Ultimate Guide to Every Accredited Veterinary School in the U.S.
A deep dive into every accredited veterinary school in the U.S., covering tuition, acceptance rates, debt data, and student perspectives. Updated July 2026 with current AAVMC cost data and the latest accreditation changes.
Hound Team · 12 min
Applying to veterinary school is a daunting and expensive process, and the numbers move fast. Tuition, class sizes, and debt loads have all shifted meaningfully since we first published this guide in 2023, and three schools have newly entered the accreditation pipeline.
We went back through official school data, AAVMC's 2026 Cost Comparison Tool, and AVMA's latest graduate surveys to bring every figure current. On some schools, we also heard from actual students about what life is like and what they'd improve.
Admissions statistics (class size, applications, average GPA) come from each school's own published class profiles, so the "as-of" cycle varies by school. Cost and debt figures come from AAVMC's 2026 Cost Comparison Tool for the Class of 2025 graduates, so those are directly comparable across schools even where admissions cycles differ.
What's Changed Since 2023
Utah State University now has its own independent 4-year DVM program (previously a 2+2 partnership with Washington State) and holds provisional accreditation.
Rowan University's Shreiber School of Veterinary Medicine (Glassboro, NJ) opened in October 2025, the first vet school in New Jersey, also provisional.
Universidad Ana G. Méndez in Puerto Rico holds provisional accreditation for a new veterinary program.
Clemson University and Arkansas State University are building programs but aren't yet AVMA-accredited; Clemson expects its first class in Fall 2026.
Tuskegee University and Lincoln Memorial University's main campus were placed on probationary accreditation (still fully accredited, under sanction) after AVMA reviews.
University of Arizona is progressing from provisional toward full accreditation as its program matures.
Lincoln Memorial University now also operates a second campus in Orange Park, FL.
Long Island University's veterinary college was renamed the Lewyt College of Veterinary Medicine.
That brings the current AVMA-accredited total to 36 U.S. veterinary colleges (29 fully accredited, 5 provisional, 2 probationary), plus schools in Canada and the Caribbean.
What's the Most Affordable Veterinary School?
Based on total cost figures reported to AAVMC for the Class of 2025 (tuition, fees, and estimated living costs; non-resident figures assume residency cannot be established after year one unless noted).
Most affordable resident tuition
Rank
School
Resident tuition
1
North Carolina State University
$80,552
2
Purdue University
$93,033
3
Kansas State University
$103,175
4
Oklahoma State University
$104,700
5
Texas A&M University
$109,458
Most affordable resident total cost
Rank
School
Resident total cost
1
North Carolina State University
$202,682
2
Purdue University
$206,178
3
Kansas State University
$222,152
4
Texas A&M University
$240,317
5
Iowa State University
$242,205
Most affordable non-resident tuition
Rank
School
Non-resident tuition
1
Texas A&M University
$173,764
2
University of Missouri-Columbia
$181,875
3
Purdue University
$192,390
4
University of California, Davis
$193,260
5
North Carolina State University
$204,663
Most affordable non-resident total cost
Rank
School
Non-resident total cost
1
University of Missouri-Columbia
$310,827
2
Texas A&M University
$317,172
3
Purdue University
$324,923
4
North Carolina State University
$351,012
5
The Ohio State University
$369,022
Missouri and North Carolina State both let non-resident students establish in-state residency partway through the program, which can shrink the effective non-resident premium considerably.
Which Veterinary School Is Easiest to Get Into?
This is harder to pin down precisely than it used to be, since schools publish admissions cycles on different schedules and a few (Cornell, Kansas State) don't disclose applicant counts at all.
School
Seats
Applicants
Approx. rate
Tuskegee University
Unconfirmed
~294
directional only — lowest applicant volume we could confirm
Western University of Health Sciences
120
1,467
~8.2%
Oklahoma State University
121
1,463
~8.3%
Texas Tech University
100
~1,000
~10%
Louisiana State University
198
2,776
~7.1%
Most competitive
School
Seats
Applicants
Approx. rate
University of Arizona
~100
2,541
~3.9%
Purdue University
86
nearly 2,000
~4.4%
Nationally, U.S. DVM enrollment reached 16,143 students in 2024-25, up more than 30% since 2015.
Auburn no longer publishes an average admitted GPA.
"I really enjoy the atmosphere of AUCVM. Every class varies a little bit, but we very much operate as a team. We all share resources and study guides and are always eager to help one another. It's a really supportive community."
Flat rate for resident and non-resident. Now on probationary accreditation (still fully accredited).
"I love the diversity at TUCVM; we are the most racially diverse veterinary school in the United States. Being surrounded by classmates and professors who look like me has been invaluable in minimizing imposter syndrome. I have never felt like I don't belong here."
2,541 — one of the largest pools of any U.S. school
Avg. GPA
Unconfirmed
% indebted
87.7%
Notes
3-year accelerated curriculum. Figures per AAVMC's Cost Comparison Tool.
"One of my favorite things is that we have an accelerated program completed in 3 years rather than the traditional 4 — you get started in your career an entire year earlier! Students have the opportunity to continuously provide feedback and help improve the curriculum."
"From the very first day, the problem-based learning curriculum teaches us how to work through cases — not just memorizing information for exams, but for life. We work with live animals from our very first block."
"My biggest advice: relax more, stress less. No one cares how good of a veterinarian you are if you're not a good person. Veterinary school requires mental fortitude — don't be a stagnant student."
"What I like most is the support from faculty and staff — it creates a nurturing environment of calm in an otherwise stressful setting. I also love UFCVM's Aquatic Animal Health Certificate program, the only one of its kind at a veterinary college."
"The support of faculty/staff and the environment at LSU set the foundation. Network and reach out to everyone in the vet community here — everyone is rooting for you to succeed."
Missouri allows residency reclassification, which helps explain its unusually low non-resident total.
"At Missouri CVM, the vast majority of instructors know students personally on a first-name basis. They meet one-on-one after tough exams, tutor in the anatomy lab on weekends, and host after-hours exam reviews. My #1 tip: don't be afraid to use your resources and ask for help."
"Be open to new ideas and experiences. You'll be surrounded by people from all different walks of life, and it's important to learn from one another. Be willing to work hard — there are many resources here, you just have to be willing to use them."
121 (Class of 2030) — 106 standard + 15 early-admission
Applications
1,463
Avg. GPA
3.75 overall
% indebted
82.4%
"Every incoming first year is paired with a second-year mentor — you already have a built-in support system. Students here are genuine and want each other to succeed. It's not cutthroat; it's a supportive atmosphere where everyone is trying to help each other become the best doctors we can be."
📍 Harrogate, Tennessee (plus a second campus in Orange Park, FL) | lmunet.edu
Resident
Non-resident
Tuition
$219,174
$219,174
Total cost
$410,381
$410,381
Seats
225/year — 125 fall + 100 spring, two entry cohorts
Applications
Unconfirmed
Avg. GPA
Min. 2.8
% indebted
90.9%
Notes
Figures per AAVMC's Cost Comparison Tool (listed as a single non-resident rate). Now on probationary accreditation for a Standard 10 deficiency (still fully accredited); NAVLE pass rate matched the national average at 89% in 2025.
"The close-knit atmosphere and distributive clinical year model make LMU shine. Because the school does not have a teaching hospital, LMU partners with hundreds of practices around the country, allowing students to 'build their own adventure' for their clinical year."
Tuition isn't broken out separately from total cost. Students who establish WA residency after year one pay a blended ~$161,874 instead of the full non-resident rate.
Figures per AAVMC's Cost Comparison Tool; SGU's own site previously showed cohort-tiered rates rather than one flat figure.
National Debt and Salary Trends, Class of 2025
Metric
Class of 2023
Class of 2025
Average debt, all graduates
$154,451
$174,484
Average debt, graduates with debt
$185,486
$212,499
% of graduates carrying debt
—
82.1%
Owed more than $200,000
—
40%
Owed more than $400,000
—
5.9%
Average starting salary for the Class of 2025 was $129,000 overall: $140,000 in companion animal practice (72.6% of grads), $112,000 in mixed practice, $100,000 in food animal practice, and $95,000 in equine practice. The debt-to-income ratio has held roughly steady at 1.4:1 for two years running.