Best way to minimize debt for DVM degree? #Spring25
My goal is to achieve DVM degree (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine) Since this is 6 to 8 years of college education. How or best way I can achieve this goal with minimal of debt?
I am staying with in state colleges (University of Findlay)
and transferring to OSU Vet medicine (hopefully!)
Applying scholarships but they are hard to win and not very many applicable to animal science field. Thank you and #Spring25
2 answers

Nirah Shomer, DVM PhD DACLAM
Nirah’s Answer
You already have a plan to attend OSU as a resident- that is one of the less costly programs. Quite a few schools are cheaper by more than 10k/year (only if you are a resident)- it might be worth it to establish residency in one of those states. Note that some schools allow you to establish residency as a student, and some do not.
Maximize scholarships and minimize cost of living (eg live at home if you can).
You can apply for the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP). This program pays up to $25,000 for qualified veterinarians as long as they agree to work for at least three years in a state experiencing a veterinarian shortage.
You can also join the army and potentially get vet school for free, but you would have to work as a vet for the army for a number of years. I had one classmate who did this. Link below.
You might also be able to work part time, but remember that school will be very challenging, and leave yourself enough time to study.
Nirah recommends the following next steps:
Karin’s Answer
Talk to your university's Financial Office to find out what they can offer you. Most veterinary schools have internal scholarships as well as a list of external scholarships that they work with.
Use data bases like scholarships.com or scholarships360.org to search for general scholarships and veterinary scholarships. Some might be small, some might be for a research project, but it all adds up. Check companies (e.g. pet food companies) and professional associations for scholarships as well. Check with your home town and home state if they have any general scholarships. A parent's employer might have a scholarship program. Check scholarships for certain populations (women, minorities, indigenous, LGBTQ+, first generation etc).
Here are a few resources to get you started:
https://www.scholarships.com/financial-aid/college-scholarships/scholarship-directory/academic-major/veterinary-medicine
https://scholarships360.org/scholarships/search/?search=Veterinary
https://vinfoundation.org/resources/veterinary-student-scholarship/
https://veterinary.rossu.edu/admissions/dvm-admissions/scholarships
https://www.avmf.org/our-impact/education-support/scholarships-and-awards/
https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/loans/student-loans/top-scholarships-veterinary-school
https://www.ohiovma.org/students/membership.html
https://vet.osu.edu/education/programs/dvm/financial-resources/scholarships
https://www.ohiocattle.org/foundation/scholarships
https://www.acvp.org/page/CharlesandSharronCapenScholarship
https://www.vettechcolleges.com/blog/50-veterinary-animal-science-scholarships
https://vetmed.tamu.edu/dvm/admissions/financial-aid-and-scholarships/
https://www.depts.ttu.edu/vetschool/dvm-admissions/how-to-apply/scholarships.php
https://cvm.ncsu.edu/academics/admissions/costs/external-scholarship-opportunities/
https://www.foundationforthehorse.org/impact/student-education/
I hope this helps! All the best to you!
KP