.28x based on the local cost of living index.
Pharmacy ROI Calculator for Denver
Estimate your return on investment for a Pharmacy degree using local Denver tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,380 | Private avg: $49,039
Denver avg aid: $8,823/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$105,360
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$19,200
vs HS diploma in Denver
ROI Payback Period
5.5 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Denver
$1,110,640
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,216,000) minus total education cost ($105,360)
Student Loan Payoff for Pharmacy in Denver
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Denver for Pharmacy
University of Colorado Denver
public
$11,380/yr
$45,520 total
University of Denver
private
$56,268/yr
$225,072 total
Regis University
private
$41,810/yr
$167,240 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Community College of Denver
$4,419/yr
Top Employers for Pharmacy in Denver
Denver offers opportunities in Hospitals, Medical centers, Private practices for Pharmacy graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Denver Hiring Sectors for Healthcare
Hospitals
Medical centers
Private practices
Health systems
Pharma companies
Common Pharmacy Job Titles
Pharmacy in Nearby Colorado Cities
Colorado Springs, CO
$61K starting · COL 122
22 colleges
Aurora, CO
$56K starting · COL 111
28 colleges
Fort Collins, CO
$63K starting · COL 126
5 colleges
Lakewood, CO
$53K starting · COL 105.8
6 colleges
Thornton, CO
$51K starting · COL 102.5
6 colleges
Arvada, CO
$53K starting · COL 105.5
5 colleges
Westminster, CO
$52K starting · COL 103.8
5 colleges
Pueblo, CO
$61K starting · COL 122
13 colleges
Other Healthcare Majors in Denver
Health Informatics
$64K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Nursing
$87K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Healthcare Administration
$64K starting · 4 yr ROI
Occupational Therapy
$64K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Dental Hygiene
$64K starting · 3 yr ROI
Speech-Language Pathology
$64K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Public Health
$64K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Radiologic Technology
$64K starting · 3 yr ROI
Pharmacy Degree in Denver — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Pharmacy ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Denver.