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Present Veterinary Colleges in the United States - Historical Background

Aside from the private veterinary colleges founded in the late 19th and early 20th century that all had closed by 1927, a number of land-grand and private universities established veterinary departments to teach aspects of veterinary science to agriculture students. Many of those programs expanded into DVM degree-granting colleges of veterinary medicine that remain active today. 

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Following World War II, many new colleges of veterinary medicine were founded in the United States to meet the post-war demand for veterinarians and the important services they provide. The trend continues in the 21st century with additional colleges being established across the country in recent years.  

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Commemorative Books and Historical Summaries​

Given their historical background, a number of colleges have celebrated their founding, accomplishments, and activities by compiling commemorative books and summary articles in anniversary years. Many of those are listed below but their rich heritage is not limited only to those publications. Some are accessible online. 

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Klein AJ, comp. Professional veterinary medicine, Chapter I. Historical introduction. Survey of Land-Grant Colleges and Universities. Vol. 2. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, 1930; pp. 325-340. (US Department of Interior, Office of Education, Bulletin, No. 9). â€‹â€‹â€‹

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AVMA Accredited Veterinary Colleges (2026)

Historical Background on Present Veterinary Colleges in the United States

Last updated 2026 January 26 â€‹

Note: The current name of the institution is used below. 

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Ames (Story), Iowa

IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY

College of Veterinary Medicine

Founded 1879

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Stange, Charles H. History of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State College, 1879 - Semi-centennial - 1929. Ames, Iowa, [The College] 1929.

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Packer, R.A. The First 100 Years of the College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University: A Pictoral History. [Ames? : Iowa State University?, 1981?]

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Philadelphia (Philadelphia), Pennsylvania

UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

School of Veterinary Medicine

Founded 1884

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History of the School of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Pennsylvania, 1884-1934: compiled by the faculty in commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of the school's founding. Philadelphia, The Veterinary Alumni Society, 1935.

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Martin, John E. A Legacy and a Promise: The first one hundred years, 1884-18=984, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania. [Philadelphia]: Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania, 1984.

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Columbus (Franklin), Ohio

THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

College of Veterinary Medicine

Founded 1885

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Compton, Richard, et al. A Legacy for Tomorrow, 1885-1985., The 100 year history of College of Veterinary Medicine. Columbus, Ohio: College of Veterinary Medicine, Ohio State University, c1984.

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Transformation and Tradition:125 years advancing veterinary medicine 1885-2010. 38 pgs. 

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Ithaca (Tompkins), New York

CORNELL UNIVERSITY

College of Veterinary Medicine

Founded 1894

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Leonard, Ellis P. A Cornell Heritage: Veterinary Medicine 1868-1908. Ithaca, NY: New York State College of Veterinary Medicine, 1979. 

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Leonard, Ellis P. In the James Law Tradition: 1908-1948. Ithaca, NY: New York State College of Veterinary Medicine, 1982.

 

A Centennial celebration: 100 years of creating a healthier future for animals and people, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, 1994.

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Pullman (Whitman), Washington

WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY

College of Veterinary Medicine

Founded 1899

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Manhattan (Riley), Kansas

KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY

College of Veterinary Medicine

Founded 1905

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Elmore, Ronnie G. and Erickson, Howard H. A Century of Excellence: Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Virginia Beach, VA : Donning Co., c2005.​

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Auburn (Lee), Alabama

AUBURN UNIVERSITY

College of Veterinary Medicine

Founded 1907​

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Hendrix, Sam. The Cary Legacy: Dr. Charles Allen Carey, Father of veterinary medicine in the South. Montgomery, AL: The Donnell Group, 2018. 

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Fort Collins (Larimer), Colorado

COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY

College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences

Founded 1907

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McGuire, J. Dennis and James E. Hansen II. Chiron's Time: A History of the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Scinces at Colorado State UniversityFort Collins, Colo. : Colorado State University, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Endowment Fund, c1983.

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East Lansing (Clinton & Ingham), Michigan

MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY

College of Veterinary Medicine​

Founded 1910

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Morrill, Charles Cleon. Veterinary Medicine in Michigan: An Illustrated History. East Lansing, MI: College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, 1979.

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Krehbiel, Janver D., Derksen, Frederik J. A History of Michigan State University's College of Veterinary Medicine: More than 50 years of progress, 1970-2022. [East Lansing, MI: Michigan State University, 2024. 

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College Station (Brazos), Texas

TEXAS A & M UNIVERSITY

College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences

Founded 1910

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Burs, Patton W. Veterinary medicine at Texas A & M University 1958-1975. [s.l. : s.n., 1976?]

 

College of veterinary Medicine & Biomedical  Sciences. Celebrating CVM 100 years 1916-2016: Serving every Texas every day. n every day. College Station, Texas : College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, [2016].​​

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Tuskegee (Macon), Alabama

TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY

College of Veterinary Memdicine

Founded 1945

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Adams, Eugene W. The Legacy: A History of the Tuskegee University School of Veterinary Medicine. Tuskegee AL: The Media Center Press, Tuskegee University School of Veterinary Medicine, 1995.

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Athens (Clarke), Georgia

​UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA

College of Veterinary Medicine

Founded 1945

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Mercer, J.T. and Robert Duncan. The Year of Jubilee: A History of the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine. [Athens, Ga.] : The College, c2000.

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Columbia (Boone), Missouri

UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI

College of Veterinary Medicine

Founded 1947

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Saint Paul (Ramsey), Minnesota

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

College of Veterinary Medicine

Founded 1947

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Davis (Yolo), California

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA at DAVIS

School of Veterinary Medicine

Founded 1948

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Jasper DE. A Short History of the School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California. Davis: March 1964.  

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Urbana-Champaign, Illinois

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS - URBANA

College of Veterinary Medicine

Founded 1948

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Stillwater (Payne), Oklahoma

OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY

College of  Veterinary Medicine

Founded 1948

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Williams, Eric I. A history of the Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Stillwater: Oklahoma State university, c1986.

 

College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University,1948-1988: forty years of education, research and compassion. [s.l.]: 1988.

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West Lafayette (Tippecanoe), Indiana

PURDUE UNIVERSITY 

School of Veterinary Medicine

Founded 1960

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Celebrating a Continuum of Excellence: Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine 1959-2009.

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School of Veterinary Medicine marks 50th anniversary. Insider Purdue. May 8, 2009. 

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Baton Rouge, Louisiana

LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY 

College of Veterinary Medicine

Founded 1973

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iMississippi (Oktibbeha), Mississippi

MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY

College of Veterinary Medicine

Founded 1974

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Knoxville (Knox), Tennessee

UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE

College of Veterinary Medicine

Founded 1974

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Gainesville (Alachua), Florida

UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA

College of Veterinary Medicine

Founded 1976

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North Grafton (Worcester), Massachusetts

TUFTS UNIVERSITY

Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine

Founded 1978

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Blacksburg (Montgomery), Virginia

VIRGINIA TECH

Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine

Founded 1978

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Corvallis (Benton), Oregon

OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY 

College of Veterinary Medicine

Founded 1979

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Raleigh (Wake), North Carolina

NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY 

College of Veterinary Medicine

Founded 1982

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Madison (Dane), Wisconsin

UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON

College of Veterinary Medicine

Founded 1983

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Pomona (Los Angeles), California

WESTERN UNIVERSITY OF HEALTH SCIENCES

College of Veterinary Medicine

Founded 1998

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Harrogate (Claiborne), Tennessee

LINCOLN MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY

College of Veterinary Medicine

Founded 2011

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Glendale (Maricopa), Arizona

MIDWESTERN UNIVERSITY 

College of Veterinary Medicine

Founded 2012

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xxxxx

UNIVERSITY 

College of Veterinary Medicine

Founded 

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