20 Best Veterinary Schools for Animal Lovers

If you're an animal lover, you've probably considered becoming a vet. The best veterinary schools offer networking opportunities, boast accomplished faculty, and effectively prepare you for certification. They're also accredited, so you can rest assured you'll qualify for state licensure without issue.

Before you send out any applications, check out our rankings of the top vet schools in the U.S. We looked at factors like affordability, curriculum quality, and overall reputation to rank the best veterinary schools today.

20 Top Veterinary Schools and Programs

Read About Our Methodology Here

Why Attend One of the Best Vet Schools in the U.S.?

• Top veterinary schools provide the high-quality education you need to succeed as a vet.
• You'll enter an in-demand field with six-figure median salaries!
• Doctor of veterinary medicine (DVM) students can benefit from mentorship and networking opportunities.
• Attending a good veterinarian school prepares you for the NAVLE exam and licensure.
• You'll benefit from the program's clinical opportunities and alumni network.
• Graduates from the best vet schools in the U.S. pursue board certification in high-demand specialties.

How Important Is Accreditation for Veterinary Schools?

Accreditation is extremely important for veterinary schools, as it demonstrates that a school or program meets certain standards of academic quality.

If you attend a veterinary school that isn't accredited, you may not qualify for licensure in your state. Employers may also refuse to hire you.

Top veterinary schools hold institutional accreditation. Quality DVM programs also hold programmatic accreditation from the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Council on Education.

How Much Do Veterinarian Schools Cost?

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, DVM students paid an average of $32,000 in tuition and fees in 2016. This cost does not take into account additional expenses like textbooks, lab fees, and housing.

DVM programs typically last four years, meaning you can expect to pay around $128,000 for your degree.

Fortunately, you can save money on veterinary school by:

• Filling out the FAFSA each year and seeing whether you qualify for federal aid
• Applying for institutional and external scholarships
• Attending an in-state public university and qualifying for in-state tuition

How Much Money Can Graduates of Veterinary Schools Make?

Veterinarians earned a median salary of $100,370 per year in May 2021, according to the BLS. The lowest-paid veterinarians earned around $61,000, while the highest-paid veterinarians made over $165,000.

Salaries vary depending on location, experience, and work environment. For example, vets working at hospitals typically report higher salaries than those working at colleges.

Specialty can also influence salaries.

Where you live affects your earning potential as a vet. The highest-paying states for veterinarians include Connecticut, New York, California, and Arizona.

How to Become a Veterinarian: 7-Step Guide

Interested in becoming a veterinarian? The process starts with earning a bachelor's degree. Our guide walks through the seven steps you must take to become a veterinarian.

Step 1: Earn Your Bachelor's Degree

You'll need a bachelor's degree to get into vet schools. But what's the best major to prepare for DVM programs?

Many future vets major in biology, zoology, or animal sciences.

As a bonus, these majors also meet the prerequisites for many DVM programs. Common prerequisites include biology, organic chemistry, biochemistry, and physics.

Alternatively, you can major in the social sciences or humanities since veterinarians need strong critical thinking and communication skills. You would still have to take the DVM program prerequisites, however.

Whatever major you choose, it's a good idea to check the prerequisite requirements at your top programs.

Step 2: Gain Relevant Experience

Currently, there are 33 accredited veterinary schools in the U.S. If you want to get into top veterinary schools, you'll need to stand out from other applicants. Gaining relevant experience can increase your odds of getting an acceptance letter.

You can gain hands-on experience by working in a veterinary clinic as a vet tech or intern. You can also volunteer with animal programs.

Other great ways to gain experience include shadowing veterinarians, working at a zoo or wildlife organization, and joining a pre-vet club during college.

Step 3: Compare Accredited Veterinary Schools

You'll need to research accredited veterinary schools to find the best fit.

First, compare vet colleges by specialties, cost, and board examination pass rates. Then, learn more about the student experience, the school's placement record, and financial aid opportunities.

Make sure to also check the program's accreditation status. You should only apply to accredited programs.

Once you've identified your top veterinary schools, you'll need to meet the admission requirements. That means you'll need a bachelor's degree. Most vet schools also ask for GRE scores, though some may accept MCAT scores.

In addition to transcripts and test scores, most vet schools ask for a statement of purpose and letters of recommendation. These application materials let you share your reasons for applying to veterinarian schools and your qualifications.

Step 4: Earn Your Doctor of Veterinary Medicine

As a vet student, you'll study anatomy, physiology, microbiology, and pathology. Your training will also cover animal behavior, surgical techniques, and animal dentistry.

In addition to coursework, you'll gain hands-on experience during clinical rotations. The clinical training lets you hone your diagnostic treatment, orthopedics, and surgery skills.

Clinical placements also expand your professional network and prepare you for the job market.

During your DVM degree, you can specialize in a specific branch of veterinary medicine. Many veterinary schools offer concentrations in small animal practice, exotic animal medicine, equine practice, and zoological medicine.

Some schools offer tracks focused on laboratory medicine, public health, or clinical research.

Earning your DVM typically takes four years for full-time students, with some vet colleges offering accelerated and part-time enrollment options.

Step 5: Pass the NAVLE

Before you can practice as a veterinarian, you'll need to pass the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE).

Offered twice a year, the NAVLE consists of 360 multiple-choice questions. The test covers topics like clinical data interpretation, health maintenance, veterinary practice management, veterinary public health, and animal welfare.

You'll have 7.5 hours to complete the exam.

After taking the NAVLE, you'll get a score between 200 and 800. A passing score is 425 or higher. You can retake the NAVLE, but licensing boards may limit the number of retakes to five in a five-year period.

Step 6: Get Licensed

Licensing requirements for veterinarians vary by state. Make sure to visit your state licensing board for details.

Regardless of state, you'll need a DVM degree from an AVMA-accredited program to qualify for licensure.

After passing the NAVLE, you may need to fulfill additional state requirements to get your veterinary license. For example, in Washington, veterinarians must pass the Washington State Jurisprudence Examination.

Step 7: Consider Speciality Training

After becoming a licensed veterinarian, you can complete specialty training. For example, some veterinarians pursue board certification in a specialty like dentistry or dermatology.

Other popular specialties include:

• Anesthesia and analgesia
• Emergency and critical care
• Internal medicine
• Veterinary nutrition
• Radiology
• Surgery
• Zoological medicine

You can also become board certified in a specific species, such as equine practice, canine and feline practice, food animal practice, and dairy practice.

Specialty training usually means a two-to-three-year residency followed by an examination or portfolio so you can earn board certification from a veterinary specialty organization.

Q&A With Real Veterinary Students

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How did you prepare for veterinarian school?

“During my undergraduate studies, I became interested in research and pursued graduate training in molecular and cellular biology before applying to veterinary school. I also volunteered at a local animal hospital and humane society. Focus on grades — they are important — but get as much experience as you can.”

 — Joseph Varga, First-Year DVM Student, University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest

“During my undergraduate studies, I became interested in research and pursued graduate training in molecular and cellular biology before applying to veterinary school. I also volunteered at a local animal hospital and humane society. Focus on grades — they are important — but get as much experience as you can.”

 — James Gibbons, First-Year DVM Student, University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine

What surprised you the most about vet school?

“I was most surprised by the lack of competitiveness between students. My class is constantly sharing study tips, guides they've made, and helping each other.”

 — James G.

“The sheer amount of information that you are required to learn with very limited time.”

 — Joseph V.

What advice would you give to students considering veterinarian school?

“Visit the campuses before you apply. Try to get in touch with current students and get their opinion on the school. The cost of your veterinary education is an important factor because veterinary school is a huge financial investment.”

 — Joseph V.

“First, ensure that vet med is right for you by shadowing doctors. Second, apply to multiple schools if you can afford to. Third, enjoy your summer before starting and make some time in your schedule to relax during vet school.”

 — James G.

Frequently Asked Questions About Veterinary Programs

What should I major in to apply to vet school?

You can major in almost any field before applying to vet school. The most common majors are biology and other life sciences majors. Many pre-vet students major in the natural sciences.

You can also major in the humanities, the social sciences, a STEM field, or business before applying to vet colleges. However, keep in mind that vet schools typically require prerequisites such as biology, chemistry, math, and physics.

What are the college GPA requirements for veterinary schools?

Veterinarian schools are competitive, so you'll need a strong GPA to get into the best vet schools in the U.S. Many vet schools require a minimum 2.5 or 3.0 GPA. The most competitive programs may admit students with even higher GPAs.

When researching colleges for veterinarians, look for minimum GPA requirements and the GPAs of recently admitted students. This data can help you find a program that matches your GPA.

How long does it take to complete veterinary school?

Most full-time students complete their DVM program within four years. If you attend veterinary school part time, you can expect your degree to take longer — around 4-6 years.

What is the difference between a DVM and a veterinariae medicinae doctoris (VMD)?

A doctor of veterinary medicine (DVM) and veterinariae medicinae (VMD) are the same degrees, with the former being far more common than the latter. Both degrees qualify you for veterinary practice and prepare you to get licensed as a veterinarian in your state.

Currently, only the University of Pennsylvania offers a VMD instead of the typical DVM.

How does a veterinary program compare to a zoology program?

Zoology programs and veterinary schools both focus on animal science; however, veterinary schools train graduates for applied careers treating animals. In contrast, zoology programs emphasize research over medical care.

If you're interested in zoology, you can major in zoology before applying to veterinarian schools. During vet school, you can specialize in zoological medicine.

All rankings and school descriptions on this page were created and reviewed independently by the ASO Rankings Team.

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