Financial Aid, Loan Options + More

Becoming a vet means you’re very likely going to be taking on student loans.That’s because vet school takes eight years (including your undergrad studies).And tuition prices and living expenses have only gone up over time.Figuring out how to pay for vet school when you know it’s going to cost six figures is no easy feat.

Because vet school is going to be expensive, you need to know the best ways to pay for vet school and what to expect for your debt versus salary.Becoming a vet means six-figure student loan debt In 2025, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) reported 133,475 working veterinarians.Most of those veterinary students left grad school with tons of student loans.So how much does it cost to become a veterinarian? The average four-year cost of a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) in-state program tuition ranges between $78,588 and $259,720.

And out-of-state programs cost between $131,200 and $261,914.The average vet school debt reported by the AVMA for 2025 graduates was $174,484.However, the AVMA also reported that while 18% of 2025 graduates reported having no DVM debt, another 40% owed $200,000 or more and 6% owed $400,000 or more.This aligns with what we see here at Student Loan Planner®, with many veterinarian clients owing in the low-to-high $200,000 range.

In contrast to the major debt that vets graduate with, the average veterinarian salary is $125,510 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).The lowest-earning vets made $70,350 and the highest earners made $212,890.The upside is that the demand for veterinarians is on the rise.Finding a position isn’t the problem.

But paying down your vet school loans will take some serious effort.The first two ways to pay for vet school Get help paying for vet school by filling out your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).By doing this you become eligible for vet school financial aid.The first two forms of financial aid you should always take are: By filling out the FAFSA, you’ll be eligible for scholarships and grants offered by the school you attend.

You may have to complete additional forms to receive the funds.You’ll also be eligible for loans, but you want to take out the “free money” first.Here are a few ways to get started looking into grants and scholarships: Go to scholarship search engines and look specifically for veterinarian scholarships.The American Veterinary Medical Foundation offers a number of scholarships to students attending AVMA-accredited schools.

Specific universities offer loan repayment programs while you are in school.For example, Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine accepts up to seven first-year students into a loan repayment program offering $25,000 per year for up to four years.In exchange, you agree to practice in rural Kansas.Looking for scholarships to pay for vet school can be a lot of work.

But any amount you can take off your vet school loans is worth it.How to pay for vet school with loans At some point, you will run out of grants and scholarships.This is when it’s best to turn to federal student loans.Federal student loans are the best way to pay for vet school (after scholarships) because they offer flexibility and protections.

Because your salary will most likely be less than you owe in vet school loans, you want as many options as possible.Some of the federal student loan protections include: Eligibility for student loan forgiveness programs Eligibility for income-based repayment plans Can be put into deferment or forbearance based on hardships Have fixed interest rates for the life of the loan Don’t require payment while enrolled in school at least part-time Don’t require a credit check, except for the PLUS loan Interest may be tax deductible Private student loans might offer one or two of these protections depending on the lender.But federal student loans always give you the most flexibility.Which loans to prioritize when paying for vet school? When you take out federal student loans, it’s important you know what each type of loan means and what the loan limits are.

The general order you should take out loans to pay for vet school is: 1.Subsidized Direct Loans Subsidized direct loans are only available to undergrad students.So if you’re just starting your eight-year path to vet school, then you should take out these student loans first.These loans are at the top of the list because the government pays the interest while you’re in school, during your grace period and during certain deferment periods.

The total amount you can take out in subsidized student loans is $23,000.This can go pretty fast when you’re in undergrad, so most borrowers will need to rely on additional loan types.2.Unsubsidized Direct Loans Unsubsidized student loans are available to both undergraduates and graduate school students.

These are the next best option to pay for vet school because they carry a lower interest rate than PLUS loans and remain eligible for federal borrower protections.For the 2025–26 academic year: Undergraduate aggregate limit: $31,000 (including $23,000 subsidized) for dependent students; $57,500 (including subsidized loans) for independent students and dependent students whose parents aren't able to obtain PLUS Loans Graduate and professional student aggregate limit: $138,500 (including all undergraduate borrowing) Unlike subsidized loans, interest starts accruing immediately after disbursement.Beginning in the 2026-2027 academic year, new borrowing caps are expected for graduate and professional students.Annual borrowing will be limited to $20,500 per year for non-professional programs (with a $100,000 lifetime cap).

For professional programs, higher limits are expected at $50,000 per year (with a $200,000 lifetime cap).3.Direct PLUS loans Direct PLUS Loans (Grad PLUS) are available to graduate and professional students and are typically used after you’ve reached your unsubsidized loan limits.These loans allow you to borrow up to your school’s full cost of attendance (minus other aid), which is why they’ve historically been a key funding source for expensive programs like vet school.

However, they come with tradeoffs: Higher interest rates (8.94% for 2025-26 academic year) An origination fee (4.228% if disbursed after October 1, 2020) A required credit check Because of the higher cost, it can make sense to compare PLUS loans with private student loans — especially if you have strong credit and don’t need federal protections.Just keep in mind that PLUS loans are still eligible for federal protections, including income-driven repayment and forgiveness programs.That said, the Grad PLUS program will be eliminated for new borrowers starting July 1, 2026.However, Grad PLUS borrowers currently enrolled in a graduate or professional program will be able to continue borrowing under existing rules until June 30, 2029 or program completion, whichever is sooner.This major shift means future vet school students won't be able to rely on borrowing up to the full cost of attendance through federal loans alone and will likely need to fill funding gaps with private loans or other strategies.

How to pay for vet school with private student loans and be smart about it Becoming a vet is a decision that needs to be funded strategically.If you’re going to owe more than your starting salary straight out of vet school, then it’s best to only take out federal student loans.The only exception to this rule is in the case of the PLUS loan or if you meet your loan limits.If you need additional funds, always shop around for private student loans.

When comparing private student loans, look at: Total amount you need to fill the gap Loan origination fees Private loan monthly payment and loan term Interest rates you’re offered Whether the interest rates you’re offered are fixed or variable Whether the lender offers any kind of flexibility for hardships or death If you do decide to look for private student loans to pay for vet school, keep in mind that some lenders may require payments right away.You need to be in a financially stable place to make payments while in school if required.In some cases, you may be tempted to pay for vet school using family loans or money.Or you might even consider bringing in a cosigner on your private student loan.

These kinds of financial choices shouldn’t be taken lightly.Missed payments or hardships could lead to severed relationships.Don’t forget to compare schools When you’re looking at how to pay for vet school, you should also consider the cost of each program.Almost all in-state public colleges are going to be more affordable than out-of-state or private colleges.

Related: 5 Types of Vet Schools Ranked by How Much They Destroy Your Finances For example, the four-year cost of attendance at University of Oregon State's DVM program is about $214,028 for in-state residents and about $338,624 for non-resident students.That's a staggering difference in total cost! Have a plan to pay off your vet school loans You need a plan to pay off your vet school loans.Depending on the type of vet you choose to be, you could qualify for a student debt forgiveness or student loan repayment program.Programs worth looking into include the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP), the Faculty Loan Repayment Program, and the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF).

However, chances are you’ll need to count on a longer-term payoff plan.This could include: Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) Forgiveness with 20 to 25 years of payments, or Aggressive debt payoff with refinancing and 10 years of payments We know that people want to pursue their dream job, and this frequently means taking on debt.We also know that debt can cause stress and anxiety, not to mention wreck your finances if you don’t have a plan in place to get out of debt.If you’re considering going to vet school and taking on six figures of student loan debt, our team can help come up with the best repayment strategies that factor in all aspects of your life.