Pharmacy Degree in Nashville, TN — Salary & ROI 2026
Pharmacy degree analysis for Nashville, TN. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$46K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$115K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.6 yrs
in Nashville
Cost of Living
92
index (100 = avg)
Pharmacy in Nashville, TN Overview
Nashville is one of Tennessee's top college towns, with 35 institutions and a student population of 23,290. Public tuition averages $9,312/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 Nashville is approximately $46,000, growing to $115,000 by mid-career.
Category
Healthcare
Local Colleges
35
Public Tuition
$9,312/yr
Private Tuition
$50,624/yr
Room & Board
$13,344/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$7,603/yr
Unemployment
6.8%
Graduation Rate
74%
Pharmacy Salary in Nashville (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Nashville's cost of living index of 92 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Pharmacy salary: $50,000 starting, $125,000 mid-career, $140,000 senior level.Nashville adjustment factor: 0.92x based on the local cost of living index.
Pharmacy ROI Calculator for Nashville
Estimate your return on investment for a Pharmacy degree using local Nashville tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $9,312 | Private avg: $50,624
Nashville avg aid: $7,603/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$90,624
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$13,800
vs HS diploma in Nashville
ROI Payback Period
6.6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Nashville
$783,376
Lifetime earnings premium ($874,000) minus total education cost ($90,624)
Student Loan Payoff for Pharmacy in Nashville
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Nashville for Pharmacy
Vanderbilt University
private
$60,348/yr
$241,392 total
Belmont University
private
$40,900/yr
$163,600 total
Tennessee State University
public
$9,312/yr
$37,248 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Nashville State Community College
$4,320/yr
Top Employers for Pharmacy in Nashville
Nashville offers opportunities in Hospitals, Medical centers, Private practices for Pharmacy graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Nashville Hiring Sectors for Healthcare
Hospitals
Medical centers
Private practices
Health systems
Pharma companies
Common Pharmacy Job Titles
Pharmacy in Nearby Tennessee Cities
Memphis, TN
$47K starting · COL 93
22 colleges
Knoxville, TN
$43K starting · COL 85
5 colleges
Chattanooga, TN
$40K starting · COL 80
5 colleges
Clarksville, TN
$45K starting · COL 90
9 colleges
Murfreesboro, TN
$46K starting · COL 91
10 colleges
Franklin, TN
$59K starting · COL 118.5
4 colleges
Jackson, TN
$41K starting · COL 82.5
3 colleges
Johnson City, TN
$53K starting · COL 105
6 colleges
Other Healthcare Majors in Nashville
Health Informatics
$46K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Nursing
$63K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Healthcare Administration
$46K starting · 4 yr ROI
Occupational Therapy
$46K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Dental Hygiene
$46K starting · 3 yr ROI
Speech-Language Pathology
$46K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Public Health
$46K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Radiologic Technology
$46K starting · 3 yr ROI
Pharmacy Degree in Nashville — 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 Nashville.