Scholarships for vet schools are highly sought after by students interested in this field of study. Finding a scholarship that can help offset the financial burden that comes with following one’s passion to become a veterinarian can have a huge impact on a student’s life. There are many different scholarships for veterinary students out there. You just need to know where to look. We have compiled a list of 30 great options for students to consider.
1. Race for Education Keep Veterinary Scholarship
The Kentucky Equine Education Project Foundation offers this scholarship to veterinary education students in their first through third years of veterinary school. The scholarship offers financial assistance for students who have trouble affording the ever-increasing cost of studying to become a veterinarian. Veterinary students from Kentucky who are looking to return to Kentucky to establish a practice are encouraged to apply for this scholarship. Applicants must already be attending or accepted to an AVMA Accredited College of Veterinary Medicine. They must be studying equine vet medicine. Award recipients will receive $5,000 towards their studies.
2. CMVPR Scholarship
Students who are natives of Puerto Rico can look into the CMVPR Scholarship. This award is available for fourth-year students studying veterinary medicine. Applicants will need to supply a cover letter that provides information on their background and education and an official transcript. They will also need to obtain a letter from their University’s Dean’s Office stating that there are no demerits or ethics/academic infractions on their school record.
3. National DHIA Scholarship Program
Another great option available for veterinary students is the National Dairy Herd Information Association Scholarship. This is a $1,500 scholarship. It’s available to third- or fourth-year students. They must be studying veterinary medicine at a college accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education. The selection committee looks at each applicant’s:
- participation in extra-curricular activities centered on dairy medicine
- interest/commitment in pursuing a career related to dairy medicine
- experience or interest in using diary software to help improve an animal’s health
When compiling their application for this scholarship, students will need to provide:
- two reference letters
- information about their background
- any experience they have using DHIA data
- their career plan.
4. Minority Students in Veterinary Medicine Scholarship
As a measure to diversify the field of veterinary medicine, 365 Pet Insurance offers the Minority Students in Veterinary Medicine Scholarship. Applicants need to be:
- African American
- Hispanic
- Native American
- Pacific Islander
- or from another minority group
They will also need to be enrolled full-time in a veterinary medicine program. Also required with the application:
- two letters of reference
- a resume
- a 300- to 500-word essay
The essay can be about:
- some of the challenges facing animal health
- why nutrition is an important component of animal health
- or the meaning of veterinary medicine to the applicant.
5. AHVMF Research Grants
The AHVMF was founded with the goal of expanding holistic and integrative medicine in the veterinary field. They offer a variety of grants for veterinary students that typically fall between $10,000 and $30,000. To be approved for a grant, the study must have a focus on alternative or integrative veterinary medicine. Applicants must be post-doctoral fellows or clinical interns with a faculty sponsor. Also required when applying are:
- a scientific summary
- an abstract
- a study proposal
- an estimated timeline
- other details about the study.
6. AQHF Scholarship Program
The American Quarter Horse Foundation offers a variety of scholarships for both graduate and undergraduate students. To determine which scholarships they may qualify for, veterinary students are encouraged to submit a single application to AQHF. Also be considered when selecting scholarship recipient are:
- financial need
- academic achievement
- communication and leadership
- Quarter Horse involvement
When submitting an application to the AQHF, students will also need to provide three recommendation letters.
7. HRSA Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students
The Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students was created by the Health Resources and Services Administration. They’re to provide financial assistance to students coming from a disadvantaged background. Students must be pursuing a degree in a health profession, such as veterinary medicine, to be considered for these scholarships. This program sends funding to schools, not to students directly. To qualify for funding, at least 20% of enrolled students at each institution must come from a disadvantaged background.
8. Brzozowski Family Veterinary Scholarship
Veterinary students with Type 1 Diabetes can consider applying for the Brzozowski Family Scholarship. Scholarship recipients will be awarded $1,000 towards their studies. Applicants need to be a current sophomore or junior enrolled in veterinary school. Consideration for this award is based on the applicant’s:
- grades
- extra-curricular activities
- volunteer work
- leadership qualities
- letters of recommendation
- written essays
The required essays center on contributions the applicant has made to an organization through:
- their leadership
- contributions they have made as a volunteer
- a personal essay.
9. New Jersey Veterinary Foundation Scholarship Program
The New Jersey Foundation Scholarship Program is a good option for New Jersey residents to pursue. Students must have completed one year of veterinary school before applying for this award. This program awards grants to a student’s veterinary school in two separate installments. Recipients will be selected based on their financial need as well as academic success. Two letters of recommendation need to be submitted with the grant application. One letter must be from a veterinarian in New Jersey. The other letter must be from a faculty member at the student’s institution.
10. Empathy for Animals Scholarship Award for Veterinary Students
Pet Life Today offers the Empathy for Animals Scholarship Award for Veterinary Students. This scholarship provides students with $500 to be applied to their studies. It is available to undergraduate students in an animal science or veterinary study field. The selection committee considers a variety of factors including:
- financial need
- academic excellence in veterinary-related fields
- efforts towards decreasing cruelty to animals
Students are required to submit a one- to two-page essay about:
- their interest in veterinary medicine or animal research
- the ways they are involved in their community
- how the scholarship will be used.
11. AAAP Foundation/Merck Animal Health Veterinary Student Scholarship Program
The American Association of Avian Pathologists along with Merck Animal Health offer this veterinary school scholarship. It’s for students who plan to focus on poultry health or food safety. Award recipients will receive $5,000. Each year, 10 second- and third-year veterinary students are selected by the scholarship committee for this award. Applicants must be enrolled in a program with a poultry health or food safety focus at an AVMA accredited veterinary medicine school. Applicants will need to submit their transcripts and two letters of recommendation. They will also need to share the experiences they have had related to poultry food safety or health. They need to write an essay that shares their goals after graduating from veterinary school.
12. AAAP Foundation Poultry Scholarship Program
Another scholarship offered by the American Association of Avian Pathologists is the AAAP Foundation Poultry Scholarship. It’s available for undergraduate students or students attending a veterinary college. Students will need to be pursuing a degree related to:
- poultry science
- food science
- another field related to the health of poultry
Undergraduate recipients will receive a $500 scholarship. Graduate students will receive a $1,000 scholarship. Recipients will be able to reapply to have their scholarship renewed for their subsequent years of education. When applying for this award, students need to write a short essay laying out their career aspirations. They will also need to share any experiences they have had in the poultry health or food safety fields. They will also need two letters of recommendation.
13. AABP Amstutz Scholarship
The American Association of Bovine Practitioners created the Amstutz Scholarship as a way to provide financial support for students who show:
- high levels of character
- motivation
- drive to excel as a bovine veterinarian
The total value of the scholarship and number of recipients varies from year to year based on member donations and applicants. This scholarship is available to second-year veterinary students who are members of the AABP. Students who apply for this award must be planning to practice bovine veterinary medicine in either the United States or Canada when they graduate.
14. Patricia M. Lowrie Diversity Leadership Scholarship
The Patricia M. Lowrie Diversity Leadership Scholarship is available to second-, third-, or fourth-year students at AAVMC Member Institutions. This award was created as a way to celebrate students who will make great future leaders in the field of veterinary medicine. Students selected to receive this award must have participated in:
- projects
- activities
- research
- community engagements
These activities must centered on promoting inclusiveness and diversity in veterinary medicine. If selected, students will receive $6,000 to apply towards completing veterinary school.
15. ACVP William Inskeep II Scholarship Award
The American College of Veterinary Pathologists created the William Inskeep II Scholarship Award. It’s for students who attend the Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. Students must be planning on studying veterinary pathology. Award recipients receive $1,000 and recognition at the annual ACVP meeting. When selecting students to receive this scholarship, the committee looks for individuals who demonstrate leadership skills and academic excellence.
16. John D. Spurling Scholarship
Another excellent scholarship for veterinary schoolis the John D. Spurling Scholarship. Each year, five recipients are selected to receive a combined total of $10,000 towards their tuition. Students need to be enrolled in a full-time program with a focus on providing care for dogs and encouraging responsible pet ownership. This award may be granted to students studying:
- veterinary medicine
- veterinary technology
- animal care
- physical therapy
- animal behavior
- training
- grooming
Along with the application for the scholarship, students will need to submit their most recent transcript and two letters of recommendation. The application includes three essay questions about the student’s:
- course of study
- professional goals
- involvement with different organizations dedicated to responsible pet ownership.
17. Smithcors Student Veterinary History Essay Contest
The Smithcors Student Veterinary History Essay Contest was named after the founder of the American Veterinary Medical History Society. The contest is open to DVM students in:
- the United States
- Canada
- West Indies
Each year, four essay writers are selected to receive either $1,200, $1,000, $800, or $500 that can be used towards their education. Students who are not selected as cash prize winners will still receive a free one-year membership in the American Veterinary Medical History Society.
18. Healthy Paws Pet Insurance Scholarships
Healthy Paws Pet Insurance offers two different scholarships for veterinary school. Healthy Paws was created with the goal of ensuring each pet lives a healthy life and is well taken care of. These scholarships both relate to that goal. The first scholarship is the Animal Advocate Scholarship. Each year, one student who has completed volunteer work centered on animal advocacy or helping humans improve their bonds with their pets is selected to receive this award. The recipient of this scholarship will receive $1,000.
The second scholarship, the Veterinary Student Scholarship, recognizes students who are studying veterinary medicine. The selection committee looks for students who have completed volunteer work with an animal-related charity within the past year. Recipients of this award receive $1,000 towards their education.
19. Iowa 4-H Foundation Scholarship Program
For members of Iowa’s 4-H Club looking to studying veterinary medicine, the Iowa 4-H Foundation Scholarship Program is definitely worth pursuing. There are more than 90 scholarships offered by the foundation. They total over $100,000. Scholarship applicants must be a full-time students taking at least 12 credit hours. Students are welcome to apply for more than one of the available scholarships. However, will not be selected to receive more than one scholarship for each academic year.
20. MVEH Scholarship
The Maine Veterinary Education Foundation Scholarship is available to students from Maine. They must have completed one or more years of veterinary school or a veterinary technology program. When completing the application, students will need to list their current education-related debt. They will also need to submit a cover letter that shares :
- why they are studying veterinary medicine
- their future plans
- their ties to the state of Maine
A transcript from the student’s veterinary school also needs to be submitted with the application.
21. NVMA Centennial Scholarship Foundation
An excellent option to consider when you’re looking for veterinary school scholarship is the NVMA Centennial Scholarship Foundation. Each year, the Nebraska Veterinary Medical Association awards this scholarship to Nebraska veterinary students. The board of directors sets a budget for the scholarship each year. They typically range from $200 to $4,000. Multiple students may be selected to receive one of these scholarships. There are two different funds that are used for these scholarships:
- the Dr. O.H. and Ruth Person Scholarship Fund
- the NVMA Centennial Scholarship Foundation, Inc.
Students need only complete one application to be considered for a scholarship from either fund.
22. Donald L. Burton Veterinary Student Scholarship
Veterinary students who plan on pursuing a career working with wildlife may want to apply for the Donald L. Burton Veterinary Student Scholarship. Each year, one student is selected to receive a $500 scholarship to help reduce the cost of attending the National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association Symposium. To apply for this scholarship, students need to submit two letters of recommendation and answer a few brief questions about their education history and career goals. Some of these questions include:
- sharing their experiences with wildlife
- the commitment to medical care or rehabilitation of wildlife
- what they are looking to gain by attending the symposium.
23. Oxbow Academic Scholarships
The Oxbow Academic Scholarships for veterinary students can help students receive financial assistance towards pursuing their career goals. There are a variety of scholarships offered through this organization. These include undergraduate:
- scholarships for students pursuing a career centered on companion animals
- scholarships for veterinary technicians who wish to work with small and exotic animals
- scholarships for students studying veterinary medicine who plan to care for small and exotic animals.
24. Rover Scholarship
Another veterinary school scholarships that can have a great impact on the life of a student is the Rover Scholarship. If selected as the winner for this award, students will receive $2,500 towards their studies. This is an essay contest in which applicants will need to submit a 400- to 500-word response sharing how caring for a pet as a child had an impact on the adult they have become. Applicants must be a high school senior or a freshman, sophomore, or junior in college. Students need to have a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Submitted essays are evaluated based on their:
- thoughtfulness
- quality
- relevance
- grammar.
25. Southern Arizona Veterinary Medical Association Dr. Gary Bird Memorial Scholarship
Each year, two students are selected to receive the Southern Arizona Veterinary Medical Association Dr. Gary Bird Memorial Scholarship. This scholarship commemorates Dr. Bird’s compassion towards animals and overall excellence in veterinary medicine. Students need to be residents of Arizona who attended the University of Arizona. They also need to be a first-year student in a veterinary medicine program at an AVMA accredited school. Applicants need to submit letters of recommendation and share their plan for making a positive contribution to their community once they complete veterinary school.
26. The Opportunity Scholarship Program
When looking for scholarships for veterinary school, don’t overlook the Opportunity Scholarship Program. This program looks to provide support and mentoring for students who attend the University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine. There are two different Opportunity Scholarships offered:
- the Charles W. Raker V’42 Award
- the OS founders Award
Each year, one student is selected to receive the Charles W. Raker Award. Students who are selected embody Dr. Raker’s “4 C’s:”
- caring
- compassion
- commitment
- communication
The Opportunity Scholarship Founders Award was created to recognize alumni who have show service and dedication through their mentoring of veterinary students.
27. Four Legs or Two Scholarship
The Four Legs or Two Scholarship is a veterinary school scholarship available to students enrolled or accepted in an equine program. This scholarship awards recipients with $1,000 that they can use to help cover the cost of their education. Applicants need to submit:
- two references
- their official transcript
- their answer to an essay question
For the essay question, students need to explain the ways they will have a positive impact on equine veterinary medicine in New England.
28. VIP Petcare Veterinary Education Support Fund
The VIP Petcare Veterinary Education Support Fund sponsors a video contest to provide financial support for students pursuing a career in veterinary medicine. Applicants need to create a two- to five-minute video about why they want to study veterinary medicine. This contest is also open to current veterinarians who have completed their degree. The winner of the contest receives $10,000 that can be applied towards:
- their tuition
- paying off student loans
- purchasing education supplies.
29. John L. Pitts Aquatic Veterinary Education Awards Program
If a career in aquatic veterinary medicine is in a student’s future, then they should look at the John L. Pitts Aquatic Veterinary Education Awards Program. This award is offered to recent graduates or current students at a recognized veterinary school. The funds from the award are designed to be used for various educational activities related to aquatic veterinary medicine. These activities may include:
- attending workshops
- conducting research
- or participating in an internship or externship
The amount of the award may vary but is typically between $250 and $1,000.
30. RIVMA Veterinary Student Scholarship
The Rhode Island Veterinary Medical Association Veterinary Student Scholarship can offer great assistance to Rhode Island high school graduates. This scholarship will provide the recipient with $2,500 towards veterinary school. Applicants must be in their junior year at a veterinary college and have a GPA of 2.5 or higher. The scholarship selection committee takes a student’s academic achievement and academic needs into consideration. Part of the application for this scholarship includes writing a statement of intent. Students will need to explain why they chose to apply for the scholarship and why they should be selected to receive it.
Scholarship for veterinary students may not be as easy to find as scholarship opportunities for other fields, but there definitely are some great options out there. Hopefully, our list of suggestions for scholarships for vet school has opened your eyes to the world of possibilities that await!
Recommended Resources: