Best Student Loans for Vet School of February 2026
Typically, veterinary school students should opt for federal student loan benefits and protections over private loans.
Veterinarian students who take out student loans owe an average of $202,647 upon graduating, according to 2024 data from the American Veterinary Medical Association.
In most cases, choosing federal student loans for vet school, rather than private loans, provides lower interest rates and more borrower protections. Opt for low-cost federal health professions student loans first, if you can qualify, then turn to unsubsidized direct loans and graduate PLUS loans.
Here are our picks for the best student loans for vet school, plus what you should know about each before borrowing.
Why trust NerdWallet
- 19 student loans lenders reviewed and rated by our team of experts.
- 10+ years of combined experience covering higher education and consumer lending.
- Objective, comprehensive star-rating system assessing 40 categories and more than 50 data points across student loan origination and student loan refinance.
- Governed by NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
Why trust NerdWallet
- 19 student loans lenders reviewed and rated by our team of experts.
- 10+ years of combined experience covering higher education and consumer lending.
- Objective, comprehensive star-rating system assessing 40 categories and more than 50 data points across student loan origination and student loan refinance.
- Governed by NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
Best Student Loans for Vet School
Lender | NerdWallet editorial rating | Min. credit score | Fixed APR | Variable APR | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
5.0 /5 | Mid-600s | 2.74-15.99% | 3.89-15.99% | Check Rate on College Ave's website | |
 Sallie Mae Graduate School Loan for Health Professionals Check Rate on Sallie Mae's website | 4.5 /5 | Mid-600's | 2.89-14.99% | 3.75-13.38% | Check Rate on Sallie Mae's website |
Best for customer support and wide availability 5.0 /5 | Low-Mid 600s | 3.49-15.31% | 4.69-15.40% | Check Rate on Ascent's website | |
5.0 /5 | None | 8.94-8.94% | N/A | Read Review on NerdWallet | |
4.0 /5 | Mid to High 600s | 3.47-9.94% | 5.81-9.94% | Read Review on NerdWallet | |
5.0 /5 | None | 6.39-7.94% | N/A | Read Review on NerdWallet | |
4.5 /5 | 690 | 2.71-7.38% | 3.85-6.24% | Read Review on NerdWallet | |
4.0 /5 | Does not disclose | 6.69-13.89% | 8.44-11.54% | Read Review on NerdWallet | |
4.5 /5 | 650 | 4.45-14.30% | 4.99-15.15% | Read Review on NerdWallet | |
Best for customer support 4.0 /5 | 680 | 2.99-12.85% | 6.75-13.05% | Read Review on NerdWallet | |
Best for faster repayment options 5.0 /5 | 600 | 2.75-15.61% | 3.66-16.06% | Read Review on NerdWallet |
Our pick for
Borrowers with good credit
Vet students who have good to excellent credit, or a co-signer that does, may pay less overall by borrowing a private student loan. While private loans may have better rates and lower fees than federal loans, they lack the same repayment options and protections.
- Typical credit score of approved borrowers: Mid-700s.
- Minimum income: $35,000 per year.
- Loan amounts: $1,000 up to the total cost of attendance.
- You can see if you’ll qualify and what rate you’ll get without a hard credit check.
- International students can qualify with a co-signer.
- You can defer payments up to an additional 48 months during fellowship after your grace period.
- You must be at least halfway through your repayment term before you can request a co-signer release.
CollegeAve’s medical school loans let you defer payments for up to 36 months after school.
- One of the few lenders to provide loans to part-time students.
- You can see if you’ll qualify and what rate you’ll get without a hard credit check.
- Non-U.S. citizens, including DACA students, who live in the U.S. and attend school in the U.S. can apply with a qualified co-signer who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
- Does not offer bi-weekly payments via autopay.
- Typical credit score of approved borrowers or co-signers: Not available.
- Minimum income: Not available.
- Loan amounts: up to $400,000.
- Forbearance of 24 months is longer than many lenders offer.
- Grace period of 9 months is longer than many lenders offer.
- You can see if you’ll qualify and what rate you’ll get without a hard credit check.
- You must be enrolled at least half-time to qualify.
Rating and details displayed are for Ascent's undergraduate student loan. Ascent offers a medical student loan for D.V.M. students that lets you postpone payments for 48 months after leaving school.
- Typical credit score of approved borrowers: Did not disclose.
- Loan amounts: $1,000 with an aggregate loan limit of $125,000 (Undergrad).
- Provides rate offer with soft credit check.
- Does not disclose full underwriting requirements.
- Does not allow bi-weekly payments via autopay.
- Typical credit score of approved borrowers: Did not disclose.
- Minimum income: Did not disclose.
- Loan amounts: $1,000 to $50,000.
- Interest rate discount for autopay is larger than most lenders offer.
- You can’t see if you’ll qualify and what rate you’ll get without a hard credit check.
- Typical credit score of approved borrowers: 758.
- Minimum income: $35,000.
- Loan amounts: $1,000 up to your total cost of attendance.
- Option to skip one payment every 12 months.
- No late fees.
- Nine-month grace period is longer than most lenders offer.
- Loans aren't available in Nevada.
- Typical credit score of approved borrowers or co-signers: Not available.
- Minimum income: $35,000.
- Loan amounts: $1,000 up to your total cost of attendance.
- You can see if you’ll qualify and what rate you’ll get without a hard credit check.
- You are assigned a student loan advisor.
- No co-signer release available.
- Best for borrowers looking for a loan with flexible repayment plans and a long grace period.
- Students enrolled less than half-time are eligible, a feature not offered by many other lenders.
- Offers a .05% rate reduction for every six months of consecutive payments, up to 0.25%.
- Provides In-School Default Protection for borrowers making interest or partial interest payments while enrolled.
- Not available in WV.
Our pick for
Manageable payments after vet school
Both unsubsidized federal student loans and graduate PLUS loans qualify for income-driven repayment plans that limit payments to as little as 10% of your discretionary income.
- Grad PLUS loan borrowers must not have adverse credit history.
- Borrowers with adverse credit history can still receive a grad PLUS loan by enlisting a co-signer without adverse credit history or documenting extenuating circumstances for their credit history.
- Loan amounts: Total cost of attendance minus other financial aid.
- More flexible repayment options for struggling borrowers compared with private lenders.
- All borrowers who attend a school authorized to receive federal aid can qualify.
- May have higher interest rates compared with private lenders.
- You pay an origination fee.
- You can’t see if you’ll qualify without a hard credit check.
Grad PLUS loans have higher interest rates and fees than unsubsidized loans but let you borrow more money.
Our pick for
Most borrowers as a first option
If you can’t qualify for a low-cost federal health professions student loan, federal direct unsubsidized loans should be your top choice for vet school.
- No credit check or minimum income is needed to borrow.
- Loan amounts for undergraduates: $5,500 year one, $6,500 year two, $7,500 year three and thereafter, up to a total of $31,000
- Independent students and graduate students have higher loan limits.
- Undergraduate interest rate fixed at 3.73%, while grad students get higher 5.28% rate
- More flexible repayment options for struggling borrowers than other lenders.
- Subsidized loans do not collect interest while in school or during deferment.
- Lower interest rates than many private lenders.
- You pay an origination fee.
Graduate students can receive only unsubsidized direct loans. They can take out up to $20,500 annually in these loans, which may not be enough to cover vet school costs.
Our pick for
Borrowers from Texas
- May offer lower rates for graduate students than what are available through the federal government.
- Applies extra payments to the loan principal by default.
- Offers five loan terms, which is more than most lenders.
- Not available to borrowers enrolled in two year programs at community colleges.
- Biweekly payments via autopay is not available.
Types of student loans for vet school
You may be able to pay for vet school with these types of student loans:
Federal health professions student loans
Vet students may be able to take out Health Professions Student Loans (HPSL) and Loans for Disadvantaged Students (LDS). These loans are funded by the federal government, but not the Department of Education. That means they have some key differences — both good and bad — from federal direct and PLUS loans:
Lower costs. HPSL and LDS have fixed interest rates of 5% and no origination fees. Unsubsidized loans and PLUS loans have fees of roughly 1% and 4% of the total loan amount, respectively. Health professions loans also don’t accrue interest while you’re in school.
Longer grace periods. Federal health professions student loans don’t enter repayment until 12 months after you graduate — that’s twice as long as other federal loans.
Limited availability and funding. HPSL and LDS are available only to students with financial need or from disadvantaged backgrounds at participating vet schools. The amount you’ll receive is up to your school’s discretion and available funding.
Fewer repayment options. Your school will determine your repayment term for these loans. Because HPSL and LDS don’t come from the Department of Education, they aren’t eligible for programs such as income-driven repayment and Public Service Loan Forgiveness. You can consolidate HPSL and LDS into the federal student loan program to access these benefits. This is different from private loans, which can’t be transferred to the federal program.
You can apply for HPSL and LDS by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA. You may need to include your parents’ financial information on this form to qualify.
Federal unsubsidized and PLUS student loans
Veterinary students may be eligible for two types of federal student loans: unsubsidized direct loans and graduate PLUS loans.
Unsubsidized loans have lower interest rates and fees than PLUS loans, but also a smaller borrowing maximum for graduate students — $20,500 per year. Take that max in unsubsidized loans, then use PLUS loans to cover up to the rest of your cost of attendance.
You can apply for federal student loans by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA.
Private student loans for vet school
You may be able to get a private loan for vet school with a lower interest rate and smaller fees than federal loans have, depending on your or a co-signer’s credit score and financial history.
Many private lenders offer specific student loans for health professionals, including those studying for a D.V.M., as well as loans available to all graduate students. You can use either to pay for veterinary school, so compare all your options to get the best deal possible.
Some states offer forgivable private loans, but you typically must commit to working in a shortage area to qualify. For example, Missouri provides up to $30,000 in loans per academic year to 12 eligible students who attend the University of Missouri’s College of Veterinary Medicine. Upon graduation, the program forgives $30,000 each year a graduate practices large animal veterinary medicine in an area of need within the state.
Which student loan for vet school is right for you?
Most likely, federal student loans will be your best bet for vet school. When paying off vet school loans, many vets may need the income-driven repayment plans that only federal student loans offer.
If you’ll borrow less — perhaps much less — than your projected starting salary, you may pay less by qualifying for a lower interest rate with a private student loan. But federal loan protections better minimize your risk. If you don’t need those protections once you’re practicing, refinancing vet school loans with a private lender could lower your interest rate and save you money.
Last updated on January 12, 2026
How we chose the best student loans
Our team of student loan experts follows an objective and robust methodology to rate lenders and pick the best.
19
Lenders reviewed
19
Lenders reviewed
We reviewed 19 banks, credit unions, and online lenders — including the top 10 by market share and search volume — plus lenders serving niche and nontraditional borrowers.
40
Features assessed
40
Features assessed
Each lender is evaluated across five weighted categories, covering dozens of features related to affordability, eligibility, consumer experience, flexibility, and application process.
50+
Data points analyzed
50+
Data points analyzed
Our team tracks and reassesses more than 50 data points annually, including APR ranges, fees, credit requirements, and borrower tools, ensuring up to date, accurate comparisons.
Star rating categories
We evaluate more categories than competitors and carefully weigh how each factor impacts your experience.
5.0
Overall score
NerdWallet reviewed 19 banks, credit unions and online lenders offering student loans and student loan refinancing. We included the top 10 lenders by market share and the top 10 lenders by online search volume, as well as lenders that serve specialty or nontraditional markets. Some lenders are NerdWallet partners, but this did not influence our selection of the winner.
We consider 40 features and more than 50 data points for each financial institution. Depending on the category, these include the availability of biweekly payments through autopay, minimum credit score and income requirement disclosures, availability to a wide range of borrowers in all states, extended grace periods and in-house customer service.
The stars represent ratings from poor (one star) to excellent (five stars). Ratings are rounded to the nearest half-star. Read more about our ratings methodologies for student loans and our editorial guidelines.
NerdWallet's Best Student Loans for Vet School of February 2026
- College Ave Medical Student Loan: Best for Borrowers with good credit, Fixed APR: 2.74-15.99%
- Sallie Mae Graduate School Loan for Health Professionals: Best for Borrowers with good credit, Fixed APR: 2.89-14.99%
- Ascent Graduate and Health Professions Student Loan: Best for Borrowers with good credit, Fixed APR: 3.49-15.31%
- Federal Grad PLUS Loan: Best for Manageable payments after vet school, Fixed APR: 8.94-8.94%
- Nelnet Bank Private Student Loan: Best for Borrowers with good credit, Fixed APR: 3.47-9.94%
- Federal Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loan: Best for Most borrowers as a first option, Fixed APR: 6.39-7.94%
- Brazos Private Student Loan: Best for Borrowers from Texas, Fixed APR: 2.71-7.38%
- PNC Private Student Loan: Best for Borrowers with good credit, Fixed APR: 6.69-13.89%
- Earnest Medical School Loan: Best for Borrowers with good credit, Fixed APR: 4.45-14.30%
- ELFI Private Student Loan: Best for Borrowers with good credit, Fixed APR: 2.99-12.85%
- Abe: Best for Borrowers with good credit, Fixed APR: 2.75-15.61%