Best Veterinary Schools

Updated on April 8, 2024

Veterinary medicine is a competitive field, but rewarding for those passionate about animal health. When researching vet schools, factors like admissions statistics, curriculum, research opportunities, and career support should be considered. Here are 10 of the best vet schools in the U.S.

Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine

Location: Ithaca, NY

Rating: 9.5/10

Acceptance Rate: 13%

Avg GRE Score: Verbal 153, Quantitative 155, Analytical Writing 4.0

Tuition: $63,000 per year (in-state), $63,000 per year (out-of-state)

Website: https://www2.vet.cornell.edu/

The Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine is one of the top ranked vet schools in the world. Their unique curriculum offers early clinical experience and learning across species. With a 13% acceptance rate, Cornell vet school is very selective but worth the effort for their excellent academics and state-of-the-art teaching hospital.

University of California, Davis School of Veterinary Medicine

Location: Davis, CA

Rating: 9.3/10

Acceptance Rate: 3.8%

Avg GRE Score: Verbal 156, Quantitative 155, Analytical Writing 4.5

Tuition: $46,289 per year (in-state), $62,621 per year (out-of-state)

Website: https://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/

UC Davis is world renowned for their veterinary program. Their unique curriculum offers early clinical experience and a variety of learning opportunities across species. With a less than 4% acceptance rate, UC Davis vet school is extremely selective but provides an excellent education.

North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine

Location: Raleigh, NC

Rating: 9.1/10

Acceptance Rate: 9.4%

Avg GRE Score: Verbal 155, Quantitative 154, Analytical Writing 4.0

Tuition: $34,390 per year (in-state), $63,960 per year (out-of-state)

Website: https://cvm.ncsu.edu/

North Carolina State’s College of Veterinary Medicine provides top notch academics paired with affordability for in-state students. The curriculum focuses on real-world clinical skills starting day 1. Research and residency opportunities abound through their veterinary health complex.

University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine

Location: Philadelphia, PA

Rating: 9.5/10

Acceptance Rate: 3.9%

Avg GRE Score: Verbal 157, Quantitative 156, Analytical Writing 4.5

Tuition: $61,850 per year

Website: https://www.vet.upenn.edu/

Penn Vet is one of the most competitive vet schools, with the lowest admit rate on this list. However, their excellent academics, research opportunities (receiving over $25 million in research grants annually), and state-of-the-art facilities make it an elite choice.

Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences

Location: Fort Collins, CO

Rating: 8.9/10

Acceptance Rate: 10.9%

Avg GRE Score: Verbal 153, Quantitative 153, Analytical Writing 4.0

Tuition: $41,400 per year (in-state), $90,100 per year (out-of-state)

Website: http://csu-cvmbs.colostate.edu/

Colorado State offers a great combination of clinical experience and classroom instruction. Their Veterinary Teaching Hospital sees over 30,000 cases a year, allowing extensive hands-on learning. With over 300 research studies ongoing, students can readily get involved.

Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine

Location: Columbus, OH

Rating: 8.7/10

Acceptance Rate: 12.7%

Avg GRE Score: Verbal 154, Quantitative 153, Analytical Writing 4.0

Tuition: $41,630 per year (in-state), $65,910 per year (out-of-state)

Website: https://vet.osu.edu/

Ohio State’s College of Veterinary Medicine excels in large animal studies with their state-of-the-art Mary Anne McPhail Equine Performance Evaluation Center. Their Veterinary Medical Center sees over 35,000 cases a year across species.

University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine

Location: Gainesville, FL

Rating: 9.1/10

Acceptance Rate: 8.7%

Avg GRE Score: Verbal 155, Quantitative 154, Analytical Writing 4.0

Tuition: $30,954 per year (in-state), $58,446 per year (out-of-state)

Website: https://vetmed.ufl.edu/

The University of Florida vet school is highly ranked and offers an affordable option for in-state students. The curriculum provides over 1,000 hours of clinical experience during the four years. Research opportunities are plentiful with over $12 million in annual research grants received.

Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine

Location: Auburn, AL

Rating: 8.5/10

Acceptance Rate: 7.4%

Avg GRE Score: Verbal 153, Quantitative 152, Analytical Writing 4.0

Tuition: $30,840 per year (in-state), $61,950 per year (out-of-state)

Website: https://cve.auburn.edu/

Auburn’s College of Veterinary Medicine shines in research on infectious diseases, cancer, and disabilities in dogs and horses. Their Veterinary Medical Clinics host over 35,000 patient visits per year. As an added bonus, Auburn University owns 1,260 acres available for agricultural animal research.

Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine

Location: West Lafayette, IN

Rating: 8.3/10

Acceptance Rate: 10.4%

Avg GRE Score: Verbal 153, Quantitative 154, Analytical Writing 4.0

Tuition: $26,740 per year (in-state), $51,994 per year (out-of-state)

Website: https://vet.purdue.edu/

Purdue’s College of Veterinary Medicine offers big opportunities for hands-on learning at their Veterinary Teaching Hospital, which hosts over 35,000 patient visits annually. Their curriculum focuses on real-world clinical skills starting early on.

Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences

Location: College Station, TX

Rating: 8.6/10

Acceptance Rate: 8.7%

Avg GRE Score: Verbal 153, Quantitative 154, Analytical Writing 4.0

Tuition: $22,433 per year (in-state), $50,217 per year (out-of-state)

Website: https://vetmed.tamu.edu/

Texas A&M’s College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences offers a robust research program, including a dedicated research wing, with over $31 million in annual research expenditures. Their Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital allows early and extensive clinical work across species.

Learn More

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the hardest vet schools to get into?

The most competitive vet schools are University of California, Davis (3.8% acceptance rate), University of Pennsylvania (3.9%), and Cornell University (13%). Applicants need near perfect GPAs and GRE scores to be admitted.

Do I need research experience for vet school?

Research experience is not absolutely required but can make you a much stronger applicant, especially for the more competitive schools. Hands-on research shows your commitment to scientific rigor and advancement of veterinary medicine.

Is being a veterinarian worth it?

Veterinary medicine requires years of schooling and often leaves graduates with six-figure student debt. However, vets play the rewarding role of improving animal health and welfare. With a projected job growth rate of 16% in the next decade, veterinary medicine offers great job prospects if the long education road seems worth it.

What undergrad major is best for vet school admission?

You don’t need a specific major but should take the necessary prerequisite courses for vet schools. Majors like animal science, biochemistry, biology, and zoology align well with vet school prerequisites. Regardless of major, focus on getting well-rounded experiences with animals, research, leadership and volunteer work.

Should I attend an in-state or out-of-state vet school?

In-state schools offer huge savings on tuition but are often very competitive for state residents to be accepted. Out-of-state options provide more options to find the best school for your interests but the tuition is steep. Consider in-state options in the region near you as they often provide discounts compared to schools further away.

What GPA and GRE scores do I need for vet school?

Vet school applicants average around a 3.6 GPA and GRE scores of Verbal 153-157, Quantitative 152-156, Analytical Writing 4.0. However, to be a competitive applicant your stats should exceed those averages, especially for top tier programs. Strong upward trends in grades help too!

Should I go to vet school or medical school?

Think deeply about your passion – helping sick people or sick animals? Shadowing doctors and vets can provide insight. Also consider factors like length of schooling (medical school is longer), average debt, salary prospects, and day-to-day life for each career. Both allow you to help others so choose the one calling you most!

Is veterinary medicine a dying field?

While the Internet has changed some aspects of animal care and rural practices face unique challenges, veterinary medicine as a whole is thriving. Pet ownership continues to grow in the U.S., increasing demand for vets. And vets play a vital role in public health, food safety, and conservation – expanding their impact.

How competitive are veterinary residencies?

After vet school, residencies provide advanced clinical training, similar to medical residencies for doctors. Competition has increased significantly over the past decade, with some specialties being harder than others to match into. Pursuing a residency is a long road, so ensure your passion for the specialty makes it worthwhile.

What types of veterinarians make the most money?

Veterinary specialists, who have advanced training through residencies, typically earn the highest salaries. Examples include radiologists, surgeons, internal medicine specialists, criticalists, cardiologists and anesthesiologists. However, cost of living varies greatly so average pay by region is also important to consider.

JOIN OUR NEWSLETTER
I agree to have my personal information transfered to MailChimp ( more information )
Join over 100,000 visitors who are receiving our newsletter and learn more about finance, immigration, and more!
We hate spam. Your email address will not be sold or shared with anyone else.

Rohit Mittal

Rohit Mittal is the co-founder and CEO of Stilt. Rohit has extensive experience in credit risk analytics and data science. He spent years building credit risk and fraud models for top U.S. banks. In his current role, he defines the overall business strategy, leads debt and capital fundraising efforts, leads product development, and leads other customer-related aspects for the company. Stilt is backed by Y Combinator and has raised a total of $275M in debt and equity funding to date.

Get the Checklist