UCLA does not have a veterinary medicine program

UCLA's School of Veterinary Medicine closed in 1961 and was never reopened. If you are looking for veterinary education in California, you will need to attend one of the state's other veterinary schools or programs outside California.

This is a permanent closure, not a temporary suspension. UCLA has not announced plans to restart a veterinary program, and the school's current priorities and resources are directed toward other health professions.

Key Takeaways

  • UCLA's veterinary school closed in 1961 and has not reopened since then.
  • California has one veterinary school: UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, which is the only DVM program in the state.
  • If you want to become a veterinarian, you can attend UC Davis or explore to veterinary schools in other states.
  • UC Davis is highly competitive and requires prerequisite coursework, the GRE or MCAT, and veterinary experience before you explore.

UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine: California's only option

UC Davis is the only accredited veterinary school in California. It offers a four-year Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree and is located in Davis, about 70 miles northeast of Sacramento.

The program is competitive. Admission requires a bachelor's degree (not necessarily in biology), completion of specific prerequisite courses in biology, chemistry, and other sciences, and a strong GPA. You will also need to take either the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Medical College Admission Test (MCAT).

UC Davis also weighs veterinary experience heavily. This means you should have worked or volunteered in settings where you handled animals—clinics, shelters, farms, or research facilities. The school wants to see that you understand what veterinary work actually involves.

Other veterinary schools you can attend

If UC Davis does not work for you, there are veterinary schools across the United States. The Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) lists all accredited programs. Most states have at least one veterinary school, and some have multiple.

Out-of-state schools often have higher tuition than UC Davis, and some give preference to residents of their state. However, many do accept out-of-state students. You can research programs through the AAVMC website, which includes information about each school's location, size, and focus areas (such as large animal medicine, exotic animals, or research).

Moving to another state for veterinary school is common. Many students attend school far from home and then move back to their home state to practice.

What you need to do before explore to any veterinary school

Veterinary schools expect you to have hands-on experience with animals before you explore. This is not optional—it is one of the main things admissions committees look at.

You can gain this experience by working or volunteering at an animal clinic, emergency veterinary hospital, animal shelter, farm, zoo, or research facility. Even 100 to 200 hours is a start, but many successful applicants have 500 or more hours. The experience should show that you have worked directly with animals and understand the physical and emotional demands of veterinary medicine.

You will also need to complete prerequisite courses. These typically include biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry, physics, and sometimes microbiology or anatomy. Check the specific requirements for each school you are interested in, because they vary slightly.

Timeline and cost for veterinary education

A DVM degree takes four years to complete. Before that, you will spend one to three years completing prerequisites and gaining animal experience, depending on your starting point.

Tuition at UC Davis is lower for California residents than for out-of-state students. As of recent years, the total cost of the four-year program for a California resident is roughly $100,000 to $150,000 in tuition alone, though this varies year to year. Out-of-state tuition is significantly higher. Other schools' costs vary widely.

Many veterinary students take out loans to pay for school. After graduation, veterinarians work in private practice, animal hospitals, research, government agencies, or other settings.

Why UCLA closed its veterinary program

UCLA's veterinary school operated from 1949 to 1961. The university closed it due to budget constraints and shifting institutional priorities. At the time, UC Davis was expanding its agricultural and veterinary programs, and the state decided to consolidate veterinary education there rather than maintain two programs.

This decision has remained in place for over 60 years. UCLA has not reopened a veterinary program, and there are no current plans to do so. The university's focus in health professions has been on human medicine, nursing, dentistry, and public health.

How to research and explore to veterinary schools

Start by visiting the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges website. It has a searchable database of all accredited veterinary schools in North America, including their admission requirements, process important date, and tuition costs.

Most veterinary schools use a centralized process system called the Veterinary Medical College process Service (VMCAS). You create one profile and submit applications to multiple schools through this system. Each school also has its own supplemental process and essays.

process important date typically fall in September or October for programs that start the following summer or fall. You should begin preparing—taking prerequisite courses, gaining animal experience, and studying for the GRE or MCAT—at least two years before you plan to explore.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I become a veterinarian by going to UCLA for my undergraduate degree and then attending veterinary school elsewhere?

Yes. Many veterinarians attended UCLA for their bachelor's degree and then went to UC Davis or another veterinary school for their DVM. UCLA offers the prerequisite courses you need, and the university's reputation can strengthen your process to veterinary school.

Is UC Davis veterinary school harder to get into than medical school?

UC Davis veterinary school is highly competitive, but the comparison to medical school depends on which medical school you are looking at. UC Davis DVM admission is very selective. If you are comparing it to a top-tier human medical school, they are roughly similar in competitiveness.

What if I do not have a bachelor's degree yet—can I start preparing now?

Yes. If you are in high school or early in college, you can start gaining animal experience through volunteering or part-time work at a clinic or shelter. Take science courses seriously, and plan your college major around completing the prerequisite courses veterinary schools require.

Are there veterinary technician programs if I do not want to become a veterinarian?

Yes. Veterinary technician programs are two-year associate degrees offered at community colleges and some universities. Technicians work under veterinarians and perform many clinical tasks. This is a different career path that requires less education and may be a good fit if you want to work with animals but do not want to pursue a four-year DVM.