In a lot of cases, a higher education can mean a higher salary or even a better job. That's why we found out the best colleges for pharmaceutical sales representatives. We based this list on these metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of students working, ratio of working vs. non-working students 10 years after admission, average cost of attendance and median debt for graduates.
Best Colleges And Majors For Pharmaceutical Sales Representatives
Best Colleges For Pharmaceutical Sales Representatives
1. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-State Tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
2. Bentley University
Waltham, MA • Private
In-State Tuition
$49,880
Enrollment
4,177
3. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$8,306
Enrollment
9,394
4. New York University
New York, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$51,828
Enrollment
26,339
5. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Minneapolis, MN • Private
In-State Tuition
$14,760
Enrollment
31,451
6. SUNY College at Plattsburgh
Plattsburgh, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$8,369
Enrollment
5,229
7. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
In-State Tuition
$51,354
Enrollment
7,083
8. Baylor University
Waco, TX • Private
In-State Tuition
$45,542
Enrollment
14,159
9. SUNY College of Technology at Alfred
Alfred, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$8,570
Enrollment
3,721
10. Syracuse University
Syracuse, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$51,853
Enrollment
14,759
Pharmaceutical Sales Representative Education Requirements
The education needed to be a pharmaceutical sales representative is normally a bachelor's degree. Pharmaceutical sales representatives usually study business, marketing or communication. 85% of pharmaceutical sales representatives hold a bachelor's degree and 8% hold a master's degree. We found these by analyzing 12,828 pharmaceutical sales representative resumes to investigate the topic of pharmaceutical sales representative education more precisely.
The most common colleges for students to pursue their goal of becoming a pharmaceutical sales representative are Michigan State University and Florida State University. We also broke down what colleges provide the best overall education for a pharmaceutical sales representative. Students have a great path to earning their pharmaceutical sales representative qualifications at the following schools:
- University of Pennsylvania
- Bentley University
- SUNY Farmingdale
If you're interested in getting a college degree in an affordable college for pharmaceutical sales representatives - Baruch College of the City University of New York is an excellent option for you. If your SAT or ACT score aren't as high as you'd like, you can look at Barry University, as the admission requirements aren't too selective. On the other end of that spectrum are the University of Pennsylvania, Stanford University and Northwestern University.
For those who would rather stay in your pajamas during the day, we prepared some online courses that can help in pharmaceutical sales representative education paths.
We prepared a list of a pharmaceutical sales representative certifications that you should consider. The necessary certifications that pharmaceutical sales representatives must have to succeed are Certified Sales Professional (CSP) and Professional Certified Marketer (PCM).
What Education Do You Need To Become a Pharmaceutical Sales Representative?
What degree do you need to be a Pharmaceutical Sales Representative?
The most common degree for pharmaceutical sales representatives is bachelor's degree 85% of pharmaceutical sales representatives earn that degree. A close second is master's degree with 8% and rounding it off is associate degree with 4%.
- Bachelors, 85%
- Masters, 8%
- Associate, 4%
- Doctorate, 1%
- Other Degrees, 2%
What Should I Major in to Become a Pharmaceutical Sales Representative?
Most pharmaceutical sales representatives, 26% to be exact, major in business. Some other common majors for a pharmaceutical sales representative include marketing and communication majors.
- Business, 26%
- Marketing, 14%
- Communication, 9%
- Biology, 8%
- Other Majors, 43%
Most Common Colleges For Pharmaceutical Sales Representatives
Here are the most common colleges for a pharmaceutical sales representative career in the US based on their resumes. Advocates often get their degree in Michigan State University, Florida State University, and Ohio State University .
| Pharmaceutical Sales Representative Common College | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Michigan State University | 7.03% |
| Florida State University | 6.51% |
| Ohio State University | 6.51% |
| Pennsylvania State University | 5.99% |
| University of Phoenix | 5.90% |
Best Majors For Pharmaceutical Sales Representatives
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Business | 26.2% |
| 2 | Marketing | 13.8% |
| 3 | Communication | 8.7% |
| 4 | Biology | 8.0% |
| 5 | Psychology | 6.7% |
20 Best Online Courses for Pharmaceutical Sales Representatives
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1. Sales Operations/Management
Sales jobs span nearly every industry, from agribusiness and pharmaceuticals, to telecommunications and property management. And essential to sales is the management of the sales force. This course provides the knowledge and know how required for careers in sales management. Students are exposed to all facets of sales management, including organizing, selecting, training, motivating, supervising and compensating the sales force, territory management and administration and sales and expense...
2. Salesforce Sales Development Representative
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3. Sales Fire: B2B Sales & Business Development for Startups
The Ultimate Sales Methodology for Business Development & B2B Sales to Learn Sales Strategy, Sales Skills & Deal Closing...
4. Pharmaceutical Supply Management
Focus on Low & Middle income countries. Understand and improve the supply of medicines and medical products...
5. Health After Cancer: Cancer Survivorship for Primary Care
This course presents basic principles of cancer survivorship to primary-care physicians. Developed by a team of experts in caring for cancer survivors, and narrated by a primary-care physician, this course provides practical tips and tools that can be easily integrated into medical practice. You will learn about the complex physical and psychosocial needs and concerns of the growing number of cancer survivors, along with the key role that primary care physicians have in guiding these patients...
6. HubSpot Sales Representative
Whether you're completely new to sales and looking to start a new career, or you want to grow in your current sales role, this five-course career training program from the inbound sales experts at HubSpot can help you reach your career goals.\n\nYou’ll start by learning the basics of sales enablement and how sales and marketing teams can collaborate to create and keep relationships with their targeted buyers. You’ll develop data-driven sales goals and influential content to enable you to...
7. The Complete Sales Skills Master Class - Sales Marketing B2B
Master Sales Skills, Marketing Strategy, B2B Sales, Business Development, Lead Generation Using Top Social Skills...
8. Business Development & B2B Sales for Startups- Sales Valley
The Complete Startup Playbook for Business Development & B2B Sales to learn Lead Generation, Pitching, & Closing Deals...
9. Effective Sales – An Overview
Welcome to Strategic Sales Management specialization. This specialization course focus on providing conceptual and practical guidance on sales planning and management. The development of the specialization goes through the different phases of the sales planning process, keeping attention on the connection to the strategy of the company. Concepts discussed in this specialization aim to support the analyses on how to plan sales in alignment with the strategic guidelines of the company. The sales...
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1. Generate Leads, 2. Pitch, 3. Close & Handle Any Objection: Get Certified in Cutting Edge, Non-Pushy B2B Sales System...
11. Your Guide to the Pharmaceutical Industry
Learn about the pharma industry quickly - current trends, medicines, healthcare, pharmacy markets & major developments...
12. Sales Machine: The Sales Training B2B Master Course
Learn Sales Strategies & Sales Techniques to Sell ANYTHING for Entrepreneurs, Startup, B2B Sales, & Business Development...
13. Sales Training: Practical Sales Techniques
Sales Hacking: Essential sales skills, sales strategies and sales techniques to sell just about anything!...
14. The Pharmaceutical R & D Process in Healthcare
Learn about clinical trials, drug regulations, biotech products, generics, marketing and more. *Biotech Update! 1/22*...
15. Sales and Marketing For Online Businesses
A Beginners Guide To Sales & Marketing For Your Online Business And Ventures...
16. Sales Training: How To Close More Sales
Closing Sales: Sales Training Course: Sales Skills; Selling Techniques; Sales Strategies for B2B, B2C Direct Sales...
17. Sales Skills: 9 Sales Training Courses In 1
Develop Killer Sales Skills With The Ultimate Sales Training (Taught By 5 Top Sales Experts)...
18. Sales Funnels Masterclass: Increase Sales With Sales Funnels
Learn to create highly converting sales, conduct professional email marketing & 10X your sales with sales funnel fast!...
19. Basic Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)
Learn the good practices that applies to the pharmaceutical industry...
20. LinkedIn Sales Navigator: LinkedIn's tool for B2B Sales
LinkedIn Sales Navigator best remote practices for the LinkedIn premium service for business development and B2B sales...
Top 10 Affordable Universities For Pharmaceutical Sales Representatives
If those top 10 were a bit out of your price range, you might want to check these schools instead. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price and mean earnings after 6 years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for pharmaceutical sales representatives.
1. Baruch College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$7,262
Cost of Attendance
14,046
2. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$8,306
Cost of Attendance
16,091
3. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-State Tuition
$7,309
Cost of Attendance
16,714
4. Fashion Institute of Technology
New York, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$5,740
Cost of Attendance
17,864
5. California State University - Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA • Private
In-State Tuition
$6,942
Cost of Attendance
14,469
6. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York
Brooklyn, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$7,240
Cost of Attendance
13,991
7. Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN • Private
In-State Tuition
$9,992
Cost of Attendance
22,430
8. SUNY Polytechnic Institute
Utica, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$8,238
Cost of Attendance
21,567
9. USF Sarasota-Manatee
Sarasota, FL • Private
In-State Tuition
$5,587
Cost of Attendance
13,043
10. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-State Tuition
$5,620
Cost of Attendance
18,136
Top 10 Hardest Universities To Get Into For Pharmaceutical Sales Representatives
Some people like a challenge. Well, we challenge you to get into one of these schools. It's not going to be easy. We know this based on these institutions' admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted and mean earnings of students 6 years after admission.
1. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions Rate
8%
SAT Average
1,492
2. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions Rate
4%
SAT Average
1,497
3. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions Rate
8%
SAT Average
1,508
4. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions Rate
20%
SAT Average
1,419
5. Washington University in St Louis
Saint Louis, MO • Private
Admissions Rate
15%
SAT Average
1,506
6. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions Rate
22%
SAT Average
1,420
7. Bentley University
Waltham, MA • Private
Admissions Rate
43%
SAT Average
1,338
8. Fordham University
Bronx, NY • Private
Admissions Rate
46%
SAT Average
1,354
9. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions Rate
13%
SAT Average
1,445
10. Villanova University
Villanova, PA • Private
Admissions Rate
29%
SAT Average
1,407
Top 10 Easier To Apply Universities For Pharmaceutical Sales Representatives
Why make getting a job harder on yourself than it has to be? With these colleges, you're sure to be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores and average salary of students 6 years after graduation in order to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into.
1. Barry University
Miami, FL • Private
Admissions Rate
91%
SAT Average
1,006
2. Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Bartlesville, OK • Private
Admissions Rate
68%
SAT Average
964
3. Notre Dame de Namur University
Belmont, CA • Private
Admissions Rate
82%
SAT Average
983
4. University of the Incarnate Word
San Antonio, TX • Private
Admissions Rate
88%
SAT Average
1,044
5. Notre Dame College
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions Rate
90%
SAT Average
994
6. Holy Names University
Oakland, CA • Private
Admissions Rate
70%
SAT Average
849
7. LIM College
New York, NY • Private
Admissions Rate
83%
SAT Average
1,061
8. William Paterson University of New Jersey
Wayne, NJ • Private
Admissions Rate
93%
SAT Average
994
9. D'Youville College
Buffalo, NY • Private
Admissions Rate
100%
SAT Average
1,072
10. Presentation College
Aberdeen, SD • Private
Admissions Rate
97%
SAT Average
1,050
Average Pharmaceutical Sales Representative Salary by Education Level
Pharmaceutical sales representatives with a Masters degree earn more than those without, at $89,400 annually. With a Doctorate degree, pharmaceutical sales representatives earn a median annual income of $85,141 compared to $78,402 for pharmaceutical sales representatives with an Bachelors degree.
| Pharmaceutical Sales Representative Education Level | Pharmaceutical Sales Representative Salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $56,189 |
| Master's Degree | $89,400 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $78,402 |
| Doctorate Degree | $85,141 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $58,808 |