Thinking about becoming a veterinarian?
Take the 2019 Veterinary School Rankings below into account as you decide where to apply and where to attend.
2019 Veterinary School Rankings—Top 11
The U.S. is home to 30 American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited veterinary schools. If you’re interested in attending a top-ranking school, check out the following eleven universities. Each ranked in the top 10 of the U.S. News & World Report 2019 veterinary school rankings.
- University of California–Davis in Davis, California (1)
- Cornell University in Ithaca, NY (2)
- Colorado State University in Fort Collins, CO
- University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA (tie)
- North Carolina State University in Raleigh, NC (tie)
- Texas A&M University—College Station in College Station, TX (tie)
- Ohio State University in Columbus, OH (tie)
- University of Wisconsin—Madison, WI
- University of Florida in Gainesville, FL
- University of Georgia in Athens, GA (tie)
- University of Minnesota—Twin Cities in St. Paul, MN (tie)
Where Do These Rankings Come From?
In 2019, U.S. News & World Report released a list of Best Veterinary Schools. Rankings are based on responses from peer assessment surveys that U.S. News sent to 28 of the 30 AVMA-accredited veterinary colleges in the United States. College faculty complete the survey.
2019 Veterinary School Rankings by Region
Choose a college within your state or a neighboring state if you want a shot at the best tuition rates. Vet schools offer the lowest prices to students qualifying as residents. At some schools, you must live in the state to qualify as a resident. At others, you must live in a neighboring state.
Below are the highest ranking vet schools by U.S. region.
Northeast Region (CN, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT, NJ, NY, PA)
Cornell University
- Location: Ithaca, NY
- Overall Rank: 2
- Acceptance Rate:
- 1st Year Tuition & Fees: $37,126 (NY resident) and $54,744 (non-resident)
University of Pennsylvania
- Location: Philadelphia, PA
- Overall rank: 4 (tie)
- Yearly Tuition & Fees: $51,550 (PA resident) and $61,550 (non-resident)
Tufts University
- Location: North, Grafton, MA
- Overall Rank: 12
- Yearly Tuition & Fees: $51,460 (MA resident) and $58,360 (non-resident)
South Region (DE, FL, GA, MD, NC, SC, VA, DC, WV AL, KY, MS, TN, AK, LA, OK, TX)
North Carolina State University
- Location: Raleigh, NC
- Overall Rank: 4 (tie)
- Yearly Tuition & Fees: $19,616 (NC resident) and $47,547 (non-resident)
Texas A&M University
- Location: College Station, TX
- Overall Rank: 4 (tie)
- Yearly Tuition & Fees: $24,654 (TX resident) and $38,454 (non-resident)
University of Florida
- Location: Gainesville, FL
- Overall Rank: 9
- Yearly Tuition & Fees: $28,726 (FL resident) and $45,500 (non-resident)
University of Georgia
- Location: Athens, GA
- Overall Rank: 10
- Yearly Tuition & Fees: $19,801 (GA resident) and $49,466 (non-resident)
Midwest Region (IL, IN, MI, OH, WI, IO, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD)
Ohio State University
- Location: Columbus, OH
- Overall Rank: 4 (tie)
- Yearly Tuition & Fees: $32,957 (OH resident) and $72,293 (non-resident)
University of Wisconsin
- Location: Madison, WI
- Overall Rank: 8
- Yearly Tuition & Fees: $30,515 (WI resident) and $49,203 (non-resident)
University of Minnesota
- Location: St. Paul, MN
- Overall Rank: 10
- Yearly Tuition & Fees: $32,338 (MN, SD, ND resident) and $58,042 (non-resident)
Purdue University
- Location: West Lafayette, IN
- Overall Rank: 13
- Yearly Tuition & fees: $19,918 (IN resident) and $44,746 (non-resident)
West Region (AZ, CO, ID, MT, NV, NM, UT, WY, AL, CA, HI, OR, WA)
University of California–Davis
- Location: Davis, California
- Overall Rank: 1
- Yearly Tuition & Fees: $32,126 (CA resident) and $44,317 (non-resident)
Colorado State University
- Location: Fort Collins, CO
- Overall Rank: 3
- Yearly Tuition & Fees: $37,980 (CO & WICHE state resident) and $61,362 (non-resident)
Washington State University
- Location: Pullman, WA
- Overall Rank: 14 (tie)
- Yearly Tuition & Fees: $13,151 (resident) and $30,857 (non-resident)
How Do I Choose Which Vet School to Attend?
If you’re headed to vet school, you only have 30 state-side options. Deciding which one is right for you requires careful thought. Consider the school’s cost, program type, and ranking.
Rankings
All accredited AVMA veterinary programs meet the same rigorous standards. If you successfully complete your program, you’ll graduate with the knowledge and skills needed to excel as a vet in your chosen specialty. However, as you can see above, some schools far outrank others. Rankings shouldn’t solely define which vet school you choose to attend, but they do give you a good idea of the school’s academic quality.
Program Type
Just because all U.S. veterinary schools are accredited by the AVMA doesn’t mean they all provide the same education. Each vet school takes its own approach and offers students unique advantages. For example, some offer students more hands-on-experience during year one while others wait until year three. Read through the program overview, coursework, and clinical requirements as you evaluate programs.
Consider the following factors:
- The university’s partnerships with outside organizations like zoos and wildlife centers
- How soon hands-on-experience begins
- Specialty programs offered during year four
- Whether or not professional development classes are offered
- Course descriptions and course options
- Past and present research projects
Cost of Vet School
On average, veterinarians graduate with $143,757.82 in debt according to the AVMA. To minimize your debt load, go with your cheapest vet school option. In general, your cheapest option is an in-state public university followed by an in-state private university. If you don’t have any in-state options, focus on the schools offering the cheapest non-resident rate.
If you find yourself drawn to an expensive private university, you might be able to make it work. In some cases, private colleges can end up costing much less than a public one. Private universities tend to offer more scholarship and grant money, lowering your actual vet school costs. Communicate with the veterinary colleges you’re interested in to see what scholarships are available. Ask for an estimate of the average price a student pays for tuition when accounting for scholarships and need-based financial aid.
