The Ultimate Guide to U.S. Veterinary Colleges

Sara Ott
Head of Community Experience @ hound
Elizabeth Santana
Community Experience Manager @ hound
~30 min read
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Applying to veterinary school can be a daunting (& expensive process). But, don’t worry! We did a deep-dive into each veterinary school, what it’ll cost, acceptance rates, and debt information, to help you make an informed decision. And, on some, we even got to talk to actual students there about what life is like & what they would improve about their experience!

Before we jump into that, let’s look at the top 5 most affordable school & the 5 with the highest acceptance rates.

What’s the most affordable veterinary school?

When we think of affordability, there are a few different factors. First, resident tuition will always be cheaper. So it’s smart to try to get into schools in your state of residence, if applicable. 

Second, tuition is only one piece of the puzzle. You’ll also need to factor in living expenses, fees, and other costs related to your attendance. With that in mind, we’ve split up affordability into 4 categories:

Most affordable resident tuition:

  1. North Carolina State University: $78,479
  2. Purdue University: $80,734
  3. University Of Georgia: $87,316
  4. Texas Tech University: $88,000
  5. Kansas State University: $91,184

Most affordable resident total cost:

  1. St. George’s University: $163,479
  2. Purdue University: $170,742
  3. Ross University: $175,372
  4. University Of Georgia: $181,227
  5. North Carolina State University: $182,627

Most affordable non-resident tuition:

  1. North Carolina State University: $106,520
  2. Texas Tech University: $131,200
  3. Washington State University: $135,271
  4. University Of Missouri-Columbia: $142,881
  5. The Ohio State University: $149,601

Most affordable non-resident total cost:

  1. St. George’s University: $163,479
  2. Ross University: $175,372
  3. North Carolina State University: $214,731
  4. Washington State University: $240,718
  5. Texas Tech University: $247,070

Which veterinary school is easiest to get into?

  1. Tuskegee University: 19.5% acceptance rate 
  2. Western University: 17% acceptance rate
  3. Louisiana State University: 16.1% acceptance rate
  4. Texas A&M University: 14.7% acceptance rate
  5. Oklahoma State University: 13.1% acceptance rate

Auburn University

📍 Auburn, Alabama 

🖥️ vetmed.auburn.edu

admissions statistics

Average class size: 131 

# of applications:  1,217

Average GPA: 3.7

tuition & fees

resident 

Total Tuition Cost: $102,960

Total Cost: $225,580

non-resident

Total Tuition Cost: $220,680

Total Cost: $360,356

debt information 

Percentage of Indebted Graduates: 85.2%

Median Debt for Indebted Graduates: $165,315

what’s life like as a student?

What do you like most about your program?

I really enjoy the atmosphere of AUCVM. I know friends at other vet schools have said that their community can be really competitive and have a very "every man for himself" mentality, but I've had the exact opposite experience at Auburn. 

Every class varies a little bit, but we very much operate as a team. We all share resources and study guides as we find and create them and are always eager to help one another. It's a really supportive community, both among classmates and clinicians, and it's really improved my vet school experience.

What are some areas for improvement?

Auburn focuses very heavily on didactic education and doesn't provide as much clinical experience as early on as other vet schools. I'm in my clinical year currently, and while I feel well prepared for my rotations in terms of working knowledge, I've been out of practice with my hands-on skills since starting vet school. 

While club events can help provide more hands-on experience, it can get really tiring only working with animals from time to time. I wish there was more clinical experience incorporated into the didactic portion of our education.

What advice would you give to students looking at going here?

Everyone talks about how hard vet school is, but it's so hard to understand the challenges that come with being in such a rigorous program until you're already in it. Everyone looks for different things when applying to school: in-state versus out-of-state tuition; proximity to family and friends; tracking or non-tracking; the list goes on. 

Don't forget to consider the community of the schools you apply to. Your classmates and faculty become your family from the second you start first year all the way through graduation and beyond. Things like tuition are very important, but don't forget to consider who you will end up working alongside for the next four years.

Gabi Fahey
Class of 2024

Tuskegee University

📍 Tuskegee, Alabama 

🖥️ tuskegee.edu

admissions statistics

Average class size: 69

# of applications: 353

Average GPA: 3.5

tuition & fees

resident

Total Tuition Cost: $187,129

Total Cost: $312,186

non-resident

Total Tuition Cost: $187,129

Total Cost: $312,386

debt information 

Percentage of Indebted Graduates: 100%

Median Debt for Indebted Graduates: $95,425

What do you like most about your program?

I love the Big/Little Program we have at TUCVM! Each incoming first year has the opportunity to request a “big”, who is a second year student that mentors them throughout vet school. It's helpful to have someone who already knows how the school operates and the best way to prepare for different courses or professors. Also, it’s inspirational to see what is in store for me next — one of the highlights of last school year was watching my big and the rest of the Class of 2024 receive their white coats!

I also 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.

What are some areas for improvement?

Clinical skills is an area with room for improvement. We had only a short time within our Clinical Skills course dedicated to hands-on learning. However, TUCVM has begun implementing some changes in the curriculum, so the classes behind us can have more hands-on experiences to apply didactic instruction.

Technology is another key area where advancements can be made. As a small, private school, Tuskegee has less funding compared to larger and/or state schools. But recent donations from alumni, corporations, and nonprofits have helped provide financial support to the CVM.

What advice would you give to students looking at going here?

I would recommend getting involved in different clubs on campus. It’s a great way to learn about different areas of veterinary medicine, make friends and professional connections, and take on leadership roles. If there’s a club you would like to see at Tuskegee that is not already active, take the initiative to start (or restart) it! That's something I did in restarting our Internal Medicine Club (Student Chapter of ACVIM).

Further advice for prospective students is to work in collaboration with your classmates! We all have the same goal to graduate and become successful doctors. Working together, sharing notes, resources, and opportunities is better than competing against each other.

Savannah Simon
Class of 2025

Midwestern University

📍 Glendale, Arizona 

🖥️ midwestern.edu

admissions statistics

Average class size: 130

# of applications: 1,574 

Average GPA: 3.6

tuition & fees

resident

Total Tuition Cost: $259,720

Total Cost: $453,669

non-resident

Total Tuition Cost: $259,720

Total Cost: $453,669

debt information 

Percentage of Indebted Graduates: 99.0%

Median Debt for Indebted Graduates: $347,415

University Of Arizona

📍 Tucson, AZ 

🖥️ arizona.edu

admissions statistics

Average class size: 107

# of applications: 1,783 

Average GPA: 3.4

tuition & fees

resident

Total Tuition Cost: $141,657

Total Cost: $258,631

non-resident

Total Tuition Cost: $218,157

Total Cost: $347,574

debt information 

Percentage of Indebted Graduates: N/A

Median Debt for Indebted Graduates: N/A

What do you like most about your program?

One of my favorite things is that we have an accelerated program that’s completed in 3 years, rather than the traditional 4 years of most programs. This allows you to get started in your career an entire year earlier!

I love that UACVM embraces diversity and inclusion within our program, but also finds ways to actively increase DEI and representation within the veterinary profession.

Finally, part of being a new program means that students have had the opportunity to constantly engage in dialogue, provide feedback, and help improve the curriculum via open communication with faculty and program directors—which is such an exciting opportunity and continually improves the experiences for the next class of students.

What are some areas for improvement?

One of the biggest areas for improvement would be the exotics curriculum. I think that we had very few opportunities to learn more about exotics in the same way that we learned about small or large animals.

Additionally, while I love the flexibility and real-world experiences provided with a distributive model clinical year, I think that there is a huge financial burden that comes with this model. Each month moving to various clinic locations can require additional costs for housing, transportation, food, car repairs, pet expenses, etc. This is something to consider when planning your clinical year.

What advice would you give to students looking at going here?

The biggest piece of advice I can give to students within this program, despite sounding cliché is that—you really do get out of it what you’re willing to put in! This program is not a lecture-based program but rather is based on the concept of team-based learning (TBL). This means you spend most of your day collaborating with your team members to work through cadavers, cases, and group projects. Your success within the program is dependent on your ability to not only learn the material, but also how well you work with others around you.

Putting egos aside and recognizing that everyone has strengths, weaknesses, and lifting up the people around you is something that will take you far—as a student but also as someone entering this profession. I think this model of learning is most like the reality of the workplace where you will need to speak up, participate, and work with people from all different backgrounds. Being a team player is absolutely essential to your success!

Ashley Sujata
Class of 2023

University Of California

📍 Davis, California 

🖥️ vetmed.ucdavis.edu

admissions statistics

Average class size: 150

# of applications: 1,199

Average GPA: 3.3

tuition & fees

resident

Total Tuition Cost: $132,100

Total Cost: $289,597

non-resident

Total Tuition Cost: $181,080

Total Cost: $345,674

debt information 

Percentage of Indebted Graduates: 69.0%

Median Debt for Indebted Graduates: $150,396

Western University Of Health Sciences

📍 Pomona, California 

🖥️ westernu.edu/veterinary

admissions statistics

Average class size: 109

# of applications: 641

Average GPA: 3.3

tuition & fees

resident

Total Tuition Cost: $223,102

Total Cost: $370,983

non-resident

Total Tuition Cost: $223,102

Total Cost: $370,983

debt information 

Percentage of Indebted Graduates: 87.9%

Median Debt for Indebted Graduates: $312,620

What do you like most about your program?

Our curriculum is SO unique!! Like every university curriculum, it has its pros and cons, but overall works really well.

From the very first day, the problem-based learning (PBL) curriculum starts teaching us how to actually work through cases from learning to prioritize important facts, problems, work through differentials, and come up with plans and next steps - it's not just memorizing a ton of information (I mean yes, but also) it's actually learning information not just for exams, but for life too. In addition, we also work with live animals from our very first block because we do rotations through the on-campus clinic and the mobile low-cost clinic, and we visit a local barn for large animal experience too.

Honorable mentions: Southern CA has so much to offer! Campus is close to beaches, LA, and Disneyland, there's a lot of racial diversity in each class, and there's a super close-knit and supportive class environment since our curriculum forces us to be so close to our classmates.

What are some areas of improvement?

Honestly - inconsistency in communication between faculty and students, depending on the faculty member. Many faculty members are open to talking to students and hearing whatever feedback they have about the curriculum, changes, and concerns, but not every single faculty member is the most receptive or action-driven, so you have to be familiar with which faculty members to talk to to really feel heard.

What advice would you give to students looking at going here?

The curriculum really works... if you let it. Don't resist the methods! This curriculum is the definition of student-centered learning and really puts you in the driver's seat and teaches you how to be independent.

You need help finding resources? The help is there, but you have to have the self-discipline to reach out.

Not succeeding solo-studying? Create your own friend groups and study groups. Because it's so student-centered, the most important thing is that you need to find what works best for YOU and sometimes figuring that out can take time - you definitely won't have it down the first week, or even month.

Katrina Billote
Class of 2025

Colorado State University

📍 Fort Collins, Colorado 

🖥️ csu-cvmbs.colostate.edu

admissions statistics

Average class size: 156

# of applications: 4,128

Average GPA: 3.6

tuition & fees

resident

Total Tuition Cost: $155,295

Total Cost: $269,863

non-resident

Total Tuition Cost: $250,200

Total Cost: $378,518

debt information 

Percentage of Indebted Graduates: 84.6%

Median Debt for Indebted Graduates: $179,367

what’s life like as a student?

What do you like most about your program? 

Colorado State University is an amazing place for any student who wants to enjoy the outdoors while getting an amazing education rooted in both science and medicine which is seldom found many other places. 

It is the plethora of opportunities to further your education in both of the aforementioned areas of science and medicine which make this program unique. I was fortunate enough to take advantage of one of the dual-degree programs here as I wrap up a Masters in Animal Science w/ a concentration in Ruminant Nutrition, which has allowed me to understand the full breadth of what veterinarians do both in and out of the clinical environment. 

It is due to experiences such as those dual-degree programs which allow CSU to maintain its status as a pillar in the veterinary research community which is a tremendous advantage. While those are things that directly impact me, more importantly, the veterinary school has continued to innovate and be forward-thinking in all areas, which brings me hope for those coming after me; this includes a $300 million expansion to our veterinary hospital and a complete curriculum renewal which will create "day one" ready veterinarians to fulfill the needs in our industry. 

Colorado State continues to trend towards incorporating more positive well-being practices while maintaining quality education which makes me extremely proud to be a Ram. 

What are some areas for improvement? 

There is a shared area of improvement for all universities, including my own, and that is the area of diversity and inclusion or rather lack thereof which is contributing to the veterinary shortage around the country. It's not enough nor has it ever been to simply ask a statement about diversity in the application or to mention it during orientation; DEI has to be put into practice in a way that benefits everyone. 

I am currently the only black man at the veterinary school here at Colorado State; there are no black faculty members either, which negatively impacts my experience but drives me to push for more diversity in this space. This doesn't mean that CSU isn't trying, we've had our most diverse class in the history of the institution since 1907 this year, but as we continue to grow, we have to continue the trend of not just accepting students from marginalized backgrounds, we have to support them while they're here. 

Our peer institutions have implemented steps that demonstrate this perfectly through the inclusion of required diversity credits for every student, alumni mentorship for students from marginalized backgrounds or even doing community service in areas that are negatively impacted by the stigma surrounding the least diverse health profession in the country. 

Colorado State isn't there yet, but they can be, and I know that just as most institutions in the country, they are trying to be. 

What advice would you give to students looking at going here? 

Attempting to gain entry into any veterinary institution is tough, CSU gets more applications than just about any other school, which statistically makes it even tougher, but not impossible. 

My biggest advice is to relax more, stress less, and build your mind for veterinary school. It's not all about grades, although they are a big factor, it's about who you are. There's an unpopular opinion I often share with pre-vet students, "Veterinary medicine is a job, not your life (even though it seems that way sometimes), you are more than that organic chemistry grade or how many pre-vet meetings you go to, and no one cares how good of a veterinarian you are if you're not a good person." 

I say these things not to be mean; pre-vet clubs across the country have their place in connecting you with like-minded people; however, when it comes to admissions and life, I would encourage you to venture outside and find your passion beyond animals. Continue to ask yourself a few questions. How do I care for myself? How do I care for people? How do I care for the environment around me? These are the pillars of a well-rounded good veterinarian and student. 

Make sure you're going out to do that monthly hike, you're getting involved in advocacy, or even sitting down with your grandmother and asking her about her childhood. Veterinary school requires mental fortitude and not just due to the heavy workload, but because your mental health will be stretched in every way imaginable; don't be a stagnant student because if you're anything like me, you don't want to go to a stagnant school.

Mercer Butts
Class of 2026

University Of Florida

📍 Gainesville, Florida 

🖥️ vetmed.ufl.edu

admissions statistics

Average class size: 130

# of applications: 1,922

Average GPA: 3.7

tuition & fees

resident

Total Tuition Cost: $115,160

Total Cost: $248,051

non-resident

Total Tuition Cost: $182,000

Total Cost: $324,576

debt information 

Percentage of Indebted Graduates: 73.5%

Median Debt for Indebted Graduates: $143,720

What do you like most about your program?

What I like most about my program is the support received from the faculty and staff because I firmly believe that sets the foundation. It has formed a nurturing environment that has allowed me to feel a sense of comfortability, calmness, and love in a pre-established stressful environment due to grades and exams.

I also love UFCVM’s Aquatic Animal Health Certificate program. Although other veterinary colleges offer certificate programs, UFCVM is the only veterinary college that offers this certificate program. It was one of the deciding factors in me ultimately committing to UFCVM, as it is for many other students as well. As a student enrolled in courses offered in the program, I have gained knowledge and an introduction to aquatic animal medicine. It has also helped me form new skills concentrated on animals I would like to build a career around one day such as marine mammals, fish, aquatic invertebrates. Upon completion the program will increase the likelihood of my success in aquatics internships, residencies, and veterinary positions that include aquatic animal care.

What are some areas for improvement?

As a kinesthetic learner, I would have liked to have gained early exposure by the incorporation of a few “engaging group days” per semester. Split into groups students would be allowed to get hands-on experience in different departments throughout UF Small Animal Hospitals and Large Animal Hospitals that aligns with on some of the courses they are taking such as Respiration, Reproduction, Cardiology, Parasitology and many more.

This incorporation would be done with hopes to further enhance what we learned in the classroom as 1st year veterinary students. It also would allow students to be more confident in their capabilities of what is being presented to them in the classroom.

What advice would you give to students looking at going here?

I would say utilize the pre-veterinary resources UFCVM Admissions offers early on, they were my best friend as a pre-vet student!

Some resources I utilized were the PreVet Pawscast that gave me tons of advice on how to perfect my application, tips on interviews, and knowledge in different veterinary career fields. They also have a Pre-Vet Tool Kit that includes an interview prep e-book which was helpful while preparing for my interview as well as other pre-vet essentials.

There is also an Instagram and YouTube page that provides virtual tours, advice from current veterinary students & admissions, and the life behind the scenes of veterinary school at UFCVM!

Brittany Melton
Class of 2026

University Of Georgia

📍 Athens, Georgia 

🖥️ vet.uga.edu

admissions statistics

Average class size: 150

# of applications: 1,360

Average GPA: 3.7

tuition & fees

resident

Total Tuition Cost: $87,316

Total Cost: $181,227

non-resident

Total Tuition Cost: $203,185

Total Cost: $313,884

debt information 

Percentage of Indebted Graduates: 71.7%

Median Debt for Indebted Graduates: $138,167

University Of Illinois

📍 Urbana, Illinois 

🖥️ vetmed.illinois.edu

admissions statistics

Average class size: 135

# of applications: 2,039

Average GPA: 3.7

tuition & fees

resident

Total Tuition Cost: $123,926

Total Cost: $226,315

non-resident

Total Tuition Cost: $212,216

Total Cost: $327,397

debt information 

Percentage of Indebted Graduates: 81.9%

Median Debt for Indebted Graduates: $203,311

Purdue University

📍 West Lafayette, Indiana 

🖥️ vet.purdue.edu

admissions statistics

Average class size: 87

# of applications: 1,537

Average GPA: 3.7

tuition & fees

resident

Total Tuition Cost: $80,734

Total Cost: $170,742

non-resident

Total Tuition Cost: $180,089

Total Cost: $284,492

debt information 

Percentage of Indebted Graduates: 86.4%

Median Debt for Indebted Graduates: $131,553

Iowa State University

📍 Ames, Iowa 

🖥️ vetmed.iastate.edu

admissions statistics

Average class size: 162

# of applications: 1,967

Average GPA: 3.6

tuition & fees

resident

Total Tuition Cost: $110,352

Total Cost: $192,405

non-resident

Total Tuition Cost: $222,324

Total Cost: $320,601

debt information 

Percentage of Indebted Graduates: 86.2%

Median Debt for Indebted Graduates: $146,796

Kansas State University

📍 Manhattan, Kansas 

🖥️ vet.k-state.edu

admissions statistics

Average class size:  118

# of applications: 1,496

Average GPA: 3.5

tuition & fees

resident

Total Tuition Cost: $91,184

Total Cost: $188,952

non-resident

Total Tuition Cost: $206,043

Total Cost: $320,453

debt information 

Percentage of Indebted Graduates: 81.7%

Median Debt for Indebted Graduates: $191,907

Louisiana State University

📍 Baton Rouge, Louisiana 

🖥️ lsu.edu/vetmed

admissions statistics

Average class size: 120

# of applications: 746

Average GPA: 3.7

tuition & fees

resident

Total Tuition Cost: $109,127

Total Cost: $242,917

non-resident

Total Tuition Cost: $225,527

Total Cost: $376,182

debt information 

Percentage of Indebted Graduates: 79.5%

Median Debt for Indebted Graduates: $191,580

What do you like most about your program?

The support of the faculty/staff and the environment at LSU. LSU SVM also has various opportunities for hands on experience through wet labs, clubs, and clinical skills which I find very helpful as a vet student.

What are some areas for improvement?

LSU has a great reputation for graduates that have a lot of clinical expertise. The time we have in clinical skills could be increased to allow us more opportunity to improve these skills. I do believe the new curriculum that is officially launching this fall addresses this.

What advice would you give to students looking at going here?

Network and reach out to everyone in the vet community here. For some people it may feel uncomfortable, but this is the time to get out of your comfort zone! Everyone here is rooting for you to succeed in the program and even after you graduate.

Courtney Ford-Franklin
Class of 2026

Tufts University

📍 North Grafton, Massachusetts 

🖥️ tufts.edu/vet

admissions statistics

Average class size: 103

# of applications: 1,109

Average GPA: 3.8

tuition & fees

resident

Total Tuition Cost: $203,939

Total Cost: $350,701

non-resident

Total Tuition Cost: $203,939

Total Cost: $381,410

debt information 

Percentage of Indebted Graduates: 80.4%

Median Debt for Indebted Graduates: $222,864

Michigan State University

📍 East Lansing, Michigan 

🖥️ cvm.msu.edu

admissions statistics

Average class size: 115

# of applications: 2,114

Average GPA: 3.4

tuition & fees

resident

Total Tuition Cost: $138,666

Total Cost: $252,436

non-resident

Total Tuition Cost: $238,967

Total Cost: $367,270

debt information 

Percentage of Indebted Graduates: 88.6%

Median Debt for Indebted Graduates: $177,326

University Of Minnesota

📍 Saint Paul, Minnesota 

🖥️ cvm.umn.edu

admissions statistics

Average class size: 126

# of applications: 1,192

Average GPA: 3.7

tuition & fees

resident

Total Tuition Cost: $140,231

Total Cost: $265,242

non-resident

Total Tuition Cost: $252,056

Total Cost: $393,269

debt information 

Percentage of Indebted Graduates: 81.4%

Median Debt for Indebted Graduates: $194,648

Mississippi State University

📍 Mississippi State, Mississippi 

🖥️ cvm.msstate.edu

admissions statistics

Average class size: 114

# of applications: 1,319

Average GPA: 3.5

tuition & fees

resident

Total Tuition Cost: $106,896

Total Cost: $210,861

non-resident

Total Tuition Cost: $191,696

Total Cost: $307,947

debt information 

Percentage of Indebted Graduates: 88.6%

Median Debt for Indebted Graduates: $169,759

University Of Missouri-Columbia

📍 Columbia, Missouri 

🖥️ cvm.missouri.edu

admissions statistics

Average class size: 126

# of applications: 1,725

Average GPA: 3.8

tuition & fees

resident

Total Tuition Cost: $107,596

Total Cost: $217,561

non-resident

Total Tuition Cost: $142,881

Total Cost: $257,958

debt information 

Percentage of Indebted Graduates: 86.2%

Median Debt for Indebted Graduates: $164,222

what’s life like as a student?

What do you like most about your program? 

My favorite aspect of student life at University of Missouri is the approachability of the faculty members throughout didactic curriculum. During my undergrad experience at Mizzou, none of my professors knew my name, let alone who I was. 

At Missouri CVM, the vast majority of instructors know most students personally on a first-name basis and are incredibly accommodating in hopes to see students succeed. Whether it be reaching out to meet one-on-one after a tough exam, sending weekly check-in emails to ensure our emotional well-being, tutoring in the anatomy lab on weekends, or hosting exam reviews after-hours -- faculty members are always there to ensure our success throughout our rigorous coursework and beyond.

What are some areas for improvement? 

Most well-established veterinary schools implement hands-on skill assessments throughout didactic curriculum, often termed Objective Structured Clinical Examinations or (OSCEs). 

Although Missouri CVM does sprinkle in clinical skills throughout our didactic curriculum, there is no standardized grading system to ensure mastery of such skills, some as simple as removing a scalpel from a scalpel blade. 

As a student member of our CVM's curriculum committee, we are already taking steps towards implementation of standardized clinical skill evaluation in the near future!

What advice would you give to students looking at going here? 

My #1 tip for those looking to attend Missouri CVM (and any veterinary school honestly) is to not be afraid to use your resources and ask for help-- whether it be academically or mentally. 

Both our faculty members and full-time counselors at the CVM are invaluable resources I would encourage you to take full advantage of. Be proactive! Our faculty and staff is always there to help you succeed in any way you see fit throughout the rigors of veterinary curriculum.

Meghan Lawlor
Class of 2025

Cornell University

📍 Ithaca, New York 

🖥️ vet.cornell.edu

admissions statistics

Average class size: 126

# of applications: 1,828

Average GPA: 3.8

tuition & fees

resident

Total Tuition Cost: $146,102

Total Cost: $256,572

non-resident

Total Tuition Cost: $217,323

Total Cost: $338,122

debt information 

Percentage of Indebted Graduates: 73.7%

Median Debt for Indebted Graduates: $162,000

Long Island University

📍 Brookville, NY 

🖥️ liu.edu/vetmed

admissions statistics

Average class size: 109

# of applications: 1,058

Average GPA: 3.6

tuition & fees

resident

Total Tuition Cost: $224,400

Total Cost: $535,808

non-resident

Total Tuition Cost: $224,000

Total Cost: $535,808

debt information 

Percentage of Indebted Graduates: N/A

Median Debt for Indebted Graduates: N/A

North Carolina State University

📍 Raleigh, North Carolina 

🖥️ cvm.ncsu.edu

admissions statistics

Average class size: 99

# of applications: 1,963

Average GPA: 3.7

tuition & fees

resident

Total Tuition Cost: $78,479

Total Cost: $182,627

non-resident

Total Tuition Cost: $106,520

Total Cost: $214,731

debt information 

Percentage of Indebted Graduates: 80.8%

Median Debt for Indebted Graduates: $140,367

what’s life like as a student?

What do you like most about your program?

What I like the most about the program is that there is an array of resources and opportunities available to us and I always feel supported by the faculty and staff.  

What are some areas for improvement?

An area of improvement for the program is increasing the diversity and representation of the faculty — especially having more people of color. 

What advice would you give to students looking at going here?

The advice I would give to a student looking to attend NC State’s DVM program is to be open to new ideas and experiences. You will be surrounded by people from all different walks of life and it is important that you are able to learn from one another and learn new perspectives. Also, be willing to work hard, there are many resources here to help you succeed you just have to be willing to use them to your advantage!

Isla Farrow
Class of 2026

The Ohio State University

📍 Columbus, Ohio 

🖥️ vet.osu.edu

admissions statistics

Average class size: 165

# of applications: 2,482

Average GPA: 3.4

tuition & fees

resident

Total Tuition Cost: $149,601

Total Cost: $269,032

non-resident

Total Tuition Cost: $149,601

Total Cost: $424,468

debt information 

Percentage of Indebted Graduates: 89.2%

Median Debt for Indebted Graduates: $194,417

Oklahoma State University

📍 Stillwater, Oklahoma 

🖥️ cvm.okstate.edu

admissions statistics

Average class size: 106

# of applications: 810

Average GPA: 3.6

tuition & fees

resident

Total Tuition Cost: $95,450

Total Cost: $231,531

non-resident

Total Tuition Cost: $200,140

Total Cost: $351,389

debt information 

Percentage of Indebted Graduates: 83.0%

Median Debt for Indebted Graduates: $156,871

what’s life like as a student?

What do you like most about your program?

One of the things that I love most about our program is that every incoming first year student is paired with someone from the previous year’s class as a mentor. It’s so great going into a new environment to already have a built-in support system and someone trustworthy that you can go to with any questions! It really helps build that sense of community early on in the program and I know it gave me a lot of reassurance as a first year!

What are some areas for improvement?

I would say that an area for improvement would be our clinical skills. During the first two years of the program, classroom work is the focus. During third year, you make the jump into learning surgical skills without first making sure that everyone has already learned the “basics” such as catheter placement, blood draws, etc. Fortunately, they are addressing this beginning this fall with our new curriculum being put in place, with a clinical skills lab being required for incoming first years in the program from here on out! So excited to see this change take place at our school!

What advice would you give to students looking at going here?

At this school, you get to know your classmates well and form close connections, even with people from other class years in the program. Students are genuine and want each other to succeed. It’s not a cutthroat competitive environment, but instead a supportive atmosphere where you feel like everyone is trying to help each other achieve our goals of becoming the best doctors we can be! My advice is to truly be yourself and to push yourself outside of your comfort zone with extracurriculars, study groups, and/or elective classes. You will absolutely succeed here if you embrace that mentality! We’re really all in this to learn and grow together!:)

Madie Petree
Class of 2025

Oregon State University

📍 Corvallis, Oregon 

🖥️ oregonstate.edu/vetmed

admissions statistics

Average class size: 79

# of applications: 1,798

Average GPA: 3.6

tuition & fees

resident

Total Tuition Cost: $107,432

Total Cost: $214,799

non-resident

Total Tuition Cost: $206,177

Total Cost: $327,851

debt information 

Percentage of Indebted Graduates: 80.4%

Median Debt for Indebted Graduates: $164,116

University Of Pennsylvania

📍 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 

🖥️ vet.upenn.edu

admissions statistics

Average class size: 137

# of applications: 1,546

Average GPA: 3.6

tuition & fees

resident

Total Tuition Cost: $202,506

Total Cost: $360,816

non-resident

Total Tuition Cost: $242,506

Total Cost: $406,612

debt information 

Percentage of Indebted Graduates: 76.7%

Median Debt for Indebted Graduates: $249,071

University Of Tennessee

📍 Knoxville, Tennessee 

🖥️ vet.utk.edu

admissions statistics

Average class size: 89

# of applications:  1,607

Average GPA: 3.7

tuition & fees

resident

Total Tuition Cost: $116,716

Total Cost: $239,479

non-resident

Total Tuition Cost: $226,320

Total Cost: $364,963

debt information 

Percentage of Indebted Graduates: 87.2%

Median Debt for Indebted Graduates: $168,667

Lincoln Memorial University

📍 Harrogate, Tennessee 

🖥️ lmunet.edu

admissions statistics

Average class size: 130

# of applications: 1,825

Average GPA: 3.5

tuition & fees

resident

Total Tuition Cost: $189,684

Total Cost: $326,641

non-resident

Total Tuition Cost: $189,684

Total Cost: $326,641

debt information 

Percentage of Indebted Graduates: 90.7%

Median Debt for Indebted Graduates: $296,345

what’s life like as a student?

What do you like most about your program?

The close-knit atmosphere and distributive clinical year model of Lincoln Memorial University really make the school shine. Professors are always more than willing to lend a hand and will take time out of their own days to work with students one on one. 

Both professors and administration know students by name and are easily reachable. We get to be hands-on with animals from our first semester thanks to our on-site dairy and equine herds and dogs brought in from local shelters. When we can’t use live animals, our innovative model shop team works to allow us to practice skills such as spays, castrations, vessel ligation, equine endoscopy, and more. 

Because the school does not have a teaching hospital, LMU partners with hundreds of veterinary practices around the country, allowing students to “build their own adventure” as far as their clinical year. This allows students to focus on what they’re passionate about, get real-world experience, and potentially job offers.

What advice would you give to students looking at going here?

Lincoln Memorial is located in the heart of Appalachia, with endless views and adventures for nature lovers. The small-town atmosphere and local businesses really make the area unique but can come as a culture shock to students coming from larger cities. Expect to drive a little over an hour to the nearest big city of Knoxville, TN. 

I would highly recommend touring the school and checking out the area before committing if possible. My tour is what made me fall in love with LMU, but as a rural Indiana native, it felt a lot like home.

Lauren Koester
Class of 2025

Texas A&M University

📍 College Station, Texas 

🖥️ vetmed.tamu.edu

admissions statistics

Average class size: 174

# of applications: 1,185

Average GPA: 3.8

tuition & fees

resident

Total Tuition Cost: $99,929

Total Cost: $211,018

non-resident

Total Tuition Cost: $153,809

Total Cost: $272,704

debt information 

Percentage of Indebted Graduates: 63.2%

Median Debt for Indebted Graduates: $143,724

Texas Tech University

📍 Amarillo, Texas 

🖥️ depts.ttu.edu/vetschool

admissions statistics

Average class size: 88

# of applications: 864

Average GPA: 3.4

tuition & fees

resident

Total Tuition Cost: $88,000

Total Cost: $197,611

non-resident

Total Tuition Cost: $131,200

Total Cost: $247,070

debt information 

Percentage of Indebted Graduates: N/A

Median Debt for Indebted Graduates: N/A

Virginia-Maryland College Of Veterinary Medicine

📍 Blacksburg, Virginia 

🖥️ vetmed.vt.edu

admissions statistics

Average class size: 124

# of applications: 1,899

Average GPA: 3.3

tuition & fees

resident

Total Tuition Cost: $100,629

Total Cost: $212,845

non-resident

Total Tuition Cost: $215,529

Total Cost: $344,393

debt information 

Percentage of Indebted Graduates: 78.9%

Median Debt for Indebted Graduates: $172,369

Washington State University

📍 Pullman, Washington 

🖥️ vetmed.wsu.edu

admissions statistics

Average class size: 131

# of applications: 2,054

Average GPA: 3.7

tuition & fees

resident

Total Tuition Cost: $102,040

Total Cost: $202,673

non-resident

Total Tuition Cost: $135,271

Total Cost: $240,718

debt information 

Percentage of Indebted Graduates: 73.8%

Median Debt for Indebted Graduates: $118,230

University Of Wisconsin-Madison

📍 Madison, Wisconsin 

🖥️ vetmed.wisc.edu

admissions statistics

Average class size: 96

# of applications: 1,914

Average GPA: 3.7

tuition & fees

resident

Total Tuition Cost: $122,690

Total Cost: $253,590

non-resident

Total Tuition Cost: $194,383

Total Cost: $335,671

debt information 

Percentage of Indebted Graduates: 83.3%

Median Debt for Indebted Graduates: $143,752

Ross University 

📍 St Kitts 

🖥️ vet.rossu.edu

admissions statistics

Average class size: 215

# of applications: 1,791

Average GPA: 3.3

tuition & fees

resident

Total Tuition Cost: N/A

Total Cost: $175,372

non-resident

Total Tuition Cost: $219,152

Total Cost: $175,372

debt information 

Percentage of Indebted Graduates: 85.4%

Median Debt for Indebted Graduates: $315,010

St.George’s University

📍 Grenada, West Indies 

🖥️ sug.edu

admissions statistics

Average class size: 126

# of applications: 1,199

Average GPA: 3.3

tuition & fees

resident

Total Tuition Cost: N/A

Total Cost: $163,479

non-resident

Total Tuition Cost: $185,134

Total Cost: $163,479

debt information 

Percentage of Indebted Graduates: 80.8%

Median Debt for Indebted Graduates: $301,695

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