Tufts University School Of Veterinary Medicine is located in Grafton Massachusetts. The university was formally titled as the Veterinary College of Tufts University. The school falls under the higher education division of Tufts University, which also runs dental school campuses, a law school and medical school.

DVM Program

Veterinarians are uniquely qualified to address several important current and future issues that face our nation and the world. Their expertise is the consequence of an educational background that is strongly based on the principles of comparative biology and medicine as applied to a variety of animal and human health-related problems.

DVM Course Prerequisites

DVM applicants must have completed the equivalent of at least three full undergraduate academic years at an accredited college or university and fulfilled 90 semester hours of course work before enrollment.

Candidates must successfully complete the following courses prior to enrolling at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University but not necessarily prior to applying to the school. Recommended, but not required, are additional courses such as cell biology, microbiology, physiology, comparative or developmental anatomy. Please contact the admissions office if you have any questions about whether specific courses fulfill these prerequisites.

Although some online courses (rather than traditional in-class coursework) can be used to fulfill prerequisite courses, we strongly recommend obtaining pre-approval from the Office of Admissions for specific courses. Candidates who do not obtain pre-approval risk having to retake course prerequisites prior to matriculation in the veterinary program. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, applicants do not need approval from the admissions office to take online coursework for the 2020-21 academic year.General Biology with laboratory (two semesters)A one-year general biology course intended for biology majors and/or students entering veterinary or medical school. Course topics would ideally include the biology of cells (both structure and function); origin and classification of organisms (both prokaryotes and eukaryotes); the biology of plants, animals and populations. Principles of evolution, genetics, biochemistry, cell biology, embryology, anatomy, physiology, ecology and ethology should be included.General Chemistry with laboratory (two semesters)A one-year general (inorganic) chemistry course intended for chemistry majors and/or students entering veterinary or medical school. Course topics would ideally include atomic and molecular structure; intermolecular forces and states of matter; the relationship of structure and bonding to the physical and chemical properties of matter; patterns of chemical reactions and energy changes; gases; aqueous reactions and ionic equations; atomic and molecular chemical kinetics and equilibria; acids and bases; electro-chemistry and stereochemistry.Organic Chemistry with laboratory (two semesters)A one-year organic chemistry course intended for chemistry majors and/or students entering veterinary or medical school. Course topics would ideally include the structure and reactions of covalent carbon compounds, mono– and polyfunctional compounds, as well as aliphatic and aromatic structures. Stereochemistry, spectroscopy, reactivity, synthesis, polymer and bioorganic chemistry, and electronic interpretations of organic chemistry should also be included.Physics (two semesters)A one-year physics course intended for students entering veterinary or medical school. Course topics would ideally include kinematics; Newton’s laws of motion; laws of conservation; elasticity; oscillations and fluid mechanics; principles of classical and relativistic mechanics; electromagnetism and electrical circuits; heat and thermodynamics; sound and wave phenomena; geometrical and physical optics; radioactivity; atomic nuclear, and particle physics; astrophysics.Genetics (one semester, unless included in General Biology)The course would ideally include fundamentals of classical, molecular, and population genetics, including genetic mapping, DNA structure and mutation, bacterial and viral genetics, genetic organization and regulation of gene expression.Biochemistry (one semester)A one-semester course in biochemistry offered by a chemistry, biochemistry, or biology department. Course topics would ideally include an in-depth examination of the structure and function of major biomolecules; chemical and physical properties of nucleic acids, proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids; gene replication and expression; biochemical energetics; principles of enzyme kinetics; vitamins and coenzymes; pH and buffers; and an examination of primary metabolic pathways in the mammalian organism.Mathematics (two semesters)May include a statistics course taken in a department other than mathematics.English (two semesters)May include composition, reading, and or speech communication.Social and Behavioral Sciences (two semesters)May include psychology, sociology, cultural anthropology, political science, and/or economics.(Note: Animal Behavior courses do not fulfill this prerequisite)Humanities and Fine Arts (two semesters)May include literature, music, art, history, philosophy, religion, and/or foreign language.

DVM Admissions

We are as committed to our students as we are to the future of veterinary medicine. Applicants who are admitted for admission to our DVM program are considered the most capable of excelling as veterinary medical students and possess the greatest potential to successfully serve the needs of the school, community, and profession. By applying to Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, you are not only taking the first step to becoming a successful practicing veterinarian; you are affirming your commitment to healing animals, helping humans, and transforming global health.

Summer 2021 Student Panel Series

We are pleased to announce our upcoming Summer Student Panel Series!

These remote sessions will provide you with the opportunity to meet and interact with current veterinary students at the Cummings School at Tufts University.

There’s no need to register in advance–just login in at the start of a session and enjoy!

Expectations vs. Reality
Hear from current students about surprises, challenges, and adaptations during veterinary school.
Wednesday, June 30, 2021
7:30 pm EDT
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The Tufts Curriculum
We’ll take a year-by-year look at the schedules, content, and opportunities in the DVM program at Cummings School.
Wednesday, July 14, 2021
7:30 pm EDT
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The Application Process
An open Q&A session with our Associate Director of Admissions during which topics of timelines, application review, GPAs, essays, letters of evaluation, and interviews are all in play.
Wednesday, July 28, 2021
7:30 pm EDT
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Non-Traditional Paths to Vet School: Planning and Preparing For Your Career
A panel for the non-traditional majors, career-changers, and older applicants–learn how you may not be as non-traditional as you think.
Wednesday, August 11, 2021
7:30 pm EDT
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Meet Our Faculty
An opportunity to hear from faculty members who are part of the community at Cummings School.
Wednesday, August 25, 2021 (tentative)
7:30 pm EDT
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Open Q&A
Come armed with your questions about veterinary school and Tufts! Topics may include: life in Grafton, MA, work opportunities, student wellness, clubs, dual degrees, selectives… make this session your own.
Wednesday, September 8, 2021
7:30 pm EDT
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Tuition and Fees at Cummings School

Tuition and Fees/ General Financial Information

Pursuing your professional degree can be a substantial financial commitment. Being informed about the costs and fees associated with your education can help you make the most of your resources.

Tuition for the 2021-2022 Academic Year
Professional Degree Program Tuition	Tuition
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (MA residents [1]/Out-of-State resident)	$56,322/$63,122
Nonrefundable tuition payment due upon acceptance	$500
Combined Degree Graduate Programs Note: Tuition listed below is in addition to DVM program tuition
DVM/M.S. in Laboratory Animal Medicine	$6,900
DVM/MPH with Tufts University School of Medicine (new students/returning students)	$8,122
Stand-alone Graduate Degree Programs
Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences (pre-exam/post-qualifying exam)	$28,640/$5,000
M.S. in Animals and Public Policy	$46,130
M.S. in Conservation Medicine	$46,130
M.S. in Infectious Disease and Global Health	$46,130

1. MA resident tuition subsidy contingent upon funding of state appropriation.

The Trustees of Tufts College reserve the right to change tuition and fees, or to establish additional fees or charges for special features or services if deemed necessary. The earliest possible notification of changes in tuition or fees will be provided. Additional information about billing and payment can be found at the Health Sciences Bursar’s Office.

Cost of Education

The Cost of Education is updated annually by the Financial Aid Office and is comprised of direct and indirect expenses and used to establish eligibility for financial aid. Direct expenses generally include costs all students will incur, such as tuition and fees. Indirect expenses include costs based on the average amount students spend on budget components such as rent, food, utilities, books, transportation, and personal expenses. Per federal regulation, a Cost of Education must be established for each academic program and a student’s aid from all sources, including loans, may not exceed the standard Cost of Education. Students are expected to exercise careful control over their living expenses while attending school.

The Cost of Education is limited to cover only expenses incurred by the student and only for periods of enrollment. Incoming students should plan to have three months of living expenses available from non-financial aid resources to secure an apartment and purchase books/supplies. Continuing students should also plan to use non-financial aid resources to meet expenses for summer periods between academic years. Refunds for living expenses from financial aid will not be issued until the start of classes each term and is contingent on all aid-related requirements being met (entrance loan counseling, required promissory notes, and submission of signed aid notification). Living expense refunds cannot be issued until credits exceed tuition/fees account charges.

Payment Schedule

Complete payment for the fall semester is generally due by August 1st; payment for the spring semester is generally due by December 1st.

For more information visit the Bursar site.

Refund Policy

In the event that a student leaves the school after beginning a term, the Cummings School tuition refund policy below may be applied:

Tuition Refund Amounts
Attendance	Refund
Two weeks or less	80%
Two to three weeks	60%
Three to four weeks	40%
Four to five weeks	20%
Thereafter	None

Other charges for the term—such as health insurance, the activity fee, the  technology fee  and other similar assessments—are not prorated upon withdrawal during a term.

Students and prospective students may wish to contact the Financial Aid Office for information about the Federal Refund Process for Federal Student Financial Aid Program Recipients. Once a student has notified Cummings School of his or her intention to take a leave of absence, or to withdraw, the Bursar’s and Financial Aid Offices will be notified. The Financial Aid Office will calculate the portion of federal aid required to be returned to the lenders by the student and/or Cummings School. The student is responsible for any outstanding balance this calculation may create.