2 answers
Olivia
Student
Wilmington, North Carolina
2
Questions
Asked
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What is the pay like after becoming a veterinarian?
When becoming a veterinarian, what is the salary outlook right out of vet school? And would you say you can live comfortably, or is the pay not enough, considering you have to pay off student loans?
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2 answers
Michelle M.
Actress
3276
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Olivia !
It is so awesome that you will be pursuing one of the greatest careers as a Veterinarian !You will always love your work and I bet deep down inside, you'd do it even if you didn't get paid. That is the sign of a true animal lover ! Don't let any presumptive thoughts stop you !
If you are concerned about student debt in the future, maybe I can provide some information that may assist you in feeling a bit better about approaching your dream career with a little less worry. Arbitrary monetary figures of salary are interesting, but it won't be what you'd be making as there are different ways to earn income as a Veterinarian that you can do simultaneously. You will not know your work routine until years from now and you'll learn all of your options while in Veterinary School.
Your first step will be to check with your parents about if they have a 529 plan student savings account that they may have opened to help with your colleges expenses. Your next step for your Bachelors Degree path is to explore non-Loan colleges. These are colleges that have made arrangements to help students out in certain ways if they do not take out loans.
Davidson College in North Carolina is notable for ensuring students can cover their college expenses without taking out loans, relying instead on grants, Work Study opportunities, or parental contributions. I believe that is a community college and community colleges are fine to start out with but you really need to decide because your best Major would be Animal Science and not all colleges offer that major. Two years at a no-loan community college in North Carolina and then transferring for your Bachelors Degree will help save you a lot of money, however.
Your next option would be to start at a four year college that offers an Animal Science program and refuse the loan option on your Federal Student Financial Aid Application. To make up the difference in what you might have received in loans, apply for every scholarship and grant you possibly can. Applying for very many scholarships can increase your chances of getting some.
Another option is Free Tuition Programs at Universities in North Carolina. Based on family income, residency, and academic criteria, Wake Forest University has started the "Gateway to Wake Forest" program. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill offers the Tar Heel Guarantee, which covers full tuition for in-state students whose families earn less than $80,000 annually. The University of North Carolina Asheville’s Access Asheville program covers tuition and required fees for North Carolina residents from families with an annual income of $90,000 or less.
Duke University provides free tuition for students from North and South Carolina whose families earn $150,000 or less annually. For students from families earning $65,000 or less, Duke also covers housing, meals, course materials, and other expenses, with no requirement for student loans. William Peace University offers the Peace Pledge, covering tuition for North Carolina residents from families with an annual income of $75,000 or less, provided they have a high school GPA of at least 3.25.Johnson & Wales University offers The JWU Pledge, covering at least 60% and up to 100% of tuition for students from North Carolina, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Massachusetts with household incomes under $200,000. The Next NC Scholarship fully covers tuition and fees at any of the state’s 58 community colleges for residents from households earning $80,000 or less. For students attending public universities in the state, the scholarship covers more than half of tuition and fees, with a minimum award of $5,000. And The North Carolina Promise program reduces tuition to $500 per semester at four UNC System schools—Elizabeth City State University, Fayetteville State University, UNC Pembroke, and Western Carolina University—for all North Carolina residents, with no application or eligibility requirements.
Just as an aside, you can enter Veterinary School with any major, preferably a science for your own knowledge. You can enter Vet School with a degree in Biology, Animal Science, Zoology, Chemistry, and related fields, but applicants are free to select any major that aligns with their academic strengths and interests. This will be important to know when considering various ways to avoid future student debt and having to choose a support college that will help fund your college path because not all colleges offer the Animal Science major.
I hope that this helps for a start and I wish you all the best moving forward with your plans. Don't let anything stop you for this wonderful career plan !
It is so awesome that you will be pursuing one of the greatest careers as a Veterinarian !You will always love your work and I bet deep down inside, you'd do it even if you didn't get paid. That is the sign of a true animal lover ! Don't let any presumptive thoughts stop you !
If you are concerned about student debt in the future, maybe I can provide some information that may assist you in feeling a bit better about approaching your dream career with a little less worry. Arbitrary monetary figures of salary are interesting, but it won't be what you'd be making as there are different ways to earn income as a Veterinarian that you can do simultaneously. You will not know your work routine until years from now and you'll learn all of your options while in Veterinary School.
Your first step will be to check with your parents about if they have a 529 plan student savings account that they may have opened to help with your colleges expenses. Your next step for your Bachelors Degree path is to explore non-Loan colleges. These are colleges that have made arrangements to help students out in certain ways if they do not take out loans.
Davidson College in North Carolina is notable for ensuring students can cover their college expenses without taking out loans, relying instead on grants, Work Study opportunities, or parental contributions. I believe that is a community college and community colleges are fine to start out with but you really need to decide because your best Major would be Animal Science and not all colleges offer that major. Two years at a no-loan community college in North Carolina and then transferring for your Bachelors Degree will help save you a lot of money, however.
Your next option would be to start at a four year college that offers an Animal Science program and refuse the loan option on your Federal Student Financial Aid Application. To make up the difference in what you might have received in loans, apply for every scholarship and grant you possibly can. Applying for very many scholarships can increase your chances of getting some.
Another option is Free Tuition Programs at Universities in North Carolina. Based on family income, residency, and academic criteria, Wake Forest University has started the "Gateway to Wake Forest" program. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill offers the Tar Heel Guarantee, which covers full tuition for in-state students whose families earn less than $80,000 annually. The University of North Carolina Asheville’s Access Asheville program covers tuition and required fees for North Carolina residents from families with an annual income of $90,000 or less.
Duke University provides free tuition for students from North and South Carolina whose families earn $150,000 or less annually. For students from families earning $65,000 or less, Duke also covers housing, meals, course materials, and other expenses, with no requirement for student loans. William Peace University offers the Peace Pledge, covering tuition for North Carolina residents from families with an annual income of $75,000 or less, provided they have a high school GPA of at least 3.25.Johnson & Wales University offers The JWU Pledge, covering at least 60% and up to 100% of tuition for students from North Carolina, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Massachusetts with household incomes under $200,000. The Next NC Scholarship fully covers tuition and fees at any of the state’s 58 community colleges for residents from households earning $80,000 or less. For students attending public universities in the state, the scholarship covers more than half of tuition and fees, with a minimum award of $5,000. And The North Carolina Promise program reduces tuition to $500 per semester at four UNC System schools—Elizabeth City State University, Fayetteville State University, UNC Pembroke, and Western Carolina University—for all North Carolina residents, with no application or eligibility requirements.
Just as an aside, you can enter Veterinary School with any major, preferably a science for your own knowledge. You can enter Vet School with a degree in Biology, Animal Science, Zoology, Chemistry, and related fields, but applicants are free to select any major that aligns with their academic strengths and interests. This will be important to know when considering various ways to avoid future student debt and having to choose a support college that will help fund your college path because not all colleges offer the Animal Science major.
I hope that this helps for a start and I wish you all the best moving forward with your plans. Don't let anything stop you for this wonderful career plan !
Hassan Al
Product Management Professional
436
Answers
Austin, Texas
Updated
Hassan’s Answer
According to https://careers.usnews.com/best-jobs/veterinarian/salary in 2023 the median US Salary was $119k. Considering paying off student loans that'll likely mean you won't much extra money for the first few years. Of course this will vary significantly based on location and practice. Especially if you have your own practice in a good location.
Thanks, can't wait to put this advice into action!
Olivia
Great... This is a good help for the vet.
John Nolan