The top 11 veterinary schools in America

1. University of California, Davis

Rising from the number-two spot in the last rankings published in 2011, the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of California, Davis, claimed number one this year.

The school has more than 500 students and residents, according to a university release. UC Davis cares for more than 48,000 animals per year at a teaching hospital in Davis and satellite clinics in Tulare and San Diego.

2. Cornell University

Falling from its number-one ranking in 2011 to second this year, the College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University (CVM) has 382 DVM students and 129 graduate students.

The program features the Cornell University Hospital for Animals, Cornell University Veterinary Specialists in Stamford, Cornell Ruffian Equine Specialists in Elmont and the Animal Health Diagnostic Center in Ithaca to serve animals and owners. The school awarded the first DVM degree in the U.S. in 1876, university representatives say.

3. Colorado State University

Receiving approximately 1,500 applications every year, Colorado State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (CVMBS) accepts approximately 130 students in each class. Students can combine their studies in a doctorate, a master’s degree in business administration and a master’s degree in public health. The program has an equine orthopedic research center, one of the world’s largest animal cancer centers and a diagnostic medicine program that is a member of a nationwide system that monitors for emerging infectious diseases. Its Veterinary Teaching Hospital cares for thousands of small animals every year. CVMBS also has research programs in infectious diseases, cancer, neuroscience, occupational health, environmental toxicology and animal reproduction.

4. North Carolina State University

The North Carolina State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) has 358 DVM students, 65 graduate students and 76 interns and residents.

The 180-acre campus includes 20 buildings and has a working farm that serves as a teaching animal unit. The NC State Veterinary Hospital and the 110,000-square-foot Randall B. Terry Jr. Companion Animal Veterinary Medical Center care for 28,000 animals every year. Its House Officer Program offers one- to three-year internships in more than 20 clinical specialties, and aspiring veterinary researchers can participate in the Clinician Scientist Training Program.

5. Ohio State University

The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine admits up to 162 students in each class. The program’s Veterinary Medical Center—one of the world’s largest specialty referral and emergency centers, representatives say—receives 35,000 visits every year. The center is made up of four facilities: The Hospital for Companion Animals, the Hospital for Farm Animals, Galbreath Equine Center and a satellite emergency and specialty practice for companion animals in Dublin, Ohio.

The program also features one of the largest clinical trial offices in the nation, a farm animal and ambulatory teaching unit in Marysville, the Food Animal Health Research Program in Wooster for detecting, controlling and preventing disease, and a partnership with the Capital Area Humane Society (CAHS) for experience in shelter medicine.

6. University of Wisconsin–Madison

The University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine (SVM) accepts approximately 90 students every year. The SVM features the UW Veterinary Care teaching hospital and offers a wide variety of experiences in food animal medicine, shelter medicine, zoological medicine and other specialties.

7. Texas A&M University

The Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (CVM) consists of approximately 530 DVM students. It offers doctorate degrees in biomedical sciences and veterinary pathobiology and a master’s degree in biomedical sciences. The school belongs to the One Health initiative and features the Michael E. DeBakey Institute for Comparative Cardiovascular Science and Biomedical Devices and the Schubot Exotic Bird Health Center.

More than 3,000 veterinarians across the country have referred patients to the school’s Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, and the facility receives 24,000 visits every year. The school also has hospitals for large and small animals. The program started work on a $120 million veterinary building project in 2014.

8. University of Pennsylvania

The University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine accepts 125 students per class to study at two campuses featuring diagnostic and research laboratories. The New Bolton Center—a 700-acre large-animal hospital in Kennett Square—cares for 4,000 horses and farm animals each year, and its field service visits almost 36,000 patients. The facility also includes swine, dairy and poultry medicine. Penn Vet’s Ryan Hospital in Philadelphia cares for more than 31,000 companion animal patients every year. The program participates in the One Health initiative.

9. University of Minnesota

The University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine admits 102 veterinary students per year and offers a dual-degree program in veterinary medicine and public health. The program’s Veterinary Medical Center teaching hospital treats more than 35,000 cases every year.

The school’s facilities include a diagnostic laboratory as well as equine and raptor centers. The program also features the Center for Animal Health and Food Safety, National Center for Food Protection and Defense, and the Global Initiative for Food Systems Leadership.

10. Tufts University

The Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts features three teaching hospitals that treat 28,000 patients per year, according to its website. Students gain experience at these seven sites:

1. Foster Hospital for Small Animals

2. Lerner Spay and Neuter Clinic

3. Wildlife Clinic

4. Hospital for Large Animals

5. Tufts at Tech Community Veterinary Clinic (for low-income clients)

6. Tufts Ambulatory Service (serving food animal, small ruminant and equine clients).

7. Tufts Veterinary Emergency Treatment and Specialties

11. University of Georgia

 The University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine (UGA) has 426 DVM students, 67 PhD candidates and 34 residents, according to its website. The school’s post-graduate offerings for DVMs include avian medicine (MAM and MAHM) and food animal medicine (MFAM). The program also has the Poultry Diagnostic and Research Center and the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study (SCWDS). UGA is the only public university that offers an international veterinary medicine certification program. It also offers practicing veterinarians continuing education courses.