Pet animals deserve all the love and care they can get. However, when they fall sick, they need professional care. And if you find yourself interested in taking care of these animals, you can study to become a veterinary doctor.
The 2024 edition of the annual QS World University ranking by subjects is out, and we have compiled a list of the 17 best vet schools in the world in 2023.
This compilation was done in a bid to assist students in searching for the best vet schools to study.
The list encompasses world-leading Universities from around the world, including schools in North America, Europe, and the United Kingdom.
On a yearly basis, students take to the internet to search for the best vet schools in the world and we hope this list helps you in your academic quest.
Kiiky have put together these institutions with careful research to help you select your best fit and start your medical journey as soon as possible.
We’ve also carefully included the tuition fees of these respective colleges including their acceptance rate and official website so that you would know the best institution that is probably going to accept you.
Is Vet School harder than Med School?
Entry into vet school is becoming slightly more challenging than med in recent years.
The conventional wisdom — especially among the veterinary set — would have you believe that it’s tougher to get into veterinary school than medical school.
But, inquiring minds want to know: Does it really take more mojo to make it into a veterinary doctorate program?
I feel compelled to offer you a two-part answer: Yes, of course, it’s harder! Yet, all things being equal, not really.
However, I think of it this way: vets learn a wider but shallower field (unless they specialize), and human doctors learn a narrower but deeper field.
Check this out: 10 Best Veterinary Colleges in New York | Rankings 2024
What You Need to Apply to Veterinary School
No professional program demands more of its future students. Keep in mind the requirements I’ve outlined below, courtesy of the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, vary a bit from school to school. So, it’s not precise.
All veterinary schools require 45 to 90 semester hours of undergraduate credit for application. For medical schools, 40 to 60 hours seems pretty standard.
Pre-veterinary courses are basically the same as medical school requirements, which include
- general biology,
- genetics,
- cell biology,
- microbiology,
- calculus,
- organic and inorganic chemistry,
- physics,
- biochemistry, and
- a combination of basic human science courses.
Under the program, prospective veterinarians are also lecturers, including
- animal biology,
- animal nutrition,
- animal feed science,
- vertebrate embryology,
- zoology, and
- physiology.
While medical schools only require the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), veterinary schools are all over the place on this matter.
About 78 percent require the Graduate Registration Exam (GRE), 15 percent require the Veterinary College Entrance Test (VCAT), and 7 percent accept the MCAT.
All veterinary programs require a certain number of hours of work in direct contact with animals in a veterinary or zoological practice, animal, or laboratory. Many require hundreds of hours of experience before a candidate can qualify.
In contrast, there is no such stipulation in human medicine, although it is undeniable and terribly beneficial for applicants to offer similar credentials.
But here’s the thing: the acceptance statistics for medical school programs are impressive. According to US News and World Report, only 9% of medical school applicants were accepted in 2010.
So how does this compare to the acceptance rate from vets? There are 28 veterinary schools in the United States and I was able to find the 2010 acceptance rates for about 10 programs.
Among them, acceptance rates range from 6.8% to 34.9%, which leaves me with the impression that the admission rate is, on average, higher (and less competitive) for veterinary programs than for informing medical programs.
See also: 12 Veterinarian Schools in Ohio | 2024
What Kind of Vet Gets Paid the Most?
According to AVMA Report on Veterinary Compensation, the specialties with the highest median incomes were:
- ophthalmology ($199,000),
- lab animal medicine ($169,000),
- pathology ($157,000),
- surgery ($133,000),
- internal medicine ($127,000),
- radiology ($121,000), and
- theriogenology ($121,000)
Explore more: 10 Best Grants For Veteran Owned Business In 2024 | Apply Now
List of 17 Best Vet Schools In The World 2023
Here are the top 17 Top Best Veterinary Schools in the World. These schools are open to local and international students.
- University of California, Davis
- Cornell University
- Royal Veterinary College
- University of Cambridge
- Utrecht University
- The University of Pennsylvania
- University of Guelph
- Ghent University
- University of Edinburgh
- University of Liverpool
- Texas A&M University
- Michigan State University
- University of Sydney
- Wageningen University & Research
- University of Glasgow
- University of Melbourne
- Ohio State University
#1. University of California, Davis
Acceptance Rate: 38%
Tuition: $32,126
The University of California, Davis is part of the UC system. The University is a public research institution with a history of excellent academic excellence.
Also, the University’s Vet school is currently considered the best in the world according to the QS World University ranking system.
Furthermore, the school offers various programs which include: the professional Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program, Master of Preventive Veterinary Medicine program, graduate clinical residency program, and graduate academic MS and Ph.D. programs.
It is one of the top veterinary schools in the US in 2024. Click the program link to register.
#2. Cornell University
Acceptance Rate: 15%
Tuition: New York residents: $37,136; Non-New York residents: $54,744
Cornell University is a private University founded as far back as 1865. The PU is located in New York and is a member of the statutory Ivy League Universities.
The Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine is a world leader in veterinary medical education, animal medicine, biomedical research, and public health.
They offer first-level training in DVM, Ph.D., master’s, and combined degree programs, as well as a wide range of supplemental and continuing education opportunities.
The University currently occupies the 2nd position among the best vet schools in the world. Aside from veterinary science, the university also excels in other disciplines.
Check this out: 15 Best Free Online Veterinary Classes
#3. Royal Veterinary College
Acceptance Rate: N/A
Tuition: £9,250
The Royal Veterinary College was founded in 1791 in London as a federal University. The school is basically specialized in Vet sciences and is currently one of the best vet schools in the world.
#4. University of Cambridge
Founded in 1209, the University of Cambridge is currently the fourth oldest surviving university in the world. The Department of Veterinary Medicine at Cambridge is at the forefront of veterinary science and education and is a center of excellence for teaching and research
The University is known for academic excellence occupying the 4th position in the world’s best vet schools.
Acceptance Rate: fair
Tuition fees: Domestic/EU students- £9,250; international students; £55,272
#5. Utrecht University
Utrecht University is one of the best Universities in the world, founded in 1663 in Utrecht, the Netherlands. The primary focus of the Utrecht University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine lies in the areas of education, research, and patient care.
These tasks are conducted by eight departments, including an inter-faculty institute. The faculty also includes the Central Laboratory Animal Research Facility.
In addition, the University offers several academic programs in Sciences, Humanities, Law Engineering, and so on. The vet school at Utrecht University is one of the best in the world in 2024.
Acceptance Rate: average
Tuition fees: EEA students €4,2502; Non-EEA students €11,500; EEA with Dutch
BA/MA degree €11,680
You can also read: How Can I Become a Registered Veterinary Technician? Schools, Cost, Salaries
#6. University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is currently one of the best vet schools in the world in 2024, according to the QS World University ranking. Also, the University is a Private institution among the Ivy League research universities in the United States.
At PennVet, in addition to providing sophisticated medical treatments for animals of every size and kind, they also believe veterinarians play an integral part in ensuring public health and food safety at both local and global levels, recognizing and controlling foreign and newly emerging diseases of livestock and poultry, including diseases transmissible from animals to people.
The University receives tons of applications on a yearly basis making it extremely competitive to get an offer into any of its programs.
Acceptance Rate: 10%
Tuition fees: $56,420
#7. University of Guelph
The University of Guelph is located in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. Founded in 1964, the University currently makes the cut among the best Universities in Canada, and its vet school is currently considered among the best in the world.
Acceptance Rate: fair
Tuition fees: Domestic tuition: 4,621.96 CAD; International tuition: 24,341.73 CAD
#8. University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh is currently considered to be the 6th oldest surviving University in English-speaking countries.
The University which was founded in 1582 in Edinburgh, Scotland has one of the best schools in Veterinary sciences.
The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies is a world leader in veterinary education, research, and clinical practice. It is one of the oldest veterinary schools in the world, founded in 1823 by William Dick.
The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies is a world leader in veterinary education, research, and clinical practice.
Acceptance Rate: 10%
Tuition fees : Scotland/EU students £1,820; Uk students £9,250; Overseas students £19,800.
See also: 13 Best Veterinary Volunteering Opportunities in 2024
#9. University of Liverpool
The University of Liverpool was established in 1881 as a college before transitioning into a University. It is a public research university with a long-standing history of academic excellence in Vet medicine and other disciplines.
The Institute of Veterinary Science in Liverpool is a leading education provider for the vets of the future. In addition, they have two on-site working farms as well as two referral hospitals.
Also, three first opinion practices, enable undergraduates to gain valuable hands-on experience in all aspects of veterinary practice: equine, large animal, and small animal.
Acceptance Rate: 13.9%
Tuition fees: £24,775
#10. Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University was established in 1948 as a public research University. Located in Texas, the University is one of the most affordable universities in the world with excellent teaching and research facilities.
Acceptance Rate: 67%
Tuition fees: $13,000
#11. Michigan State University
MSU is a public university founded in 1855. The University is currently considered among the best schools in vet medicine. The University is relatively affordable and has a pretty high acceptance rate.
Acceptance Rate: 66%
Tuition fees: $17,000
#12. University of Sydney
The University of Sydney was established in 1850 as Australia’s oldest university. The University offers all sorts of programs across different levels of study.
Its long history of academic excellence makes the University a top choice for international students willing to study outside their home country. Also, it vet school is currently considered among the best in 2024.
Acceptance Rate: fair
Tuition fees: 9,050 AUD
Check this out: Top 48 Veterinary & Animal Science Scholarships
#13. Wageningen University & Research
Wageningen University & Research is a Dutch public research university. The University is a top choice for students applying to study Vet medicine or Agricultural Sciences.
Acceptance Rate: fair
Tuition fees: 1,984 EUR
#14. University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is currently one of the oldest Universities in the world and ranks as the 4th oldest surviving University among English-speaking countries.
The School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Glasgow is one of six veterinary schools in the Uk and it also offers undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications in Veterinary Medicine.
Acceptance Rate: fair
Tuition fees: 1,984 EUR
#15. University of Melbourne
Melbourne University was established in 1853 as a public research University. It offers subjects in Sciences, Arts, Humanities among other faculties.
The University of Melbourne’s Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree gives you the experience and flexibility to succeed in your choice of veterinary career: as a small or large animal veterinarian, an animal welfare supervisor in the agricultural industries, an equine health professional, a government veterinarian monitoring wildlife health or a zoo veterinarian. It currently features one of the best vet schools in the world.
Acceptance Rate: fair
Tuition fees: Domestic tuition: 9,050 AUD; International tuition: 39,168 AUD
#16. Ohio State University
Ohio State University is one of the best Universities in the United States and its vet school makes the cut in the 2024 ranking. The University is a public research university with an average acceptance rate.
Acceptance Rate: Fair
Tuition fees: $18,000
#17. Ghent University
The Ghent University was founded as far back as 1817 by King William I of the Netherlands, although the University is localized in Ghent, the Kingdom of Belgium. Its vet school currently ranks among the best in the world.
Acceptance Rate: fair
Tuition fees: 922.3 EUR
See also: Top 10 Free IT Certifications for Veterans in 2024
If you carefully read through this article, you will get a full detailed list of the best veterinary school in the world above.
There are 30 schools or colleges of veterinary medicine (CVMs) in the U.S. that are accredited or have accreditation pending and all of them are AAVMC members.
For instance, in North America, graduates will receive a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine or Veterinarian Medicinae Doctoris; DVM or VMD), whereas in the United Kingdom or India they would be awarded a Bachelor’s degree in Veterinary Science, Surgery or Medicine (BVS, BVSc, BVetMed or BVMS).
Graduates of an accredited college of veterinary medicine earn a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M. or V.M.D.) degree, which is required of all veterinarians.
It generally takes a student four years to complete a veterinary medicine program, which consists of classroom instruction, laboratory, and clinical training.
Best Vet Schools FAQ
Yes, It Is Possible to Get into Vet School with a 3.2 GPA
University of California, Davis
While salaries vary widely, veterinarians rarely become wealthy. As long as there are animals, there will be a need for veterinarians to care for them. The emotional and intellectual rewards of veterinary medicine are rich and diverse.
The Editor’s Recommendation
- Strathclyde University’s Engineering Scholarship Program
- Indian Scholarships for Liberians | APPLY NOW
- 15 Cheapest Universities in Paris for International Students
- $1000 AllTopGuide Scholarships | UPDATED
- University of Birmingham – Canada Undergraduate Scholarship
- University of Glasgow: Admission, Tuition, Courses, Scholarships, Ranking
- Top 20 Music Schools in the World
- Top 5 U.S. Universities Everyone is Going to for STEM Degrees
DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission.
Comments are closed.