In addition to getting a broad education in animal science, veterinary medicine students can specialize in areas such as small animal surgery, environmental toxicology and aquatic medicine. These are the top veterinary medicine schools. Each school’s score reflects its average rating on a scale from 1 (marginal) to 5 (outstanding), based on a survey of academics at peer institutions
Veterinary medicine is an exciting and diverse field. Whether you’re helping heal puppies as a small animal doctor, researching infectious diseases in alligators and bald eagles, or learning about cutting-edge methods to keep cows healthy on a dairy farm, being an expert veterinarian has crucial implications for animal and human health. The first step to doing your job well, of course, is getting into veterinary school.
For future veterinarians, there are implications of where you choose to earn your degree. As you complete the vet school requirements, you’ll want to understand the way vet schools are ranked and perceived professionally.
Broadly, according to theVIN Foundation, the veterinary school you attend won’t have much of an effect on where you practice or how much you earn after school. Unlike the field of human medicine, residency training is not required to practice veterinary medicine. Where you choose to attend can, however, “have a significant impact upon the price you pay for your veterinary degree.” For example, at the University of Georgia, out-of-state students pay about $30,000 more annually in tuition and fees than in-state students. Where you’re a resident matters: at Iowa State, in-state students pay $11,204 in tuition. At UC Davis, in-state students pay $32,126.
It’s also worth considering which facilities will best help you follow your specific interests. For example, if you’re passionate about livestock, you may want to consider a program like NC State that has an 80-acre teaching farm. If you’re interested in biomedical research, then you might gravitate towards a program that offers students myriad research opportunities—like the University of Florida.
Below is a list of the country’s best vet schools, based on U.S. News & World Report rankings. We’ve also compiled notes on each school to help you understand each program’s unique offerings:
Numerical ranking in U.S. News & World Report
Special notes on faculty and availability
Location
Cost (tuition and fees)
Opportunities for hands-on experience, research, and professional development
Ultimately, though, choosing a veterinary school isn’t about numerical ranking: it’s about finding the right fit. Despite their differences, any of the vet schools on this list will put you on your way to becoming an excellent veterinarian
Top 100 veterinary schools across the globe in 2021
University of California—Davis School of Veterinary Medicine
US News and World Report Rank: 1
Location: Davis, CA
Public or Private: Public
Special notes on faculty: Over 300 faculty. The UC Davis website boasts of its professors’ standing in “transdisciplinary research,” especially.
Professional development opportunities: Research opportunities, international externships, and summer clinics are all available to vet school students, in addition to clinical experiences during the year. More information can be foundhere.
Year one tuition: California residents: $32,126. Nonresidents: $44,371
Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine
US News and World Report Rank: 2
Location: Ithaca, NY
Public or Private: Private
Special notes on faculty: Over 75 faculty members, many who partner with organizations like the Bronx Zoo and the Jane Goodall Institute.
Professional development opportunities: According to their website, “[m]ost Cornell veterinary students accept offers of employment before graduating.” Cornell also boasts professional development programs like the Summer Dairy Institute and the Veterinary Investigator Program. More information on those and other externships and research opportunities can be foundhere.
Year one tuition: NY state resident: $37,136. Nonresident: $54,744
Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
US News and World Report Rank: 3
Location: Fort Collins, CO
Public or Private: Public
Special notes on faculty: CSU’s website boasts “world class faculty who represent 28 veterinary specialties”
Professional development opportunities: During their 3rd and 4th years, veterinary students at CSU can expect to do clinical rotations at the James L. Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Other opportunities include theDVM mentorship program, which pairs vet students with working professionals.
Year one tuition: Colorado sponsored: $37,980. Colorado non-sponsored: $61,362
North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine
US News and World Report Rank: 4 (tie)
Location: Raleigh, NC
Public or Private: Public
Special notes on faculty: 149 faculty work with the program. Of the clinical faculty, 35 disciplines are represented—these faculty are nationally and internationally recognized.
Professional development opportunities: The program includes a “clinical phase” in the fourth year of training. Other opportunities include theSummer Research Internship and theTeaching Animal Unit, an 80-acre “on-campus teaching lab” where students can learn more about livestock and husbandry.
Year one tuition: NC residents: $19,616. Non-residents: $47,657.
The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine
US News and World Report Rank: 4 (tie)
Location: Columbus, OH
Public or Private: Public
Special notes on faculty: 130 faculty. Ohio State is particularly proud of its faculty on the cutting edge of research in infectious disease, advanced orthopedic procedures, food safety, and the relationship between viruses and cancer. More information can be found here.
Professional development opportunities: Students have clinical experiences as early as year one. These include the Shelter Medicine & Surgery Program, the Veterinary Clinical & Professional Skills Center, and the 133-acre teaching farm. Details on these programs and others can be foundhere.
Year one tuition: Ohio resident: $32,957. Non-resident: $72,293.
Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
US News and World Report Rank: 4 (tie)
Location: College Station, TX
Public or Private: Public
Special notes on faculty: None
Professional development opportunities: TheVeterinary, Education, Research & Outreach program, which serves the Panhandle’s livestock; theVeterinary Emergency Team, which provides veterinary support to search-and-rescue operations; veterinary study abroadopportunities.
Year one tuition: Resident:$24,654. Non-resident: $38,454
University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine
US News and World Report Rank: 4 (tie)
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Public or Private: Private
Special notes on faculty: None
Professional development opportunities: Clinical curriculum begins in the third year, but clinical electives available as early as first year. Independent study and externship opportunities available, as well as rotations in the Hospital for Large Animals, Swine Unit, and Marshak Dairy. More infohere.
Year one tuition & fees: PA resident: $51,550 Non-resident: $61,550
University of Wisconsin—Madison School of Veterinary Medicine
US News and World Report Rank: 8
Location: Madison, WI
Public or Private: Public
Special notes on faculty: UWnotes that scientists in the veterinary school “conduct 75% of the infectious disease research at UW-Madison.”
Professional development opportunities: UW Veterinary Care Teaching Hospital; hourly lab work opportunities during the school year and summer researchfellowships
Year one tuition & fees: WI resident:$31,797.Non-resident: $50,485.
University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine
US News and World Report Rank: 9
Location: Gainesville, FL
Public or Private: Public
Special notes on faculty: According tothis fact sheet, most faculty “pursue both clinical and basic science research interests.” One of the school’s goals is to advance biomedical research.
Professional development opportunities: UF maintains a database ofexternships, including international opportunities.Clinical skills lab provides hands-on clinical experience to first- and second-year students.
Year one tuition: FL resident: $28,786. Non-resident: $45,500
University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine
US News and World Report Rank: 10 (tie)
Location: Athens, GA
Public or Private: Public
Special notes on faculty: None
Professional development opportunities: TheGeorgia Veterinary Scholars Program “provides biomedical research opportunities for veterinary students.”
Year one tuition: GA resident: $17,514. Non-resident: $47,176
University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine
US News and World Report Rank: 10 (tie)
Location: St. Paul, MN
Public or Private: Public
Special notes on faculty: None
Professional development opportunities: Facilities include: the Veterinary Medical Center (VMC), Leatherdale Equine Center, John Fetrow Dairy Education Center, and The Raptor Center. Opportunities for disease research are available as early as first year through theSummer Scholars Program and others. The DVM program includes 13 months of clinical rotations within the VMC.
Year one tuition & fees: MN resident: $32,338. Non-resident: $58,042
Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine
US News and World Report Rank: 12
Location: North Grafton, MA
Public or Private: Private
Special notes on faculty: Tufts is particularly proud of its faculty research. Research news can be perusedhere.
Professional development opportunities: An entire year (4th year) of clinical rotations.Summer Research Program. Signature opportunities include theWildlife and Conservation Medicine Signature Opportunity and theInternational Medicine Signature Opportunity. There are also opportunities inclinical excellence andanimal ethics.
Year one tuition: MA resident:$51,460. Non-resident: 58,360
Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine
US News and World Report Rank: 13
Location: West Lafayette, IN
Public or Private: Public
Special notes on faculty: Purdue emphasizes that students receive “one-on-one interaction with faculty” and “access to faculty-led research experiences”
Professional development opportunities: Third year focus on clinical sciences. International opportunities andexternships are available. Research opportunities are available in theCenter for the Human-Animal Bond and the Center for Animal Welfare Science.
Year one tuition & fees: IN resident: $19,918. Non-resident: $44,746
Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine
US News and World Report Rank: 14 (tie)
Location: Auburn, AL
Public or Private: Public
Special notes on faculty: over 100.
Professional development opportunities: Required preceptorship—in which students are supervised in clinical practice—is part of the curriculum. Facilities include a small and large animal teaching hospital. Students can apply for the summerVeterinary Scholars Research Program.
Year one tuition & fees: AL & KY residents: $20,588. Non-residents: $48,244
Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine
US News and World Report Rank: 14 (tie)
Location: Ames, IA
Public or Private: Public
Special notes on faculty: Students have the opportunity to practice alongside faculty at the Iowa State Fair, a major event for agriculture and animal husbandry in the region; faculty prioritizes making students “practice-ready”
Professional development opportunities: One year of clinical training in the Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center; other training opportunities at the Swine Medicine Education Center, Great Plains Veterinary Education Center, and the Des Moines’ Blank Park Zoo.Study abroad programs are offered. Receives the most funding in the nation from the USDA. According to their fast facts, “last summer, more than 15% of our student body had a research experience.”
Year one tuition & fees: IA residents: $11,204. Non-residents: $26,376