Harvard does not have a veterinary school

Harvard University does not operate a veterinary medicine program or award a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree. If you are looking to study veterinary medicine in the United States, you will need to attend one of the 32 accredited veterinary schools operated by other universities.

This is a straightforward fact that surprises many people, since Harvard is one of the most prestigious universities in the country. However, veterinary education requires specialized facilities, teaching hospitals, and clinical training grounds that Harvard has not developed. The university focuses its health professions programs on human medicine, public health, and dental medicine instead.

Key Takeaways

  • Harvard University does not offer a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree or veterinary school program.
  • The 32 accredited veterinary schools in the United States are located at other universities, many of them state schools with strong agricultural programs.
  • Veterinary school admission is competitive at all accredited programs, and your undergraduate major does not have to be biology or chemistry.
  • You can attend Harvard for your undergraduate degree and then explore to veterinary school elsewhere, which some veterinary students do.
  • The Veterinary Medical College process Service (VMCAS) is the centralized process portal for most accredited veterinary schools in North America.

Where accredited veterinary schools are located

The 32 accredited veterinary schools in the United States are spread across the country, with a concentration in states that have strong agricultural universities. Schools like Cornell University, University of Pennsylvania, University of California–Davis, Colorado State University, and Texas A&M University are among the most well-known, but accredited programs also exist at universities in smaller states and regions.

Many of these schools are public universities with veterinary medicine as a flagship program. Some are private institutions. A few states do not have a veterinary school within their borders, so residents of those states often attend regional schools or pay out-of-state tuition. You can find the complete list of accredited schools and their locations on the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) website.

What veterinary school admission actually requires

Veterinary schools do not require you to major in biology, chemistry, or any specific field as an undergraduate. They do require you to complete a set of prerequisite courses—typically general chemistry, organic chemistry, biology, biochemistry, physics, and sometimes statistics or microbiology—but you can take these courses while majoring in English, history, business, or anything else.

Admission committees look at your overall GPA, your GPA in prerequisite courses, your score on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), letters of recommendation, and your experience working with animals. This experience can come from veterinary clinics, animal shelters, farms, research labs, or wildlife rehabilitation centers. Most successful applicants have logged hundreds of hours in animal-related work before explore.

explore to veterinary school from Harvard or elsewhere

If you attend Harvard as an undergraduate, you can complete your prerequisite courses there and then explore to veterinary schools through the standard process process. Harvard does not give you an advantage in veterinary school admissions—veterinary schools evaluate applicants based on their academic record, test scores, and animal experience, not on the prestige of the undergraduate institution.

Most veterinary schools use the Veterinary Medical College process Service (VMCAS), a centralized portal similar to the medical school process system. You create one process through VMCAS and submit it to multiple schools at once. A few schools operate outside this system and have their own separate applications. The process cycle typically opens in May and closes in September, with interviews happening in the fall and winter.

The cost and length of veterinary school

Veterinary school is a four-year program leading to the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree. Tuition and fees vary widely depending on whether you attend a public or private school and whether you are an in-state or out-of-state student. Public veterinary schools typically cost between $15,000 and $35,000 per year for in-state students, while private schools and out-of-state public schools can cost $40,000 to $60,000 per year or more.

After graduation, you must pass the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE) to practice as a veterinarian. Most graduates carry significant student loan debt, and the veterinary profession is aware of this. Some employers offer loan repayment information, and some rural or underserved areas have federal programs that forgive loans in exchange for years of service.

Alternative paths if you want to study at an Ivy League school

If attending an Ivy League university is important to you, you can pursue your undergraduate degree at Harvard, Yale, Princeton, or another Ivy school and then explore to veterinary school. Your undergraduate institution will not determine your admission to veterinary school, but it will give you access to strong prerequisite courses and faculty who can write recommendation letters.

Some Ivy League schools do have graduate programs related to animal science, wildlife biology, or conservation that might interest you, but these are not veterinary medicine programs. If you want to become a practicing veterinarian, you will need to attend one of the 32 accredited veterinary schools, none of which are Ivy League institutions.

How to research veterinary schools that fit your goals

Start by visiting the AVMA website and reviewing the list of accredited schools. Most schools have information about their curriculum, clinical rotations, and areas of focus—some emphasize small animal medicine, others large animal or equine medicine, and some have strong programs in exotic animals or wildlife. Read about the geographic location, cost, and whether they have rolling admissions (which means they review applications as they arrive rather than all at once).

Contact current students or recent graduates if you can. Many veterinary schools host open houses or virtual information sessions. Visiting a school's teaching hospital or clinic, if possible, gives you a real sense of the program and the facilities where you would train.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I become a veterinarian without going to veterinary school?

No. In the United States, you must graduate from an accredited veterinary school and pass the NAVLE to practice as a veterinarian. There is no alternative pathway or apprenticeship route. Veterinary technicians and veterinary assistants work under veterinarians but require different training and credentials.

Do I have to go to veterinary school in the state where I want to practice?

No. Once you pass the NAVLE, you can practice in any state. Some states have additional licensing requirements or reciprocity agreements, but your veterinary degree from any accredited school is recognized nationwide. You do not need to attend school in your home state.

What if I do not get into veterinary school on my first try?

Many successful veterinarians were not admitted on their first process. You can reapply the following year, strengthen your animal experience, retake the GRE if needed, and ask for feedback from schools about your process. Some people work as veterinary technicians or in animal clinics for a year or two before reapplying, which also strengthens their experience record.

Is a DVM from a less well-known veterinary school worth less than one from a top-ranked school?

All graduates of accredited veterinary schools take the same licensing exam and can practice anywhere. Employers care more about your clinical skills, experience, and fit for the job than about which school you attended. Some schools may have stronger reputations in specific regions or specialties, but a DVM is a DVM.

Can international students attend U.S. veterinary schools?

Yes, but most accredited veterinary schools prioritize in-state and U.S. citizen applicants because they receive state funding. International students typically have lower acceptance rates and may pay higher tuition. Some schools accept a small number of international students each year. Check individual school websites for their international student policies.