Veterinary Medicine graduates pursue 2 occupations, with top roles paying $130,100/yr or more. The career cards below break down wages, daily tasks, and 10-year job growth projections for each.
This page covers Veterinary Medicine as a course of study: what it costs, where it is taught, and what graduates go on to earn. It sits inside the wider field of Agriculture and how it pays overall, which is the better comparison if you are still choosing between subjects.
Veterinary Medicine is a focused area of study within Agriculture. You will not have trouble finding it: 35 colleges offer this program, from community colleges to research universities. About 3,555 students complete it each year, most walking away with a certificate. Training is practical and skills-based, with a fast path from classroom to job site.
Colleges Offering
35
Graduates / Year
3,555
Avg Net Price / yr
$19,143
Who Studies This? Credential Breakdown
Of the 3,555 students who complete Veterinary Medicine programs each year, the majority (97%) earn a certificate degree.
The breakdown below shows the full credential distribution.
97%
Certificate97%
Post-Master's Cert.3%
What Can You Do With a Veterinary Medicine Degree?
This degree does not lock you into one job. Veterinary Medicine graduates show up in 2 different occupations, and Veterinarian pays the most at $130,100/yr median. Expand any card below to see daily responsibilities, in-demand skills, and 10-year growth projections.
Doctoral or professional degree3,100 openings/yr84K employed nationally
Active ListeningReading ComprehensionActive LearningJudgment and Decision MakingScience
Day-to-day responsibilities
Diagnose, treat, or research diseases and injuries of animals. Includes veterinarians who conduct research and development, inspect livestock, or care for pets and companion animals.
Treat sick or injured animals by prescribing medication, setting bones, dressing wounds, or performing surgery.
Inoculate animals against various diseases, such as rabies or distemper.
Examine animals to detect and determine the nature of diseases or injuries.
Teach courses in health specialties, in fields such as dentistry, laboratory technology, medicine, pharmacy, public health, therapy, and veterinary medicine.
Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
Top Colleges for Veterinary Medicine
Not sure where to study Veterinary Medicine? These 20 colleges graduate the most students in it each year. Scroll right to compare acceptance rate, net price, and median earnings side by side.
Ranked by Veterinary Medicine graduate volume. Scroll right to compare key stats.
Read our methodology →
Related Agriculture Programs
Veterinary Medicine is not the only path through Agriculture: 18 other specializations sit alongside it. The comparison below ranks them by 4-year median earnings so you can see where this one lands.
Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page
into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of a Veterinary Medicine program, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find
schools that match your profile.
The data on Veterinary Medicine shows 2 measurable strengths and 3 real trade-offs. All points are sourced from College Scorecard earnings, BLS projections, and IPEDS graduate counts.
PROS
Fast-growing fieldRelated careers are projected to grow up to +17.9% over the next decade, with Health Specialties Teachers among the fastest-growing roles.
Strong hiring volumeRelated occupations generate more than 28,000 job openings per year combined, creating consistent demand for graduates.
CONS
Licensure often requiredMany positions in this field require trade licenses, certifications, or apprenticeship completion. These add time and cost beyond the academic credential.
Advanced degree often expectedTop roles in this field typically expect a master's degree or higher. A bachelor's may be a starting point rather than a terminal credential for the most competitive positions.
Limited program availabilityOnly 35 colleges offer this program nationally, which may limit geographic flexibility when choosing a school.
Veterinary Medicine Degree: Frequently Asked Questions
What jobs can you get with a Veterinary Medicine degree?
Veterinarian is one path, and it pays a median of $130,100 a year. It is not the only one: the Career Paths section below lists every occupation graduates actually go into, with wages and 10-year growth for each.
How long does a Veterinary Medicine program take?
One to two years of full-time study for most Veterinary Medicine certificates, and some community colleges get you through in a single semester. That makes it one of the fastest ways into the field.
How many colleges offer Veterinary Medicine?
35 colleges and universities, so you are not short on options. That range runs from community colleges granting certificates and associate degrees to research universities with full doctoral tracks. Source: IPEDS.
What is the difference between Veterinary Medicine and Agriculture?
Veterinary Medicine is the narrower of the two: Agriculture covers the full discipline, while this program limits the curriculum to Veterinary Medicine-specific courses, skills, and career tracks. Pick the specialization once you already know this is the direction you want; it gets you a more targeted credential, not a broader one.
What skills do employers look for in Veterinary Medicine graduates?
Coursework alone will not get you hired. Employers hiring Veterinary Medicine graduates consistently look for technical proficiency, safety compliance, and hands-on problem-solving. Certifications, apprenticeships, and demonstrated practical experience typically carry as much weight as academic credentials in this field. Build those into your coursework and internships now, and the job search later gets easier.
What is the job outlook for Veterinary Medicine graduates?
Outlook is strong overall: related occupations average +13.7% projected job growth over the next 10 years. Health Specialties Teachers are among the strongest-growth roles at +17.9%. That average hides real differences by role and location, so check the Career Paths section below for the projection on each specific occupation before you count on any single number.
Related Agriculture Programs
Other programs in Agriculture. Compare earnings, credentials, and career paths before committing to a specialization.
Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
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