by our College Data Analytics TeamFind out the essential details every veterinary medicine. major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering veterinary medicine. programs.
Across the country, veterinary medicine. is a popular field of study, with 3,756 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Veterinary Medicine. Schools ranking analyzes these 33 schools to determine the best overall colleges for veterinary medicine. students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of veterinary medicine. programs later in this article.
Programs in Veterinary Medicine. build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations veterinary medicine. graduates commonly enter.
Skills built by a veterinary medicine. program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a veterinary medicine. major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several veterinary medicine. degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 74 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 3,682 |
People currently working in careers related to veterinary medicine. tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 62.9% |
| Post-doctoral training | 14.0% |
| Master’s degree | 10.8% |
| First professional degree | 6.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 3.8% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.4% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.9% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in veterinary medicine. careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in veterinary medicine. opens doors to numerous career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to veterinary medicine..
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to veterinary medicine..
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Veterinarians | 3,199,646 | 13.9% |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of veterinary medicine. graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $100,891 |
| 4 years | $104,815 |
| 5 years | $120,371 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for veterinary medicine. graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers veterinary medicine. grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Veterinarians | $53,196 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,663 |
With 33 different veterinary medicine. programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased veterinary medicine. school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in veterinary medicine., you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Veterinary Medicine | 3,756 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians | 9,051 |
| Agricultural Business and Management | 8,612 |
| Animal Sciences | 8,295 |
| Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services | 4,164 |
| Agricultural Production Operations | 3,608 |
| Agriculture, General | 3,276 |
| Plant Sciences | 3,261 |
| Food Science and Technology | 2,269 |
| Agricultural and Domestic Animal Services | 1,424 |
| Agricultural Mechanization | 1,378 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
