Best Veterinary Schools

Overview

Cornell University isn’t just the best school in the nation for a Veterinary degree; it’s one of the best universities in the nation. This New York-based Ivy League school has graduated Nobel laureates, Rhodes Scholars, and top leaders in industries throughout the United States. The College of Veterinary Medicine was founded in 1894.

Program Features

Cornell University stands above the rest for its Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program. You’ll experience clinical studies, engaging lectures, and work with animals from the start. This four-year program involves intensive coursework for the first three years, and reserves the final year for clinical rotations. Some highlight coursework includes:

• The Animal Body
• Neuroanatomy
• Animal Health and Disease
• Host, Agent, and Defense

Notables

Cornell University students boast top-notch passing rates for the national licensing exam, the NAVLE. In the last five years, cohorts have passed at a rate of 99 to 100 percent. Even more, the employment rate for students post-graduation is an impressive 94 percent.

Overview

The flagship campus of the larger state system, the University of Massachusetts Amherst is a large public research university. In fact, it’s the largest in New England with over 30,300 students. Last year, U.S. News & World Report ranked it the twenty-seventh “Best Public University” in the United States.

Program Features

The Veterinary & Animal Sciences department at UMass Amherst provides a Pre-Veterinary Science major for undergraduates. This program is especially good for students who are hoping to go on to graduate school or medical school. You’ll start by declaring an Animal Science major and then later apply for the Pre-Vet program. You classes might include:

• Basic Animal Nutrition and Feeding
• Animal Cellular and Molecular Biology
• Veterinary Microbiology Lab
• Physiology of Reproduction

Notables

Before you enter into the Pre-Veterinary degree, you’ll start in the Animal Science major. Students have the option to undertake two concentrations: Animal Management or Biotechnology. This is a great way to prepare academically for the more focused Pre-Vet degree.

Overview

East Lansing is home to Michigan State University. Originally founded as one of the earliest scientific agriculture schools, MSU has a long history of competitive higher education. Today, it is known as one of the largest universities by enrollment, with over 50,500 students. The Veterinary Medicine department ranks twelfth in the nation.

Program Features

MSU offers a unique undergraduate degree in Veterinary Technology. You’ll need to complete around eight prerequisite courses in chemistry, biology, social sciences, and math before being officially admitted into the program. After that, however, you’ll dive right in to upper-level courses such as:

• Veterinary Comparative Clinical Physiology
• Small Animal Nursing Skills
• Radiology for Veterinary Technicians
• Biomedical Research and Regulatory Issues

Notables

Toward the end of your program, you’ll have two options for an elective track. The first option gives you the chance to complete an internship in dermatology, oncology, ophthalmology, food animal medicine, or large animal anesthesia. The second option gives you flexibility to take more specialized classes or travel abroad for a semester.

Overview

One of the first institutions of higher education in the state, the University of Arizona was founded in 1885. UA is well-ranked both nationally and globally. It is a leader in space and astronomy research, among other things, and excels in the sciences. According to an employer satisfaction survey in 2016, 92 percent said that UA graduates were highly skilled.

Program Features

Delivered through the School of Animal & Comparative Biomedical Sciences, you’ll earn a Bachelor of Science in Veterinary Science. This degree covers everything from human and animal dynamics to microbiology and pathology. Over four years, you’ll combine general education courses with upper-level courses like:

• Medical-Veterinary Entomology
• Animal Anatomy & Physiology
• Equine Nutrition and Management
• Diseases of Wildlife

Notables

If you’re at all interested in research, the University of Arizona has amazing resources for you. For example, the Human-Animal Interaction Research Initiative is an ongoing study that you can be part of. You will also have access to the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, where you will come in contact with a wide range of animals.

Overview

Highly regarded as a “Public Ivy,” Pennsylvania State University is a public research institution that provides over 160 majors. In total, the school maintains 24 campuses with its main campus in University Park, PA. Pennsylvania State University has a large Greek system and close to 900 active student organizations.

Program Features

You’ll complete a total of 124 credit hours for your BS in Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences at Penn State. The curriculum leans heavily on biology, organic chemistry, and biostatistics. Internship opportunities are available for students during summer semesters. Some of the more specific veterinary classes you’ll take include:

• Comparative Anatomy of Vertebrates
• Mammalian Physiology
• Principles of Animal Disease Control
• Comparative Physiology of Domestic Animals

Notables

Penn State has a number of fantastic off-campus opportunities for Veterinary students. For example, get the best of both worlds by participating in a year abroad at the University of Glasgow’s Veterinary School. Or get your hands dirty by taking a service-learning class with local Pennsylvania farmers.

Overview

Located in South Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains, Clemson University is one of the state’s premier research universities. Despite its large student enrollment, it maintains an impressive student to faculty ratio of 18:1. Beyond its main campus, Clemson University maintains over 17,500 acres of forested land for research purposes.

Program Features

The Bachelor of Science in Animal and Veterinary Sciences degree at Clemson University gives you three areas of focus for your degree: equine business, animal agribusiness, or pre-veterinary and science. You will be more than prepared to jump into a graduate program in veterinary school with a curriculum that includes:

• Domestic Animal Behavior
• Animal-Human Interaction
• Animal Genetics
• Animal Science Laboratory

Notables

Clemson University will get you working hands-on from the very beginning. You’ll make use of one of its six livestock farms. They include beef, dairy, equine, poultry, swine, and sheep. Women in this program will also have the chance to live and learn together through the Women in Animal and Veterinary Sciences community.

Overview

Northwest Missouri State University originally began as a teacher’s college in 1905. Now it offers a wide range of degrees at both the undergraduate and graduate level. Over 97 percent of its undergraduates find work within six months of graduating. Student satisfaction is high, too; 90 percent of first-year students rated their experience as “excellent.”

Program Features

You’ll find a more specific focus at Northwest Missouri State University with the Animal Science major with a Pre-Vet option. This program focuses on the study of livestock and animal husbandry. Your curriculum will be divided into three areas: science, research, and experiential learning. A sampling of classes includes:

• Principles of Animal Breeding
• Beef Science
• Genetics of Livestock Improvement
• Principles of Animal Nutrition

Notables

If you attend Northwest Missouri State University, you’ll have access to the R.T. Wright University Laboratory Farm. This is a 448-acre research facility that is also a fully-functioning farm with livestock and crops. You’ll get to perform pregnancy tests on cows, castrations, and administer vaccines.

Overview

Located in West Lafayette, IN, Purdue University is one of the leading science, technology, and agricultural research universities in the region. It also houses one of the largest international student populations in the nation. The College of Veterinary Medicine was established in 1959, and Purdue faculty continue to pursue groundbreaking research in the field.

Program Features

Out of the total 127 credits in this Veterinary Technology major, 87 of them will be dedicated to upper-level major courses. This curriculum offers both a broad base in the sciences and specific industry-related skills like anesthesia and diagnostic imaging. Some of the stand-out classes in this program include:

• Large Animal Nursing
• Dentistry for the Veterinary Technician
• Parasitology for Veterinary Technicians
• Nursing of Non-Traditional Pets

Notables

The Veterinary Technology program at Purdue University does a great job of giving you ample amount of experience in a clinical setting. You’ll have a total of six clinical rotation classes, as well as a practicum. This final practicum can be completed either on-campus or internationally.

Overview

University of Nebraska–Lincoln is the state’s oldest and largest university. Founded in 1869, it is considered a land-grant university. To this day, the UNL is known for its research in the agricultural sciences and ecology. The Nebraska Innovation Campus is a new expansion that is dedicated to agricultural biotechnology and life sciences.

Program Features

The Bachelor of Science in Veterinary Technology at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln covers all the degree requirements of the American Veterinary Medical Association. That means you’ll be more than prepared to go on to graduate work in the field. The curriculum covers not only the core sciences but also the management side of veterinary studies. You’ll take:

• Farm & Ranch Management
• Anatomy & Physiology of Domestic Animals
• Principles and Prevention of Livestock Diseases
• Pathogenic Microbiology

Notables

The University of Nebraska–Lincoln realizes that not all students are going through this program to become a veterinarian. That’s why the curriculum gives you the option of two separate tracks: the business option or the veterinary science option. The business option is catered toward students who want to manage a veterinary office or start an animal-related business.

Overview

Known as the state’s first school of higher education, Kansas State University is located in Manhattan, KS. It also has branch campuses in Salina and Olathe. The Olathe Innovation Campus is a hub for research in animal health, bioenergy, plant science, and more. The College of Veterinary Medicine is located on the Manhattan campus.

Program Features

The College of Agriculture at Kansas State University has a versatile and flexible degree in Pre-Veterinary Medicine. It is designed specifically for pre-vet candidates, and covers 64 credit-hours of major requirements. Students also have the option to complete a bachelor’s degree in one of the following areas, which all count as pre-veterinary majors:

• Agricultural Economics
• Animal Science and Industry
• Feed Science and Management

Notables

Kansas State University encourages all of its undergraduate students to travel abroad. That is no different for pre-veterinary students. You could take part in trips like the Agriculture Economics Study Tour of Ireland or the Summer Study Abroad Program in France.