Best Large Animal Vet Schools

Last Updated on February 17, 2023 by Fola Shade

The article below sheds so much light on what is the best large animal vet schools, vet school requirements, best veterinary schools in the world, large animal vet schools online, cornell university college of veterinary medicine & best veterinary schools in the world. Read on to discover more below.

You will also find related posts on harvard vet schoolr, best undergrad for vet school & large animal vet schools online on collegelearners.

Veterinarians provide care for animals of all types. These professionals treat illnesses and injuries, perform surgeries, and advise owners on best practices for animal care. Many veterinarians also play an important role in public health, working to ensure the safety of farm animals that serve as food sources and applying veterinary research to human and animal health issues.

Veterinarians earn competitive salaries, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects careers in the field to grow 16% from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the national average for all occupations. Veterinarians need a doctor of veterinary medicine (DVM) to enter licensed practice. DVM programs take four years to complete and require knowledge in biology, along with strong clinical and communication skills.

Large Animal Vet Schools Online

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This page highlights the nation’s best veterinary schools and programs. In addition to a ranking of the top programs, this guide explores career paths, earning potential, licensure requirements, and scholarships for veterinary students.

Top 10 Best Veterinary Schools and Programs 2021

Best Vet Schools in the World

Vet School Requirements

Vet School Prerequisites

• Biology. Two semesters of General Biology (eight semester hours) with laboratory.
• Cell Biology or Genetics. One course (three semester hours); Lab is recommended but not required.
• Chemistry.
• Biochemistry.
• Physics.
• Mathematics.
• English.
• Electives/Humanities/Social Sciences.

Best Undergrad for Vet School

Admission to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programs has become increasingly competitive, so it’s important to do your homework when it comes to identifying programs that meet your academic and career goals.

We’ve covered other schools for various STEM programs previously, including schools for biology and engineering, but there are career options beyond being a scientist or engineer. One STEM major or track that frequently flies under students’ radars is veterinary medicine.

While much of veterinary medicine is taught in veterinary school post-undergrad, there are several undergraduate animal science and pre-veterinary programs that can put you on track for graduate admissions from day one of your freshman year.

In honor of World Animal Day in October, and STEM students everywhere, here’s Dr. Kat’s list of colleges for aspiring veterinarians.

University of Massachusetts – Amherst; Amherst, MA

While many schools just provide a pre-veterinary program as an undergraduate track with a more specific major, the University of Massachusetts – Amherst is one of the few universities to offer a true pre-veterinary major for undergraduates.

Undergraduate students in the Department of Veterinary and Animal Science can choose between two bachelor of science degree programs, animal science and pre-veterinary. All undergraduate students enter as animal science majors and can either switch into the pre-vet program after qualifying, or continue in the animal science program. Students in either major are able to participate in research opportunities and the school is constantly helping to place pre-vet and animal science students in relevant internships.

What makes the pre-vet program at UMass-Amherst progressive is its partnership with the Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine located in Grafton, MA. UMass-Amherst students have the opportunity to apply to the Tufts graduate program in March of their sophomore year. If admitted, students who maintain a 3.4 GPA and complete the prerequisite courses are guaranteed a spot in Tufts’ vet school upon graduation.

Located in Amherst, MA, UMass-Amherst is a public research university with about 22,000 undergraduate students. The school offers 108 bachelor’s degree programs and boasts the tallest library in the US at 26 stories and 296 feet tall.

UMass-Amherst is also a member of the Five Colleges Consortium with Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, and Smith College. Students enrolled in one of the schools within the consortium can take classes at any of the other member institutions.

Kansas State University; Manhattan, KS

For students who are interested in pursuing veterinary medicine but don’t necessarily want to commit to a strict pre-vet major, the pre-vet program track at Kansas State University’s College of Agriculture offers students the flexibility of pursing a bachelor’s degree in a related science field while also preparing them for veterinary school. Students are advised to complete various writing, biology, chemistry, and physics classes in addition to regular course work in order to meet the prerequisites for veterinary school admission.

Kansas State also offers the Veterinary Scholars Early Admission Program, which allows high school seniors with a 29 or higher composite ACT score or a 1280 or higher SAT combined score to apply directly to the College of Veterinary Medicine for admission upon graduation from their undergraduate program.

Undergraduates admitted through the Veterinary Scholars Early Admission Program will follow the pre-vet track but also gain the benefit of student and faculty mentors, semester group meetings with other pre-vet scholars, and access to unique research and internship opportunities through mentorships. Pre-vet scholars, although already admitted to the College of Veterinary Medicine, must still complete the prerequisite courses with a 3.4 GPA in order to fully enroll upon graduation from their undergraduate program.

Kansas State, founded in 1863, is a public research university located in Manhattan, KS, also known as “The Little Apple.” With more than 250 undergraduate majors, 475 student clubs and organizations, and a student body of about 25,000, there’s something for everyone at K-State. Fraternity and sorority Greek life has a major impact on campus, with 20 percent of K-State undergrads participating in Greek life, and 65 percent of the leadership positions on campus are held by fraternity or sorority members.

Becker College; Worcester, MA

Another school that offers a major for pre-vet students is the School of Animal Studies at Becker College. Students on the pre-vet track can take their veterinary school prep one step further by pursing a bachelor’s degree in veterinary science, and it’s no wonder that the program is one of the best, as it’s the second most popular major at Becker.

Students work hands-on with animals in animal laboratories, veterinary clinic rotations, and career externships throughout the program. The school’s Becker Veterinary Clinic and Becker Equine Facility allow students to learn from real-life experiences and see how a veterinarian’s office is run from day-to-day.

While students are advised to begin the prerequisite science courses freshman year, they are also encouraged to integrate general studies and elective courses into their schedule, as to gain a broad base of skills while also preparing for the veterinarian school application process junior year.

Veterinary science students are not only prepared for veterinary school upon graduation, but are also qualified to pursue acceptance to the school’s two-year, AVMA-accredited program in veterinary technology.

Located in Worchester, MA, Becker College is a small, private college with an enrollment of just over 2,000. Becker is one of the nation’s top-25 oldest institutions of higher education, and offers 27 undergraduate degree programs. If ROI is a factor in your college search, look no further––Becker boasts a 99% employment and post-grad education placement rate.

Washington State University; Pullman, WA

When choosing a pre-professional program during undergrad, flexibility is important. At Washington State University, students interested in veterinary medicine are encouraged to major in just about anything they want!

The pre-veterinary track at WSU is designed to prepare students for veterinary school while also allowing them to explore other academic interests. Students in the pre-vet program are advised on which prerequisite courses they should take and are expected to maintain a strong academic record. Advisors in the school’s PHASE (Pre-Health and STEM Education) office help those interested in the pre-vet track pick the major that best fits their interests and goals, as well as help them incorporate the course prerequisites into their class schedule.

Pre-vet students are also encouraged to participate in the WSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital internship program, where they can get hands-on experience in the field as an undergraduate.

Pre-vet students in the Honors College also have the option to complete their undergraduate and doctor of veterinary medicine (DVM) degrees in seven years instead of eight.

WSU is a public research university located in Pullman, WA with an enrollment of about 20,000 students. WSU offers over 200 fields of study as well was over 1,200 study abroad programs in over 70 countries. Apart from its great pre-veterinary program, WSU is also known for its research and environmental sustainability initiatives. In addition to its own on-campus steam plant, which provides almost half of the campus’s energy, WSU also offers a free bike share system to reduce the school’s carbon footprint.

Hollins University; Roanoke, VA

Hollins University’s pre-vet program combines the benefits of a small women’s college with the research resources of a major university. Located in Roanoke, VA, Hollins is one of the oldest higher education institutions for women in the US. With just over 600 undergraduates, Hollins is a small private college that offers 26 majors with a strong liberal arts base.

Students interested in the pre-vet track at Hollins get the best of both worlds: a research intensive pre-vet track with exposure to a wide variety of liberal arts courses. Pre-vet students take the standard prerequisite science courses along with general skills and perspective courses that are part of the school’s Education through Skills and Perspectives (ESP) general education requirements.

The pre-vet program at Hollins is known for its hands-on approach to learning and research, and boasts one of the nation’s premier equine studies programs, where pre-vet students can spend a semester studying horses at the University of Limerick in Ireland.

Apart from the pre-vet program in Ireland, Hollins also offers study abroad opportunities at 14 different locations, including their own programs in Paris and London. More than 40% of Hollins students study abroad.

Veterinary medicine is an intensive program that requires a lot of post-graduate education, but getting on the right track during your undergraduate years can set you up for success when it comes time to apply to veterinary school. Other programs with great pre-veterinary programs and majors for undergraduates include Stanford University, University of Cincinnati, University of Maryland, and North Carolina State University.

10 Notable Large Animal Vet Tech Schools

Large animal veterinarians, also referred to as equine or farm animal veterinarians, can take care of and treat some of the most exotic animals known to man. All those large zoo animals that mesmerize audiences like tigers and bears, to farm animals like cows and pigs, are all options for those interested in becoming a large animal veterinarian expert.

By helping maintain food safety for these large animals and ensuring a healthy food supply for humans, there are several renowned large animal vet tech schools and farm animal programs that are available to those interested in pursuing this field as a professional career.

Read more to discover what the top 10 large animal vet tech schools in the nation have to offer.

Northeast Iowa Community College

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ADDRESS : CALMAR, IA

The large animal vet tech program at Northeast Iowa Community College gives students the opportunity to work with the school’s dairy animal herd and its commercial companion animal hospital. Students can find the dairy animal herd at the Dairy Center, which serves as a public education facility and is sponsored by the Northeast Iowa Dairy Foundation. Located just outside of Calmar, it features classrooms, labs, a free-stall barn and calf barn.

An internship is part of the large animal vet tech program and specialized courses offered in the field include large animal diagnostics, and large animal imaging and surgery. Although the school’s program focuses on large animals, students also learn the different aspects of vet tech medicine and take more general courses in animal health, veterinary medical terminology, and animal reproduction. Students also have the opportunity to join the school’s Rodeo Club.

Colorado Mountain College

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ADDRESS : GLENWOOD SPRINGS, CO

Students in the vet tech program at Colorado Mountain College can find the opportunity to work with large animals on a 220-acre farm overlooking the Rocky Mountains. Because the farm is home to about 175 animals, students can gain experience working with large animals such as horses, cattle, llama, and sheep. The farm also includes a science lab, work areas, and outdoor pens.

A 2,600-square-foot on-site hospital has been designed to operate like a vet hospital so that students can gain true-to-life vet tech experiences. This hospital features a large animal treatment area, a surgical suite, and dental, laboratory, and X-ray areas.

Students work toward completing an associate of applied science (AAS) degree and also have the option to take one-credit courses in animal management, including equine management.

Alfred State

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ADDRESS : ALFRED, NY

As part of the vet tech program available through Alfred State, students can find opportunities to learn more about large animals through its Alfred State Farm. There, students gain hands-on experience working with a variety of large farm animals such as dairy cattle, alpacas, horses, goats, pigs, and sheep.

Students work toward completing an associate of applied science (AAS) degree in the program and can find the opportunity to take coursework focused on large animal anatomy and physiology. Students also have the option to take a farm management course. Other classes in the program focus on animal health care, animal parasitology, and anesthesia and surgical nursing.

Overall, the program puts a strong emphasis on hands-on experiences by having animal examination and imaging rooms, the farm, and a pathology lab available to students.

Vet Tech Institute

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ADDRESS : CHICAGO, IL

Through the school’s associate of applied science (AAS) degree, students can gain hands-on knowledge working with animals such as cows, horses, and sheep at a farm, stable, or other such facilities. This AVMA-accredited program can be completed in 18 months and is offered at four campuses across the nation in Chicago, Houston, Indianapolis, and Pittsburgh.

The vet tech programs are designed to provide extensive hands-on experience through onsite kennels, surgical suites and prep areas, clinical labs, radiography rooms. The Chicago campus features public transportation and free parking and recreation opportunities.

With three convenient start dates available throughout the year, students can begin their degree program at their convenience and learn from talented faculty members who specialize in teaching courses such as large animal theory, large animal medicine, and large animals.

Columbus State Community College

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ADDRESS : COLUMBUS, OH

Students in the Columbus State Community College vet tech program have the opportunity to learn about large animals through coursework and internships in this two-year associate of applied science (AAS) degree program.

Students can choose from more than 160 clinics to fulfill their clinical experience requirements, as well as learn vet techniques in clinical laboratories, examination rooms, surgical, and radiology facilities.

While the first year of this program is most often spent in laboratory settings, the second year of the program requires physical strength and hand dexterity to maneuver large animals and practice ambulatory medicine on farm animals, as well as restraints of large animals such as horses and cows.

Columbus State’s program has been fully accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association since 1974. Graduates from this program are eligible to take the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE)—a credential that is recognized in more than 40 states to certify vet techs, including Ohio.

University Of New Hampshire

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ADDRESS : DURHAM, NH

In the University of New Hampshire vet tech program, students learn how to work with all the major domestic animals, including horses and cattle. The program leads to an associate of applied science (AAS) degree and provides specific coursework that is geared toward large animals. One of those is a two-credit large animal behavior and handling course offered in the first semester of the program. The other is the two-credit large animal practicum offered in the final semester of the second year.

The program trains students in all areas of veterinary care and offers more generalized courses in clinical animal nursing techniques, the fundamentals of animal health, and animal nutrition. Facilities that students may access as part of their program include the UNH equine facilities, the UNH Organic Dairy Farm, and the Applied Animal Science Biologic and Clinical Teaching Laboratory, among others.

The University Of Nebraska

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ADDRESS : CURTIS, NE

Students in the vet tech program at the University of Nebraska can find a number of opportunities to increase their large animal experience and understanding, including by working with animals located in a horse barn and a cattle facility at the school.

The vet tech program provides additional ways for students to increase hands-on learning including through a surgical operating theater, laboratories, and several X-ray facilities. The school’s program offers students training related to all aspects of a vet tech career. In the second year, students take a two-credit large animal techniques class. And during a summer session following the second year, students need to complete their large animal clinicals (among other clinical rotations).

Elective options that may be of interest to large animal vet tech students include livestock nutrition (offered online) and calving rotations. This school’s vet tech program may be unique in that it is one of the oldest in the U.S. to continually receive accreditation from the American Veterinary Medical Association. Since 1973, it has been approved by AVMA..

Michigan State University

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ADDRESS : EAST LANSING, MI

Unlike other large animal vet tech schools, the vet tech program offered through Michigan State University provides students an opportunity to complete a bachelor’s degree. It is particularly geared toward students who have an associate degree in another field or who have been taking courses without selecting a specific degree focus.

Students gain general knowledge in their first year of the vet tech program. In the second year, the take classes such as large animal and laboratory animal nursing care techniques, and large animal diseases and management. An elective track the third year allows students to take a diverse number of classes, including one focused on large animal anesthesiology. In their third year, students can also complete a clerkship in equine medicine and surgery, which is often considered part of large animal care.

Notably, the school also offers a five-semester vet tech certificate of completion for those who have already obtained an associate degree in another field.

La Guardia Community College

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ADDRESS : NEW YORK, NY

Students working on the associate of applied science vet tech degree available through LaGuardia Community College take general vet tech classes and a three-credit farm animal nursing class as part of the requirement of completing the program. This particular class provides them with a week-long experience at Suffolk County Farm, where they assist with births, neutering, and additional facets of animal husbandry. While there, students are able to expand their large animal vet tech experience by learning about horses, sheep lamb, llamas, and pigs.

Additionally, two ten-week internships provide students with experiences to work with a variety of animals. Of note, the school is the only one within New York City to offer a fully-accredited AVMA vet tech program.

Pierpont Community And Technical College

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ADDRESS : FAIRMONT, WV

Students in the two-year associate degree program at Pierpont Community and Technical College take classes focused on large animal vet tech care as part of their curriculum. In the health management of farm animals course, students learn about restraining, handling, and medicating large animals such as cows, goats, horses, pigs, and sheep. They also learn about interstate regulations and take several field trips as part of that course.

Pleasure horse management, another large animal course, specifically introduces students to working with and handling horses. Students received instruction in topics such as common horse breeds, health, and care, nutrition, and transportation as part of that class. Finally, students may be able to find hands-on experience working with large animals by assisting a veterinarian as part of two fieldwork experiences (or preceptorships) required by the school.