With campuses located in Blacksburg, Virginia as well as College Park, Maryland, the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine is a good fit for anyone living in the Washington D.C, Maryland, and Virginia area. The campus at Virginia Tech, located in Blacksburg, Virginia offers a small animal hospital as well as a large animal hospital, making this campus perfect for anyone who has not yet decided if he would like to work with small animals such as dogs and cats or large animals like horses and cows. The College Park campus, a part of The University of Maryland offers veterinary courses as part of a satellite program linked with Virginia Tech.
Whether you enroll at Virginia Tech of the University of Maryland, both of these programs require a four-year commitment. The first three years will be taught in the traditional lecture format as well as laboratory work. At the end of the first year, students choose a track, either small animal or large animal. The fourth year is the clinical year and lasts a full 12 months.
As of the 2010-2011 school year, tuition rates start at $310 per credit hour for Virginia residents and $854 per credit hour for out-of-state residents.
Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine
Virginia Tech, Duck Pond Drive (0442)
Blacksburg, VA 24061
540-231-7666
vetmed.vt.edu
If warm, sunny Florida is the ideal spot for you, then The University of Florida's College of Veterinary Medicine should be the first program that you research. The University of Florida is the only college or university in Florida that offers degrees in Veterinary Medicine and also houses the world's largest aquatic animal health program. Along with the general small animal and large animal focuses, students here can also focus on the study of aquatic animals as well as wildlife and zoo animal medicine.
The programs here are divided into three major concentrations: Physiological Sciences, Infectious Diseases and Pathology, and Veterinary Medical Sciences. Depending on which specialization you choose, a Veterinary degree will take you anywhere from two to four years.
A year at the University of Florida-College of Veterinary Medicine will cost you on average $17,000 if you are a Florida resident and $38,000 if you are not, as of the 2007-2008 school year. If you have your heart set on attending this school and the tuition seems a bit high, your best bet might be to move to Florida, enjoy the weather for a year, and establish residency.
University of Florida
2015 S.W. 16th Ave.
Gainesville, FL 32610
352-294-4060
vetmed.ufl.edu
Located in the farmland state of Illinois, the University of Illinois-College of Veterinary Medicine could be the perfect place for you if you are from the Midwest and enjoy a small town feel. Although the University of Illinois is located in Urbana-Champaign, the campus is within two hours of Chicago, so the big city hustle and bustle that some people crave is easily within a day's trip.
The University of Illinois-College of Veterinary Medicine is a little bit different than other veterinary schools in that its focus is directed more towards biomedical education and improving the general welfare of human, animal, and environmental health. With 120 first-year veterinary students enrolled each fall, this program is quickly growing and has opportunities for almost any aspect of veterinary medicine that you might be interested in with satellite campuses located in nearby Chicago. Additional courses to aid in and further your education are also available online.
In 2009-2010, a year here averaged around $19,000 for Illinois residents and $38,000 for those of you who are not currently living in the state. As with any other veterinary school, be sure to plan on spending at least four years pursuing your degree in helping animals in need.
University of Illinois-College of Veterinary Medicine
2001 S. Lincoln Ave.
Urbana, IL 61802-6178
217-333-2760
vetmed.illinois.edu
UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine is located in sunny Davis California, near the shores of the Pacific Ocean. The only Veterinary Medicine school in the state of California, UC Davis has been identified by US World News and Report as one of the top veterinary schools in the United States. UC Davis also has a satellite campus located in San Diego, with special access to the San Diego Zoo.
UC Davis has been offering programs in Veterinary Medicine since 1948 and takes pride in researching animal health, human health, and environmental health. Dealing with all aspects of veterinary medicine, the college allows students to work with small animals, large animals, aquatics, and zoo animals. If you are unsure as to what you want to focus on, this school could be a good choice for you because the program is so broad.
A typical year will cost you around $30,000 plus another $12,000 if you are out of state. Although these numbers seem higher than some of the other schools, the tuition does include various fees that will be incurred over the course of the year.
UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine
One Shields Ave.
Davis, CA 95616
530-752-1383
vetmed.ucdavis.edu