Best institutions to study Veterinary Medicine
Compare 34 U.S. colleges offering Veterinary Medicine by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 28 states.
About Veterinary Medicine programs
The Veterinary Medicine program focuses on the health and well-being of animals, preparing students for a career in veterinary science. This program is ideal for individuals who are passionate about animal care and want to make a difference in the lives of pets and livestock alike. Students will gain the knowledge and skills necessary to diagnose and treat a variety of animal health issues.
In this program, students will develop core skills in active listening, critical thinking, and science. Coursework includes biology, medicine, and customer service, equipping students with the knowledge to perform tasks such as diagnosing diseases, prescribing medications, and operating diagnostic equipment.
Top 34 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard, predominant credential).
Offered across 28 states
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
| State | Institutions | Median earnings | Top institution by earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabamalimited | 2 | — | — |
| Arizonalimited | 2 | — | — |
| Californialimited | 2 | — | — |
| Coloradolimited | 1 | — | — |
| Floridalimited | 1 | — | — |
| Georgialimited | 1 | — | — |
| Illinoislimited | 1 | — | — |
| Iowalimited | 1 | — | — |
| Kansaslimited | 1 | — | — |
| Louisianalimited | 1 | — | — |
| Marylandlimited | 1 | — | — |
| Massachusettslimited | 1 | — | — |
| Michiganlimited | 1 | — | — |
| Minnesotalimited | 1 | — | — |
| Mississippilimited | 1 | — | — |
| Missourilimited | 1 | — | — |
| New Yorklimited | 2 | — | — |
| North Carolinalimited | 1 | — | — |
| Ohiolimited | 1 | — | — |
| Oklahomalimited | 1 | — | — |
| Oregonlimited | 1 | — | — |
| Pennsylvanialimited | 1 | — | — |
| Tennesseelimited | 2 | — | — |
| Texaslimited | 2 | — | — |
| Virginialimited | 1 | — | — |
| Washingtonlimited | 1 | — | — |
| Wisconsinlimited | 1 | — | — |
| Indianalimited | 1 | — | — |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 29-1131, Veterinarians, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Veterinary Medicine program can expect a promising career outlook, with a projected growth rate of 9.6% and approximately 3,000 annual job openings. The median wage for veterinary professionals is $125,510, and a doctoral or professional degree is typically required for entry into the field.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Veterinary Medicine
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 01.80.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 01.80 (Veterinary Medicine) maps to 2 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupations, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.
| SOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 25-1071 | Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary |
| 29-1131 | Veterinariansprimary |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Skills & knowledge in Veterinary Medicine programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this program most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
What graduates do on the job
- Treat sick or injured animals by prescribing medication, setting bones, dressing wounds, or performing surgery.
- Inoculate animals against various diseases, such as rabies or distemper.
- Examine animals to detect and determine the nature of diseases or injuries.
- Collect body tissue, feces, blood, urine, or other body fluids for examination and analysis.
- Operate diagnostic equipment, such as radiographic or ultrasound equipment, and interpret the resulting images.
- Educate the public about diseases that can be spread from animals to humans.
Concentrations within Veterinary Medicine
Specializations under this field (NCES CIP 2020).
- Veterinary MedicineCIP 01.8001
A program that prepares individuals for the independent professional practice of veterinary medicine, involving the diagnosis, treatment, and health care management of animals and animal populations a
Common questions
What is the main focus of the Veterinary Medicine program?+
The program focuses on the health and well-being of animals, preparing students to diagnose and treat various animal health issues.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
Students will develop skills in active listening, critical thinking, science, and communication.
What is the job outlook for veterinary professionals?+
The job outlook is strong, with a growth rate of 9.6% and about 3,000 annual openings.
What level of education is required to work in veterinary medicine?+
A doctoral or professional degree is typically required to enter the field.
What is the CIP code for Veterinary Medicine?+
Veterinary Medicine maps to CIP 01.80 in the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), the U.S. Department of Education taxonomy used for College Scorecard Field of Study earnings and IPEDS completions.
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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