Best Online Veterinary Degree Programs of 2023

Cornell University offers a competitive program for students interested in a career in veterinary medicine. Students must complete foundation courses in subjects like the animal body, neuroanatomy, and general pathology, among others. Students will also complete distribution courses, which allow them to pursue their interests outside of the foundation courses.

In addition to rigorous coursework, Cornell students must participate in live animal labs. This uniquely prepares students to work in veterinary medicine after graduating, as it helps them apply their knowledge to live subjects in real time.

A bachelor's degree is not required to apply, but prospective students must complete 60 credit hours of prerequisites - including English Composition or Writing, Biology or Zoology I and II (with labs), General Chemistry I and II (with labs), Organic Chemistry, Physics I and II (with labs), Biochemistry, and an Advanced Life Sciences course. The GRE is not required, but students are encouraged to have veterinary experience hours.

UC Davis offers a flexible program to attain a degree in veterinary medicine. Although all students receive the same foundational education in veterinary medicine, UC Davis allows their students to focus the remainder of their credit hours on their specific interests - including small animal, large animal, livestock, equine, and zoological foci, among others.

Students also take courses in business management, regulatory laws, veterinary practice environment, and client communication, making all UC Davis graduates confident and competent leaders in their veterinary practice.

Prospective students must complete 75% of their prerequisite courses before applying. This includes Physics I and II, General Biology I and II (with labs), General Chemistry I and II (with labs), Organic Chemistry I and II (with one lab), Statistics, Biochemistry with Metabolism, Genetics, and Systemic Physiology (animal or human). The GRE is required, and students are encouraged to apply having already completed some veterinary experience hours.

With a focus on diversity, NC State University prides itself on its community and culture in the College of Veterinary Medicine. Their foundational program is designed to improve each student's veterinary skill set while preparing them for a future in diagnosing and treating illness in animals.

Prospective students may pursue any major at the undergraduate level, but they must complete prerequisite courses in Animal Nutrition, Biochemistry, Biology I (with lab), Chemistry I and II (with labs), Organic Chemistry I and II (with labs), Composition & Writing or Public Speaking, Genetics, two courses in Humanities and Social Sciences, Microbiology (with lab), Physics I and II (with labs), and Statistics. The GRE is not required, and students are encouraged to apply with at least 200 veterinary experience hours.

The University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine (PennVet) offers a comprehensive core curriculum with the option to take elective courses in the first two years. Although many programs only offer core or foundational courses in the first two years, PennVet allows their students to take elective courses early on so students can determine their major with confidence in their third year.

Their innovative research program proves that they have their finger on the pulse of Veterinary Medicine today, with a focus on Agriculture, Cell & Molecular Biology, and Immunology, among others.

Applicants to PennVet must complete prerequisite courses in English, Social Sciences or Humanities, Chemistry I and II (with labs), Organic Chemistry I and II (with labs), Biology or Zoology (with lab), Microbiology, Biochemistry, Calculus, and Statistics. Veterinary hours are encouraged, with the most competitive applicants having completed 500-600 hours. The GRE is not required.

With a focus on public outreach and sustainability, Ohio State University provides students with a competitive program in veterinary medicine. The coursework is based around a Global One Health initiative that combines the health of animals, humans, and environmental impact in an attempt to advance the field of veterinary medicine.

Ohio State University also offers a unique experience for students to connect with the community with their Buckeye Vet Prep Academy. This program allows current veterinary students the opportunity to teach interested middle and high school students hands-on skills and the requirements for getting into veterinary school.

Prospective students must complete prerequisite courses in Biochemistry, Microbiology, Physiology, Communication (Public Speaking), Science electives, and Humanities and Social Sciences electives with a 3.0 (B) GPA or higher. The most competitive applicants will have a strong academic background, veterinary and animal experience, community and extracurricular involvement, and skills in leadership and communication.

The University of Florida's College of Veterinary Medicine prides itself on its diverse caseload - with over 100,000 animals treated at UF Veterinary Centers in 2021 alone, there are plenty of opportunities for students to take advantage of their unique course structure.

Their "split curriculum" offers foundational skills training for the first two years, followed by immersive clinical experience in the third year. Students are then able to work with live animals in clinic, giving each student plenty of real-world experience.

To apply, students must complete prerequisite courses in Biology I and II (with labs), Chemistry I and II (with labs), Organic Chemistry I and II (with labs), Physics I and II (with labs), Microbiology (with lab), Genetics, Biochemistry, Statistics, English, and several courses in Humanities and Social Sciences. Students are encouraged to apply with nine additional electives that go beyond the pre-professional requirements, alongside veterinary experience with both large and small animal clinical practices.

The University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine offers a hands-on approach for its students that encourages them to build a skill set to benefit the future of the field. In their first two years, students take foundational courses to build their knowledge alongside electives to help students determine their future major.

Prospective students can apply with any major, but required prerequisites must be completed in General Biology or Zoology (with lab), Genetics or Animal Breeding, General and Qualitative Chemistry (with labs), Organic Chemistry, Biochemistry, General Physics, Statistics, English Composition or Journalism, and an assortment of classes in Social Sciences and Humanities. The GRE is not required, but it is recommended that students apply with veterinary experience hours.

With a rich history in agriculture, Texas A&M University offers a degree plan in veterinary medicine that is committed to an education rooted in collaboration and teamwork. They support the Global One Health initiative, and much of their research is based on that mission.

After completing foundational coursework, students can gain real-world experience by working at Texas A&M's teaching hospital. This teaching hospital focuses on providing compassionate care to both small and large animals while providing each student with a comprehensive skill set for their future careers.

Applicants must have completed prerequisite courses in General Biology (with lab), General Microbiology (with lab), Genetics, Animal Nutrition or Feeds & Feeding, Chemistry I and II (with labs), Organic Chemistry I and II (with lab), Biochemistry, Statistics, Physics I and II (with labs), English Composition, and Speech Communication. Prospective students must have completed over 100 veterinary experience hours to qualify for an interview, but the GRE is not required.

The University of Georgia offers a degree in Veterinary Medicine with a tried-and-true set curriculum. Students take foundational courses their first three years in a variety of subjects, with a year of clinical rotations in their fourth year. The fourth year is designed to give students some flexibility in their studies, so clinical rotations are chosen by the student in 2- or 3-week blocks. At $973 per credit hour, the University of Georgia is relatively affordable compared to similar programs.

To apply, prospective students must take the GRE and complete prerequisite courses in Biology I and II (with labs), Chemistry I and II (with labs), Organic Chemistry I and II (with labs), Physics I and II (with labs), Biochemistry, English, and an assortment of classes in Social Sciences and Humanities. Students are also encouraged to have completed two additional advanced biology courses and a minimum of 250 veterinary experience hours.

The University of Minnesota's Veterinary Medicine program gives students a hands-on learning experience with plenty of access to specialized knowledge that ranges from acupuncture to zoological medicine. Students can work alongside faculty to perform purpose-driven research with cutting-edge technology, or participate in their Community Medicine program to administer care for underserved pets.

Students must complete course prerequisites, and to help with comparison, the University of Minnesota has created an individual list for most undergraduate schools. Students are not required to take the GRE, and although there isn't a minimum number of veterinary hours required for admission, applicants are encouraged to make substantial use of their Letters of Reference. The University of Minnesota generously allows up to six Letters of Reference, with at least one letter written by a veterinary professional.