Earning a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree can be expensive, with the median tuition and fees in 2026 ranging from $38,074 a year for in-state students to $60,528 a year for non-resident students, according to the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) .
As of May 2025, the median annual salary for veterinarians was $130,100, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics . Considering veterinary school usually takes four years for a full-time student, you’re looking at a total cost of around $150,000 for an in-state school. You’ll want to carefully plan ahead to reduce how much you borrow, which will make managing the debt post-graduation a little easier.
Scholarships are one of the best ways to pay for vet school because they don't have to be repaid. Every dollar you receive in free aid is a dollar you won't need to take out in student loans. However, most veterinary students will end up turning to student loans to afford their programs. In the academic year 2024, the last year of available data, the AAVMC reported the average debt for vet students was $191,123.
This guide can help you create a plan to earn your DVM while keeping student debt as manageable as possible.
» Learn more about the best veterinary student loans
How to make vet school more affordable
We spoke to Dr. Tony Bartels, a student debt consultant with the Veterinary Information Network (VIN) and a VIN Foundation board member, to gain more insight into the cost of veterinary school. He shared that most veterinary school programs have a higher cost of attendance than the new federal student loan borrowing limits. That means there is a chance that students will be priced out of their chosen programs.
“The higher the veterinary program cost, the higher the chance of financial flunking out, either before they start, or worse yet, after,” Bartels said in an email interview. “For the student who needs funds beyond the federal limits, private student loan funds are not guaranteed. Their availability, terms and costs will depend on the student’s credit score and history. Many will also need a cosigner in most cases to secure private funding.”
There are a few options prospective veterinary students have to make becoming a vet more affordable, including the following:
- Plan ahead during undergrad. Vet school is a long road. Four years of undergrad, four years of vet school, plus possible internship and residency can add up to 12 years of schooling. Start budgeting early, and save and earn money throughout undergrad to prepare.
- Choose an affordable school. Compare programs and costs before enrolling in a program. In-state tuition is typically cheaper, and you may not need to attend a prestigious school to have a successful veterinary career. However, you will want to ensure your program is accredited.
- Complete the FAFSA. This opens the door to federal student loans, as well as federal, state and institutional grants. When considering loans, we recommend following this general order of priority: first, use savings and any money you don't have to repay; then turn to federal loans for health professions; next, utilize federal unsubsidized and graduate loans; and finally, apply for private student loans as a last resort. Applying with a co-signer could help you get a lower rate on private student loans.
- Look into scholarships, fellowships and grants. These forms of aid don't need to be repaid, making them one of the best ways to reduce the overall cost of vet school. There are a few options for veterinary school scholarships below.
Bartels notes that there are several programs designed to help students pay in-state tuition or achieve residency status in certain states, including North Carolina, Ohio, Texas, Washington, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, Colorado, Oregon and Kentucky, for example.
“Unfortunately, it’s no longer enough to get your offer of admission to veterinary school,” Bartels said. “You also need to be able to pay for the tuition, fees and living expenses beyond the limited federal funding available. We’ve already seen incoming veterinary students not able to get the funding they need beyond the federal student loans to cover their additional costs, particularly for out-of-state or private school seats.”
To better understand how much their veterinary education will cost, prospective vet students can check out the VIN Foundation Cost of Education Toolkit or Apply Smarter initiative.
Scholarships for veterinary school
Regardless of what school you choose, or if you pay in-state tuition or not, veterinary students can consider scholarships to help cover the considerable cost of their programs. While it would take a lot of scholarship money to offset the high cost of veterinary school, any tuition cost you pay with a scholarship instead of with a loan saves you having to pay the interest on that loan down the line. We outline some popular veterinary scholarships below, but you can see even more options on our sister website Scholarships360.org or look for scholarships specific to your state, like the Nebraska Veterinary Medical Association Scholarships and Rhode Island Veterinary Medical Association Veterinary Student Scholarship.
John D. Spurling Scholarship
Funded by the AKC Humane Fund, the John D. Spurling Scholarship supports future veterinary practitioners and researchers. Five awards are provided annually, for $2,000 each.
How to qualify: This award is intended for students who are pursuing educational programs that focus on the well-being of dogs and responsible pet ownership. You must be enrolled as a full-time student at an accredited school.
Application deadline: July.
American Pointer Club Veterinary Scholarship
The American Pointer Club Veterinary scholarship awards $1,000 each year to a student entering their third or fourth year at a veterinary school.
How to qualify: Applicants must provide two letters of recommendation, write two essays and submit their transcript by the scholarship deadline.
Application deadline: December.
Jim Steere Memorial Veterinary Student Scholarship
Sponsored by the Ride & Tie Association, the Jim Steere Memorial Veterinary Student Scholarship is open to all currently enrolled veterinary students. A total of $3,000 is awarded, either to a single applicant or divided among multiple applicants.
How to qualify: Submit a 1,000-word essay and accompanying cover letter introducing yourself.
Application deadline: January.
Mike Dunn, DVM Veterinary Student Scholarship
This scholarship is annually awarded to two students entering their first year of vet school. Students who receive the scholarship can receive up to $35,000 a year for a total of $140,000. The scholarship is for students who want to practice companion animal veterinary medicine.
How to qualify: Submit an application that includes a personal statement and letter of recommendation. Finalists will participate in a video interview.
Application deadline: Application cycle opens in July and is open until 300 applications are submitted.
American Veterinary Medical Foundation (AVMF) scholarships
The AVMF offers a number of veterinary student scholarship opportunities, not all of which are listed below. Check the AVMF website for specific details on all of the awards, and each award’s specific deadline.
- Merck Animal Health Scholarship. A $10,000 award for veterinary students in their second or third year at an accredited school.
- Merck Animal Health Student Innovation Award. Students in good standing and in their final year of schooling are eligible for $3,000, $5,000 or $10,000. Students must have demonstrated innovation and entrepreneurial creativity.
- AVMA/AVMF Scholarship for Veterans. Veterans in their first, second or third year attending an AVMA-accredited school could be awarded $15,000.
- Mildred Sylvester Scholarship. A $5,000 scholarship for first-, second- or third-year vet students with a relationship to New Jersey, such as having been born, residing or attending school in the state.
- Zoetis Foundation/AVMF Veterinary Student Scholarship. Veterinary students in their second or third year of an accredited veterinary school and in good standing.
Article sources
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- 1.American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges. Annual Data Report 2025-2026. Accessed Aug 5, 2026.
- 2.Bureau of Labor Statistics. Veterinarians: Occupational Outlook Handbook. Accessed Aug 5, 2026.
