The table below highlights the top 22 veterinary schools in the U.S. and Canada, along with their 2026 acceptance rates and tuition, based on data from the Veterinary Medical School Admission Requirements (VMSAR). We’ve also included a brief justification for each ranking to explain what sets these programs apart.
Veterinary school
Our Ranking
Acceptance Rate
Average GPA
Tuition Fee
Why This is a Top Vet School
University of California, Davis (UC Davis) School of Veterinary Medicine
Received the largest single gift ever made to a veterinary school worldwide ($120 million), which will lead to the expansion of their world-renowned research and clinical facilities, including a new small animal teaching hospital.
Maintains its elite status through theAnimal Health Diagnostic Center, which handles over 1 million tests annually, and its leadership in veterinary genomics.
Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
3
4.81%
3.56
$41,960 (in-state) $67,293 (out-of-state)
Distinguished by itsFlint Animal Cancer Center, a global leader in comparative oncology that treats more small animal cancer patients than any other site in the world.
The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine
4
4.93%
3.6
$39,258 (in-state) $85,266 (out-of-state for first year, then it is the same as in-state +$10.00)
Generates over 72,000 patient visits annually across three hospitals, giving students exceptional hands-on clinical volume.
University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine
5
~7.99%
3.76
$56,228 (in-state) $66,228 (out-of-state)
Ranked highly for its unique dual-campus model, featuring the New Bolton Center, one of the world's most advanced large animal hospitals and research centers.
North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine
6
~11.70%
Residents: 3.64 Non-residents: 3.82
$49,100 (in-state) $81,113 (out-of-state)
Recognized for its Terry Center, a state-of-the-art 110,000 sq. ft. facility that specializes in advanced emergency and specialized small animal medicine.
University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine
7
~7.18%
3.70
$28,790 (in-state) $45,500 (out of state)
Has a prestigious biomedical research focused on infectious diseases and immunology, as well as its high-volume equine and large animal facilities.
University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Veterinary Medicine
8
~3.96%
Residents: 3.63 Non-residents: 3.88
$36,080 (in-state) $58,746 (out-of-state)
Ranked for its pioneering Influenza Research Institute, which leads global studies on high-pathogenicity respiratory viruses and is supported by multi-million dollar NIH grants.
University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine
Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences
10
14.86%
3.80
$26,802 (in-state) $42,706 (out-of-state)
Leads in veterinaryreproduction and genetics, including its world-famous Equine Embryo Transfer program and advanced imaging capabilities.
Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine
11
~6.84%
3.71
$32,662 (in-state) $56,638 (out-of-state)
Notable for its Canine Performance Sciences program, which is the world leader in researching detection dogs for national security and public safety.
Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine
12
~8.56%
3.62
$30,154 (in-state) $63,402 (out-of-state)
Anchored by itsVeterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, which serves as a frontline defense for U.S. food animal health and processes over 100,000 cases annually.
Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine
13
4.42%
Residents: 3.71 Non-Residents: 3.80
$22,931.00 (in-state) $44,759.00 (out-of-state)
Highly regarded for its Center for Comparative Medicine, bridging the gap between animal and human cancer research, and its strong focus on veterinary nursing education.
University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine
14
6.41%
3.75
$38,008 (in-state) $68,310 (out-of-state)
Home to theRaptor Center, a world-renowned facility for bird of prey medical care, and the Swine Health Monitoring Project, critical for the Midwest economy.
Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine
15
9.01%
3.55
$33,692 (in-state) $50,132 (out-of-state)
Ranked for its expertise inmusculoskeletal research and its large-scale Veterinary Medical Center that serves as a primary referral hub for the Great Lakes region.
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign College of Veterinary Medicine
16
5.90%
3.77
$32,464 (in-state) $58,146 (out-of-state)
Distinguished by its integrated clinical skills curriculum and the Wildlife Medical Clinic, which treats over 2,000 injured wild animals a year.
Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine
17
11.58%
3.76
$28,278 (in-state) $65,056 (out-of-state)
Recognized for its Paul G. Allen School for Global Health, focusing on the intersection of animal health and socio-economic development in underserved global regions.
Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University
18
9.04%
3.75
$66,284 (in-state) $72,784 (out-of-state)
Recognized as a top-tier institution in New England, with its flagship Foster Hospital for Small Animals seeing over 35,000 cases annually. It is a leader in comparative oncology, with numerous ongoing clinical trials.
Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine
19
5.11%
3.83
$25,742 (in-state) $56,304 (out-of-state)
Gains prestige from its strategic location adjacent to the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF). The school is a hub for transboundary animal diseases, with its Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory crucial to protecting U.S. livestock.
Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine
20
5.58%
3.66
$29,784 (in-state) $63,321.00 (out-of-state)
A unique partnership between two land-grant universities, this school leads in One Health, with specialized research in comparative oncology and infectious diseases that impact both humans and animals.
University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine
21
6.07%
3.76
$35,464 (in-state) $83,106 (out-of-state first year)
Distinguished by its multi-species Veterinary Health Center, which treats a high volume of animals from companion to food supply, and its significant contributions to biomedical research.
Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph
22
58.06%
3.63
$92,184.68 CAD
Canada's oldest veterinary school is renowned globally, particularly for its Institute for Comparative Cancer Investigation, which conducts ground-breaking research.
Schools marked with a “~” indicate approximate acceptance rates based on matriculation data from the VMSAR, as official acceptance rates are not published. In practice, veterinary school acceptance and matriculation rates tend to be very similar, making matriculant data a reasonable proxy.
Find More North American Vet Schools
To discover even more top vet schools, check out our veterinary program comparison platform! You’ll be able to compare and contrast vet schools in the US based on a number of factors like class size, campus location, and more.
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The table below features the top veterinary schools in Europe, along with their acceptance rates, as reported by the VMSAR, tuition for both resident and international students, and the specific strengths that earned each vet school its ranking.
Vet School
Our Ranking
Acceptance Rate
Average GPA
Tuition Fee
Why This is a Top Vet School
Royal Veterinary College (England)
1
~12.79%
3.49
£9,535 (resident) £47,960 (International student)
Consistently ranked globally, driven by an extensive research portfolio that includes work in the control of emerging zoonotic diseases and food safety.
University of Glasgow Veterinary School (Scotland)
The table below highlights the leading veterinary schools in Oceania, including their VSMAR acceptance rates, resident and international tuition costs, and the clinical and research strengths that distinguish each vet program.
Vet School
Our Ranking
Acceptance Rate
Average GPA
Tuition Fee
Why This is a Top Vet School
University of Sydney School of Veterinary Science (Australia)
1
~8.30%-15.70%
~3.90
$62,300 AUD (Resident) $80,500 (International student)
Distinguished by its Veterinary Teaching Hospitals, which manage a massive caseload of over 30,000 animals annually. Also holds triple accreditation across AVMA, AVBC, and RCVS.
The University of Melbourne Veterinary School (Australia)
2
~25.00%
~3.3
$68,000 AUD (Resident) $85,984 (International student)
Operates a world-class veterinary teaching and clinical network in Victoria, Australia, featuring the 3,000sqm Greencross Veterinary Hospital.
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Best Vet Schools In Latin America, Asia, and Africa
The table below covers the top-ranked veterinary schools across Latin America, Asia, and Africa, including their acceptance rates, tuition at both resident and international levels, and the unique institutional strengths that set each vet program apart.
Vet School
Our Ranking
Acceptance Rate
Tuition Fee
Why This is a Top Vet School
The University of Tokyo School of Agricultural and Life Sciences (Japan)
1
Around 34%
¥520,800- ¥535,800 (Resident) ¥817,800 (International Student)
Universidade de São Paulo School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science (Brazil)
2
Around 5%
Free for residents; at least $1,000 USD a year for international students
Distinguished by its massive Veterinary Teaching Hospital (HOVET), which provides care for over 40,000 cases annually, and its role as a premier research institution in South America.
University of Pretoria Faculty of Veterinary Science
3
Does not publish this data
R65,000 to R72,000 (Resident) R110,000-R150,000 (International student)
4,700–5,300 EGP (Resident) 259,961.56 EGP (International student)
The oldest veterinary school in Africa, with a large-scale Veterinary Teaching Hospital, essential for addressing zoonotic diseases and supporting animal agriculture in the Middle East.
Do you need help finding the perfect vet school for you? Check out our Which Vet School Should I Go To? Quiz to help you find your dream vet school.
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Methodology We Use to Assess Which Vet Schools Are the Best in the World
Our methodology evaluates each school across three criteria that directly affect your education and career outcomes.
Clinical volume and facilities: We assess the number of annual patient visits, hospital square footage, and the range of species treated. A vet school that sees 72,000+ cases per year (like Ohio State's College of Veterinary Medicine) or treats 40,000+ annually (like São Paulo's veterinary teaching hospital) gives you different training than a program with limited caseloads.
Research funding and specialty strength: We identify each vet school's flagship research programs, grant portfolios, and unique centers of excellence. Colorado State's Flint Animal Cancer Center, the Royal Veterinary College's zoonotic disease research, and Guelph's veterinary cancer research institute represent the kind of differentiated work that shapes career trajectories.
Unique institutional assets: We evaluate what makes each veterinary program irreplaceable: adjacency to NBAF (Kansas State's vet school), Pretoria Vet School's role as the sole vet school serving the entire African continent, or Sydney Vet's program holding triple accreditation across AVMA, AVBC, and RCVS.
We update our data annually using VMSAR and direct institutional sources to reflect the most current published figures.
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The Pros and Cons of Studying Veterinary Medicine Abroad
Studying veterinary medicine abroad can save you years of schooling and open doors to a global career, but accreditation gaps and licensure hurdles can derail your plans if you do not research them before you commit.
Advantages of Earning Your Veterinary Degree Abroad
If you choose to earn your veterinary degree abroad, you can:
Skip the undergraduate degree entirely: Many vet programs in Europe, Australia, and the Caribbean accept students directly out of high school. Compare that to the standard U.S. path: four years of undergrad plus four years of vet school. A direct-entry program abroad can save you two to three years and significant tuition costs.
Gain exposure to species and conditions you will never encounter domestically: Studying veterinary medicine in South Africa, Brazil, or Australia puts you face-to-face with tropical diseases, wildlife species, and agricultural systems that do not exist in North American clinical rotations.
Build a global professional network from day one: When you graduate, you will have professional contacts on multiple continents, which matters if you ever want to practice or do research outside your home country.
Access potentially lower tuition: Some international vet programs cost a fraction of U.S. tuition. Even well-regarded veterinary schools in the U.K. or Australia can undercut top-tier U.S. programs, especially when compared to out-of-state rates that exceed $60,000 annually.
Disadvantages and Risks of Studying Veterinary Medicine Abroad
Some disadvantages of earning a DVM abroad include the following:
Most international vet schools are not AVMA-accredited: Graduating from a non-accredited vet program means you’ll face an additional credentialing process through the Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates (ECFVG) or Program for the Assessment of Veterinary Education Equivalence (PAVE).
Credential recognition varies by state: Even with ECFVG certification, individual state veterinary boards set their own licensure requirements. Research the specific requirements in every state where you might want to practice before you enroll in a vet school abroad.
You may lose access to U.S. federal financial aid: Most federal student loan programs don’t cover international institutions. You will need to rely on private loans, institutional scholarships, or personal savings.
Language barriers and cultural adjustment: Even in English-language veterinary programs, you may encounter clinical environments where staff and clients operate in the local language. Moving to another country for four to six years also means navigating housing, healthcare, and visa renewals on your own.
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Common Mistakes That Get Vet School Applications Rejected
The biggest application killer is not a weak GPA or low GRE score. It is preventable errors that signal you did not take the process seriously. Whether you are applying to vet schools in North America, Europe, or anywhere else in the world, these four mistakes will hurt your admission chances.
Writing the same supplemental essays for every vet school: Each veterinary program asks supplemental questions designed to assess fit. Recycling a generic answer across schools is obvious to reviewers. Reference specific programs or faculty and explain why that particular school aligns with your goals.
Burying your clinical experience: Vet schools worldwide want to see hands-on hours with veterinarians. Volunteer work, clinical internships, research assistantships, and shelter experience all demonstrate commitment to the profession. Put those experiences throughout your application, and quantify them with specific hours and responsibilities.
Requesting letters of recommendation too late: A rushed recommender writes a generic letter, and admissions committees can tell the difference. Ask professors, supervising veterinarians, or employers at least six to eight weeks before the deadline.
Missing deadlines or ignoring submission instructions: Each application system (VMCAS, UCAS, or other) has its own formatting requirements, character limits, and document upload rules. One missed deadline or an incorrectly formatted transcript can disqualify an otherwise strong application. Track every school's deadline and application requirements in a spreadsheet to stay organized.
Want some more application tips for vet school? You can partner with one of our expert advisors to maximize your chances of acceptance to any vet school!
The World’s Best Veterinary Schools: FAQs
Does It Matter Where I Earn My Vet Degree?
Where you earn your vet degree matters less for prestige and more for the practical steps required to get licensed. Employers care about your NAVLE scores, clinical skills, and hands-on experience far more than the name of your veterinary program. A DVM from UC Davis and a DVM from a lesser-known AVMA-accredited school carry the same licensure weight.
Where your school choice does matter is accreditation. Attend a vet school that is not AVMA-accredited, and you will need to complete additional credentialing through the ECFVG or PAVE before you can sit for the NAVLE. That process adds months or years to your timeline and costs thousands of dollars in extra fees and assessments.
What Is the Best Veterinary College in the World?
The #1 vet school in the world is UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine recently received the largest single gift ever made to a vet school worldwide ($120 million), funding a massive expansion of its research and clinical facilities.
It earns the top spot through a combination of clinical volume, research output, and employer reputation rather than name recognition alone.
What Region Has the Best Veterinary Schools in the World?
North America dominates global vet school rankings. The United States alone has more top-ranked veterinary programs than any other country, with UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine, and Colorado State College of Veterinary Medicine consistently appearing in the global top ten.
Canada's Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph also ranks among the best vet schools worldwide.
Why Should I Consider Earning My DVM Abroad?
You should consider earning your veterinary degree abroad if you want to enter vet school directly out of high school, gain exposure to animal species and diseases not found in North America, or access lower tuition rates.
Many European and Australian vet programs offer five- or six-year integrated degrees that eliminate the need for a separate undergraduate degree, potentially saving you two to three years compared to the standard U.S. path.
International vet schools also tend to have higher acceptance rates than their U.S. counterparts. While most top-ranked American veterinary programs accept fewer than 15% of applicants, schools like the University of Glasgow (17.76%), the University of Liverpool (30.27%), and the University of Melbourne (around 25%) offer stronger odds of admission.
Out of the Best Vet Schools in the U.S., Which Is Easiest to Get Into?
While none of the best U.S. vet schools are easy to get into, Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine is considered the easiest because it has the highest acceptance rate of 14.86%.
How Do I Choose Between All the Best Vet Schools in the World?
To choose between all the top vet schools in the world, start with your career goals and work backward. If you want to specialize in equine medicine, prioritize vet schools with strong large animal programs and high equine caseloads. If research is your focus, look for veterinary programs with well-funded labs in your area of interest.
If minimizing debt is the priority, compare in-state tuition rates and weigh them against the program's clinical training quality. After narrowing your list by specialty fit and cost, evaluate the school culture. Talk to current students and recent graduates. Ask about mentorship, clinical rotation structure, and how supported they felt during the program.
The best vet school in the world for you is the one where your interests, finances, and professional goals all align.
Can I Practice in the U.S. With a Foreign Veterinary Degree?
Yes, you can practice veterinary medicine in the U.S. with a foreign vet degree, but your path to licensure depends on whether your vet school holds AVMA accreditation. Graduate from an AVMA-accredited veterinary program abroad (such as the Royal Veterinary College, the University of Glasgow, or Ross University), and you can sit for the NAVLE and pursue U.S. licensure the same way domestic graduates do.
Graduate from a non-AVMA-accredited vet school, and you must first earn certification through the ECFVG (Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates) or PAVE (Program for the Assessment of Veterinary Education Equivalence). Both processes involve credential verification, English proficiency testing, and clinical skills assessments that add time and cost before you become eligible for the NAVLE.
Individual state veterinary boards may also require additional jurisprudence exams, so research your target state's specific requirements early.
Do Vet School Rankings Really Matter When Choosing a Program?
Rankings provide a useful starting point for identifying strong veterinary programs, but they should not drive your decision alone. Most ranking systems measure research reputation and academic prestige, which matter less for your day-to-day education than clinical caseload volume, faculty mentorship, and specialty program access.
A vet school ranked fifteenth overall might have the strongest wildlife medicine program in the country, which makes it the best choice if that is your career path.
Use rankings to build your initial list of veterinary schools, then dig deeper into the factors that will actually shape your training: patient volume, species diversity, research opportunities in your interest area, graduate employment outcomes, and total cost of attendance. The ranking number matters far less than what you will actually learn and experience in vet school.
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