10 Best Masters in Veterinary Sciences (2023)

Students who enroll at the University of California, Davis not only become part of a school ranked as one of the Best Veterinary Schools in the country, according to U.S. News & World Report. They also become a member of the “Aggie Pack.” The Aggie Pack, the largest student spirit organization in the United States, is an exclusive club that only UC Davis students have access to – trust us, it leads to experiences that will be treasured for a lifetime. 

UC Davis offers a wide variety of academic programs within its many undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools  – among which is the highly-ranked School of Veterinary Medicine. The Master of Preventive Veterinary Medicine degree can be completed on its own or as a prerequisite program leading to a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine. This MS degree includes clinical sciences courses in animal health, like:

• Epidemiology
• Implementation of research
• Ecosystem health
• Infectious disease epidemiology
• Biomedical research 

Thirty-two units of coursework are required in this graduate program. 

Each graduate student is also required to complete an Applied Epidemiology Research project leading to 8 units of course credit. 

As a result of this veterinary science program’s prestige, admissions are highly competitive. Prospective applicants should hold at least a bachelor’s degree and have professional experience in an allied field. 

A GPA of 3.0 is required for the veterinary science program. This degree can be completed in as little as one year and leads to board certification with the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine. 

Tradition is important at Cornell University – after all, would one be able to experience something called “Dragon Day,” during which a dragon built by first-year architecture students is paraded around the campus, at any other school? 

Probably not. Because tradition is so important at this award-winning university, Cornell continues to offer some of its oldest and best programs in the country. One of its most reputable, long-lasting departments? The College of Veterinary Medicine, has produced generations of meaningful research and successful graduates. 

That’s not to say that Cornell doesn’t embrace change, however. In fact, the Master of Professional Studies in Veterinary Parasitology is a new degree being offered within the College of Veterinary Medicine. 

This veterinary science program is designed for students who want to expand their careers with specialized professional advanced training and to engage in industry-relevant experiences. Labs and courses are offered in a hybrid fashion, with programming offered online and on campus. The hybrid approach accommodates working professionals and offers rigorous training that prepares students to work in a multitude of animal care fields. 

To be eligible for fall admission, prospective students should submit an online application no later than June 1. In addition to the application, applicants should submit: 

• A statement of purpose
• A curriculum vitae
• Three professional references
• Academic transcripts from bachelor’s degree

GRE scores are not required for admission to Cornell in most cases.

Research experiences start early at the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, and they carry forth into every single academic program. The graduate programs in veterinary medicine are no exception. While the university offers a top-ranked Ph.D. in Veterinary Medicine, the Master of Science in Veterinary Medicine is arguably just as popular. 

This master’s degree program offers graduates opportunities to engage in high-quality research training in animal care to uncover ways in which they can improve the health and well-being of: 

• Food animals
• Companion animals
• Wildlife

The graduate program allows candidates to choose from four areas of scientific inquiry: 

• Population Medicine
• Ecosystem Health
• Small and Large Animal Clinical Science
• Infectious and Zoonotic Disease

To apply, prospective students should have a bachelor’s degree in a relevant area of biological science. A GPA of 3.25 is preferred, as is previous laboratory experience. 

This graduate degree program is open for fall admission online and requires a completed application along with a resume or CV. Candidates must also: 

• Pay an application fee
• Submit official transcripts
• Provide three professional recommendations 
• Submit a personal statement

Michigan State University has a reputation for offering its students a lot of unusual experiences. Home to one of the nation’s only environmental journalism organizations, it also has its own on-campus, student-run organic farm. Michigan State is home to an exceptional Master of Science in Comparative Medicine and Integrative Biology within the College of Veterinary Medicine. 

This veterinary science master’s degree offers a unique, integrative approach to the discipline. In this graduate program, research-minded students gain hands-on laboratory experience in the clinical, molecular, and cellular problems that appear in biology and comparative medicine. 

The graduate degree program allows learners to develop the strong scientific background necessary for clinical veterinary work and for more intensive biomedical research experiences. Each graduate student is assigned an advisor from the faculty body upon admission. This advisor works closely with another professional who deeply understands the goals, scope, and intent of the student’s career goals. 

Offered with both thesis and non-thesis tracks, this veterinary science MS degree program includes clinical sciences such as Current Topics in Comparative Medicine and Integrative Biology. The master’s degree also requires a minimum of 30 approved graduate course credits. 

Prospective students must have: 

• Outstanding academic credentials accompanied by good GRE scores
• Three letters of recommendation
• Experience in a research setting

At The Ohio State University, students will have a lot of options when it comes to how they choose to complete their degree. Undergraduates can choose from more than 160 undergraduate majors or design their own within the Personalized Study Program. Graduate students also have a multitude of programs to choose from – among them is the top-ranked Master of Science in Veterinary Medicine.

This graduate degree program, formally referred to as the Comparative and Veterinary Medicine program, is a great pathway for students seeking advanced training and Ph.D. degrees in preparation for medical and clinical settings.

Developing students as skilled scientists, the graduate studies incorporate translational research that bridges the commonalities between human and animal medicine. It includes graduate studies courses that give students an understanding of hypothesis-based research along with research that can be applied directly to the patient’s bedside.

The masters in veterinary science program has three application terms per year. A Bachelor of Science degree in a related area is required, as is a minimum 3.3 GPA in any previous graduate work. GRE scores are encouraged for admission as well. All graduate students are considered for a variety of funding options, including: 

• Scholarships
• Fellowships
• Employment

Did you know that the state of Iowa is top in the United States for its production of pork, corn, eggs, and soybeans? It’s also top 10 in sheep, turkey, beef, and milk production. We bet you didn’t. You should also know that the Veterinary Diagnostic and Production Animal Medicine Department at Iowa State University is one of the best and most well-funded in the country. The department receives nearly $20 million of funded grants for its research programs each year. 

Iowa State’s department offers some of the most comprehensive food animal curricula of all related programs in the United States. It’s home to: 

• The Diseases of Swine book
• Biosecurity assessment systems
• The Swine Medicine Education Center
• The Center for Food Security and Public Health

The veterinary preventive medicine degree program comes with three potential tracks in its graduate studies:

• A graduate certificate program comprising 15 online credits
• A Masters of Science by Thesis with 30 credits
• A Masters of Science by Non-Thesis, which requires 36 credits

All of these graduate programs offer students: 

• Individualized attention from faculty members
• Personally tailored living
• Research opportunities that are well-matched to their interests
• Advanced training in the field of their career goals

Both faculty and students at Iowa State are conducting research that is at the cutting edge of research and includes interdisciplinary, collaborative porches. As students complete their MS degrees, they work closely with other: 

• Veterinarians
• Producers
• Industry groups
• Government agencies

The University of Florida might be large – it’s home to a total student enrollment of more than 50,000 – but that doesn’t mean that you’ll become just another face in the crowd once you enroll. The school is home to one of the most attentive and hands-on programs in veterinary medical sciences in the country, and it’s housed within the award-winning College of Veterinary Medicine.

The Master of Science in Veterinary Medical Science is offered as:

• A stand-alone program
• A certification
• As a non-thesis concentration pathway with forensic toxicology

This science degree can even be pursued in this fashion through an online program. The veterinary science degree provides learners with extensive, broad-based training in applied research in one of three areas of specialization: 

• Large and Small Animal Clinical Sciences
• Physiological Sciences
• Infectious Diseases and Experimental Pathology

The department works diligently to provide students with interdisciplinary experiences in toxicology, partnering closely with other departments in the Health Science Center as well as the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences and the Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology. 

Students complete the Master of Science degree with or without a concentration. Available concentrations include: 

• Shelter Medicine
• Forensic Toxicology
• Veterinary Forensic Sciences

The opportunities for hands-on learning at Kansas State University extend well beyond the classroom setting. This graduate program allows students to piggyback off faculty members’ professional interests as they engage in interdisciplinary research at organizations such as: 

• The Beef Cattle Institute
• The Center of Excellence for Emerging and Zoonotic Animal Diseases
• The Institute for Comparative Stem Cell Biology

The Veterinary Biomedical Sciences Master of Science at KSU is designed to prepare graduate students by offering profound teaching and clinical research experiences in improving animal and human health. It includes extensive internship and residency experiences and is the only program in the state of Kansas to offer such a degree. The degree includes three sub-disciplines: 

• Anatomy and Physiology
• Pathobiology
• Clinical Sciences

To apply, candidates must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 in their undergraduate coursework. The GRE is not required, but it is encouraged. 

Applicants may choose from one of the following options in their Master of Science in Veterinary Biomedical Sciences: 

• Thesis-based
• Report-based
• Coursework-based 

Graduate students complete 30-36 credit hours of study including elective courses, regardless of their selected track. There is also a dual-degree program available for students seeking a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine. 

At the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, students are more than just a number – and more than just a formal degree plan on paper. Here, students can work closely with their faculty advisor to create a personalized plan of study that matches their unique career goals. The School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences offers a superb Master of Science degree in veterinary sciences that gives students interdisciplinary research experiences in animal health and disease. 

The Master of Science in Veterinary Science at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln is offered with three options and an optional specialization in Bioinformatics. Between 30 and 36 credit hours of study are required, with both thesis and non-thesis options available. Students can pursue a variety of informal areas of clinical sciences, such as: 

• Beef Cattle Research
• Pathology
• Epidemiology
• Virology

To apply for this MS program, all candidates must submit an application for admission along with a $50 application fee. Also required are: 

• Transcripts from undergraduate coursework
• GRE scores
• Three recommendation letters
• A statement of purpose

This graduate program has three start dates per year and is just one of many that help to contribute to the university’s ranking as one of the Best Value Schools, according to the U.S. News & World Report.

If you’re undecided about your career goals but know you want to work directly with animals – or in research dealing with animal-related issues – the Veterinary Medical Science Master of Science at Mississippi State University is the perfect graduate program for you. This degree has multiple concentrations in areas such as: 

• Population Medicine
• Veterinary Medical Research
• Computational Biology
• Infectious Diseases
• Toxicology

In addition to the wide array of degree options, students can pursue a joint Doctor of Veterinary Medicine – Master of Science degree. Regardless of the pathway chosen, all learners are given opportunities to engage in ongoing research projects with faculty and to join interdisciplinary work experiences.

A variety of graduate research grants and assistantships are also available to help make it easier for students to explore their unique areas of interest.

This university has multiple locations at which students can gain hands-on experience, including:

• The Aquatic Research and Diagnostic Laboratory
• The Veterinary Specialty Center, in West Starkville
• The Animal Emergency and Referral Center

Interestingly, the school is one of only two U.S. colleges of veterinary medicine that offers all students marine animal medicine training.