Veterinarians are an essential and invaluable part of society, providing medical care for our beloved pets, as well as work animals and those in zoos. Despite how important veterinarians are to the everyday American, not as many colleges as you might think offer veterinary studies. This is why BrokeScholar conducted a study to identify the best veterinary colleges in the US.
Utilizing data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), we analyzed every state in the US in terms of public and private not-for-profit colleges and universities in terms of degrees awarded in various fields of study related to veterinary studies. What emerges from the study is the fact that, while almost every state offers some level of degrees in animal sciences, a much smaller number of colleges can be described as veterinary colleges.
Read on to find out the best veterinary colleges in the US and in all 50 states.
The Best Veterinary Colleges by State
Click on the jumplinks below to see the best vet colleges in each state, plus the District of Columbia, so you don't have to keep scrolling down endlessly to reach your state of interest:
Alabama
Best veterinary colleges: Auburn University
Veterinary degrees awarded:
- 119 doctoral degrees in Veterinary Medicine
Best veterinary colleges: Tuskegee University
Veterinary degrees awarded:
- 47 doctoral degrees in Veterinary Medicine
Alaska
Best veterinary colleges: University of Alaska Anchorage
Veterinary degrees awarded:
- 4 undergraduate certificates in Veterinary/Animal Health Technology/Technician and Veterinary Assistant
Arizona
Best veterinary colleges: University of Arizona
Veterinary degrees awarded:
- 79 bachelor’s degrees in Pre-Veterinary Studies, 24 in Animal Sciencs, General, and 9 in Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science and Related Fields, Other
Arkansas
Best veterinary colleges: University of Arkansas
Veterinary degrees awarded:
- 59 bachelor’s degrees in Animal Sciences, General
- 6 master’s degrees in Animal Sciences, General
- 5 doctoral degrees in Animal Sciences, General
California
Best veterinary colleges: University of California, Davis
Veterinary degrees awarded:
- 342 bachelor’s degrees in Animal Sciences, General, 16 in Animal Sciences, Other, and 2 in Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science and Related Fields, Other
- 11 master’s degrees in Veterinary Preventive Medicine, Epidemiology, and Public Health and 6 in Animal Sciences, Other
- 135 doctoral degrees in Veterinary Medicine and 8 in Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science and Related Fields, Other
Colorado
Best veterinary colleges: Colorado State University
Veterinary degrees awarded:
- 11 master’s degrees in Veterinary Sciences/Veterinary Clinical Sciences, General
- 147 doctoral degrees in Veterinary Medicine and 1 in Veterinary Sciences/Veterinary Clinical Sciences, General
Connecticut
Best veterinary colleges: University of Connecticut
Veterinary degrees awarded:
- 76 bachelor’s degrees in Animal Sciences, General
- 6 master’s degrees in Animal Sciences, General
- 2 doctoral degrees in Animal Sciences, General
Delaware
Best veterinary colleges: University of Delaware
Veterinary degrees awarded:
- 74 bachelor’s degrees in Pre-Veterinary Studies
District of Columbia
Best veterinary colleges: N/A
Florida
Best veterinary colleges: University of Florida
Veterinary degrees awarded:
- 144 bachelor’s degrees in Animal Sciences, General
- 61 master’s degrees in Veterinary Sciences/Veterinary Clinical Sciences, General and 13 in Animal Sciences, General
- 105 doctoral degrees in Veterinary Medicine, 8 in Animal Sciences, General, and 3 in Veterinary Sciences/Veterinary Clinical Sciences, General
Georgia
Best veterinary colleges: University of Georgia
Veterinary degrees awarded:
- 72 bachelor’s degrees in Animal Sciences, General
- 7 master’s degrees in Animal Sciences, General
- 115 doctoral degrees in Veterinary Medicine, 13 in Veterinary Infectious Diseases, 5 in Animal Sciences, General, 1 in Veterinary Pathology and Pathobiology, and 3 in Veterinary Physiology
Hawaii
Best veterinary colleges: University of Hawaii at Manoa
Veterinary degrees awarded:
- 15 bachelor’s degrees in Animal Sciences, General
- 1 master’s degrees in Animal Sciences, General
Idaho
Best veterinary colleges: Brigham Young University-Idaho
Veterinary degrees awarded:
- 46 bachelor’s degrees in Animal Sciences, General
Best veterinary colleges: University of Idaho
Veterinary degrees awarded:
- 38 bachelor’s degrees in Animal Sciences, General
- 6 master’s degrees in Animal Sciences, General
Illinois
Best veterinary colleges: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Veterinary degrees awarded:
- 159 bachelor’s degrees in Animal Sciences, General
- 18 master’s degrees in Animal Sciences, General, 1 in Veterinary Pathology and Pathobiology, and 11 in Veterinary Sciences/Veterinary Clinical Sciences, General
- 133 doctoral degrees in Veterinary Medicine, 10 in Animal Sciences, General, and 4 in Veterinary Pathology and Pathobiology
Indiana
Best veterinary colleges: Purdue University
Veterinary degrees awarded:
- 185 bachelor’s degrees in Animal Sciences, General, and 18 in Veterinary/Animal Health Technology/Technician and Veterinary Assistant
- 11 master’s degrees in Veterinary Sciences/Veterinary Clinical Sciences, General, and 8 in Animal Sciences, General
- 81 doctoral degrees in Veterinary Medicine, 5 in Animal Sciences, General, and 1 in Veterinary Sciences/Veterinary Clinical Sciences, General
Iowa
Best veterinary colleges: Iowa State University
Veterinary degrees awarded:
- 199 bachelor’s degrees in Animal Sciences, General
- 6 master’s degrees in Veterinary Preventive Medicine, Epidemiology, and Public Health and 2 in Veterinary Microbiology and Immunobiology
- 148 doctoral degrees in Veterinary Medicine, 4 in Veterinary Microbiology and Immunobiology, 1 in Veterinary Pathology and Pathobiology, and 4 in Veterinary Preventive Medicine, Epidemiology, and Public Health
Kansas
Best veterinary colleges: Kansas State University
Veterinary degrees awarded:
- 224 bachelor’s degrees in Animal Sciences, General and 24 in Pre-Veterinary Studies
- 31 master’s degrees in Veterinary Sciences/Veterinary Clinical Sciences, General, and 17 in Animal Sciences, General
- 123 doctoral degrees in Veterinary Medicine, 6 in Animal Sciences, General, and 2 in Veterinary Physiology
Kentucky
Best veterinary colleges: Murray State University
Veterinary degrees awarded:
- 116 bachelor’s degrees in Veterinary/Animal Health Technology/Technician and Veterinary Assistant and 123 in Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science and Related Fields, Other
- 80 master’s degrees in Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science and Related Fields, Other
Best veterinary colleges: University of Kentucky
Veterinary degrees awarded:
- 13 bachelor’s degrees in Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science and Related Fields, Other, 57 in Animal Sciences, General, and 70 in Horse Husbandry/Equine Science and Management
- 5 master’s degrees in Animal Sciences, General
- 1 doctoral degree in Veterinary Sciences/Veterinary Clinical Sciences, General, and 1 in Animal Sciences, General
Louisiana
Best veterinary colleges: Louisiana State University
Veterinary degrees awarded:
- 77 bachelor’s degrees in Animal Sciences, General
- 2 master’s degrees in Animal Sciences, General
- 84 doctoral degrees in Veterinary Medicine
Maine
Best veterinary colleges: University of Maine
Veterinary degrees awarded:
- 34 bachelor’s degrees in Animal Sciences, General
- 1 master’s degree in Animal Sciences, General
Best veterinary colleges: University of Maine at Augusta
Veterinary degrees awarded:
- 24 bachelor’s degrees in Veterinary/Animal Health Technology/Technician and Veterinary Assistant
Maryland
Best veterinary colleges: University of Maryland
Veterinary degrees awarded:
- 67 bachelor’s degrees in Animal Sciences, General and 2 in Pre-Veterinary Studies
- 2 master’s degree in Animal Sciences, General
- 33 doctoral degrees in Veterinary Medicine, 1 in Animal Sciences, General, and 1 in Veterinary Microbiology and Immunobiology
Massachusetts
Best veterinary colleges: University of Massachusetts
Veterinary degrees awarded:
- 77 bachelor’s degrees in Pre-Veterinary Studies, 24 in Veterinary/Animal Health Technology/Technician and Veterinary Assistant, and 18 in Animal Sciences, General
- 3 master’s degrees in Animal Sciences, General
- 1 doctoral degree in Animal Sciences, General
Best veterinary colleges: Tufts University
Veterinary degrees awarded:
- 11 master’s degrees in Veterinary Infectious Diseases and 3 in Comparative and Laboratory Animal Medicine
- 96 doctoral degrees in Veterinary Medicine
Michigan
Best veterinary colleges: Michigan State University
Veterinary degrees awarded:
- 162 bachelor’s degrees in Animal Sciences, General, 4 in Pre-Veterinary Studies, and 21 in Veterinary/Animal Health Technology/Technician and Veterinary Assistant
- 6 master’s degrees in Animal Sciences, General
- 114 doctoral degrees in Veterinary Medicine and 2 in Animal Sciences, General
Minnesota
Best veterinary colleges: University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
Veterinary degrees awarded:
- 97 bachelor’s degrees in Animal Sciences, General and 13 in Veterinary Sciences/Veterinary Clinical Sciences, General
- 7 master’s degrees in Animal Sciences, General and 2 in Veterinary Pathology and Pathobiology
- 102 doctoral degrees in Veterinary Medicine, 1 in Animal Sciences, General, and 4 in Veterinary Pathology and Pathobiology
Mississippi
Best veterinary colleges: Mississippi State University
Veterinary degrees awarded:
- 68 bachelor’s degrees in Animal Sciences, General and 32 in Veterinary/Animal Health Technology/Technician and Veterinary Assistant
- 8 master’s degrees in Veterinary Pathology and Pathobiology
- 92 doctoral degrees in Veterinary Medicine and 4 in Veterinary Pathology and Pathobiology
Missouri
Best veterinary colleges: University of Missouri
Veterinary degrees awarded:
- 82 bachelor’s degrees in Animal Sciences, General
- 7 master’s degrees in Animal Sciences, General and 9 in Veterinary Sciences/Veterinary Clinical Sciences, General
- 114 doctoral degrees in Veterinary Medicine, 6 in Veterinary Pathology and Pathobiology, 1 in Veterinary Sciences/Veterinary Clinical Sciences, General, 5 in Animal Sciences, General
Montana
Best veterinary colleges: Montana State University
Veterinary degrees awarded:
- 49 bachelor’s degrees in Animal Sciences, General
Nebraska
Best veterinary colleges: University of Nebraska
Veterinary degrees awarded:
- 95 bachelor’s degrees in Animal Sciences, General, 48 in Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science and Related Fields, Other, 21 in Pre-Veterinary Studies, and 3 in Veterinary/Animal Health Technology/Technician and Veterinary Assistant
- 10 master’s degrees on Animal Sciences, General
- 13 doctoral degrees in Animal Sciences, General
Nevada
Best veterinary colleges: University of Nevada, Reno
Veterinary degrees awarded:
- 36 bachelor’s degrees in Pre-Veterinary Studies
New Hampshire
Best veterinary colleges: University of New Hampshire
Veterinary degrees awarded:
- 30 bachelor’s degrees in Animal Sciences, General and 11 in Horse Husbandry/Equine Science and Management
- 3 master’s degrees in Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science and Related Fields, Other
New Jersey
Best veterinary colleges: Rutgers University–New Brunswick
Veterinary degrees awarded:
- 101 bachelor’s degrees in Animal Sciences, General
- 1 master’s degrees in Animal Sciences, General
New Mexico
Best veterinary colleges: New Mexico State University
Veterinary degrees awarded:
- 76 bachelor’s degrees in Animal Sciences, General
- 4 master’s degrees in Animal Sciences, General
- 2 doctoral degrees in Animal Sciences, General
New York
Best veterinary colleges: Cornell University
Veterinary degrees awarded:
- 95 bachelor’s degrees in Animal Sciences, General
- 3 master’s degrees in Animal Sciences, General
- 107 doctoral degrees in Veterinary Medicine and 7 in Animal Sciences, General
North Carolina
Best veterinary colleges: North Carolina State University at Raleigh
Veterinary degrees awarded:
- 175 bachelor’s degrees in Animal Sciences, General
- 18 master’s degrees in Animal Sciences, General, and 1 in Veterinary Sciences/Veterinary Clinical Sciences, General
- 96 doctoral degrees in Veterinary Medicine, 10 in Veterinary Sciences/Veterinary Clinical Sciences, General, and 5 in Animal Sciences, General
North Dakota
Best veterinary colleges: North Dakota State University
Veterinary degrees awarded:
- 24 bachelor’s degrees in Veterinary/Animal Health Technology/Technician and Veterinary Assistant and 32 in Animal Sciences, General
- 4 master’s degrees in Animal Sciences, General
- 1 doctoral degree in Animal Sciences, General
Ohio
Best veterinary colleges: Ohio State University
Veterinary degrees awarded:
- 154 bachelor’s degrees in Animal Sciences, General, and 67 in Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science and Related Fields, Other
- 15 master’s degrees in Comparative and Laboratory Animal Medicine and 11 in Animal Sciences, General
- 153 doctoral degrees in Veterinary Medicine, 4 in Animal Sciences, General, and 13 in Comparative and Laboratory Animal Medicine
Best veterinary colleges: University of Findlay
Veterinary degrees awarded:
- 42 bachelor’s degrees in Pre-Veterinary Studies, 34 in Equestrian/Equine Studies, and 41 in Animal Sciences, General
Oklahoma
Best veterinary colleges: Oklahoma State University
Veterinary degrees awarded:
- 207 bachelor’s degrees in Animal Sciences, General
- 14 master’s degrees in Animal Sciences, General
- 92 doctoral degrees in Veterinary Medicine
Oregon
Best veterinary colleges: Oregon State University
Veterinary degrees awarded:
- 85 bachelor’s degrees in Animal Sciences, General
- 8 master’s degrees in Comparative and Laboratory Animal Medicine and 1 in Animal Sciences, General
- 69 doctoral degrees in Veterinary Medicine and 3 in Comparative and Laboratory Animal Medicine
Pennsylvania
Best veterinary colleges: Penn State University
Veterinary degrees awarded:
- 99 bachelor’s degrees in Animal Sciences, General, 82 in Pre-Veterinary Studies, and 38 in Veterinary Microbiology and Immunobiology
- 7 master’s degrees in Animal Sciences, General, and 1 in Comparative and Laboratory Animal Medicine
- 2 doctoral degrees in Animal Sciences, General
Best veterinary colleges: University of Pennsylvania
Veterinary degrees awarded:
- 123 doctoral degrees in Veterinary Medicine
Rhode Island
Best veterinary colleges: University of Rhode Island
Veterinary degrees awarded:
- 92 bachelor’s degrees in Animal Sciences, General
South Carolina
Best veterinary colleges: N/A
Veterinary degrees awarded: N/A
South Dakota
Best veterinary colleges: South Dakota State University
Veterinary degrees awarded:
- 90 bachelor’s degrees in Animal Sciences, General
- 10 master’s degrees in Animal Sciences, General
- 4 doctoral degrees in Animal Sciences, General, and 1 in Veterinary Microbiology and Immunobiology
Tennessee
Best veterinary colleges: Lincoln Memorial University
Veterinary degrees awarded:
- 17 bachelor’s degrees in Veterinary/Animal Health Technology/Technician and Veterinary Assistant
- 31 master’s degrees in Veterinary Sciences/Veterinary Clinical Sciences, General
- 118 doctoral degrees in Veterinary Medicine
Best veterinary colleges: University of Tennessee
Veterinary degrees awarded:
- 111 bachelor’s degrees in Animal Sciences, General
- 7 master’s degrees in Animal Sciences, General
- 90 doctoral degrees in Veterinary Medicine and 2 in Animal Sciences, General
Texas
Best veterinary colleges: Texas A&M University
Veterinary degrees awarded:
- 190 bachelor’s degrees in Animal Sciences, General
- 4 master’s degrees in Veterinary Preventive Medicine, Epidemiology, and Public Health and 15 in Animal Sciences, General
- 134 doctoral degrees in Veterinary Medicine and 5 in Animal Sciences, General
Utah
Best veterinary colleges: Utah State University
Veterinary degrees awarded:
- 88 bachelor’s degrees in Animal Sciences, General
- 7 master’s degrees in Animal Sciences, General
- 4 doctoral degrees in Animal Sciences, General
Vermont
Best veterinary colleges: University of Vermont
Veterinary degrees awarded:
- 76 bachelor’s degrees in Animal Sciences, General
- 2 master’s degrees in Animal Sciences, General
- 2 doctoral degrees in Animal Sciences, General
Virginia
Best veterinary colleges: Virginia Tech
Veterinary degrees awarded:
- 151 bachelor’s degrees in Animal Sciences, General
- 9 master’s degrees in Veterinary Sciences/Veterinary Clinical Sciences, General and 8 in Animal Sciences, General
- 128 doctoral degrees in Veterinary Medicine, 10 in Animal Sciences, General, and 2 in Veterinary Sciences/Veterinary Clinical Sciences, General
Washington
Best veterinary colleges: Washington State University
Veterinary degrees awarded:
- 111 bachelor’s degrees in Animal Sciences, General
- 10 master’s degrees in Veterinary Infectious Diseases and 4 in Animal Sciences, General
- 127 doctoral degrees in Veterinary Medicine, 9 in Veterinary Infectious Diseases, and 1 in Animal Sciences, General
West Virginia
Best veterinary colleges: West Virginia University
Veterinary degrees awarded:
- 105 bachelor’s degrees in Animal Sciences, General
- 9 master’s degree in Animal Sciences, General
- 2 doctoral degrees in Animal Sciences, General
Wisconsin
Best veterinary colleges: University of Wisconsin-Madison
Veterinary degrees awarded:
- 27 bachelor’s degrees in Animal Sciences, General
- 1 master’s degree in Animal Sciences, General
- 100 doctoral degrees in Veterinary Medicine and 3 in Animal Sciences, General
Wyoming
Best veterinary colleges: University of Wyoming
Veterinary degrees awarded:
- 59 bachelor’s degrees in Animal Sciences, General
- 9 master’s degrees in Animal Sciences, General
- 2 doctoral degrees in Animal Sciences, General
The Bottom Line on the Best Veterinary Colleges
While most states have at least one college that offers degrees in animal sciences, fewer states have colleges that provide a robust pre-veterinarian bachelor's program or graduate veterinarian school. Many colleges in our list of the best vet schools have combined veterinary and biological or biomedical schools. Therefore, if you're looking to study in the veterinary field, it is worth checking out biology scholarships because they might apply to pursuing a degree in pre-veterinary studies.
