Vet School Scholarships: Who Qualifies and When to Apply

Vet school is expensive, and the money that helps pay for it is scattered. Some sits with national foundations, some with species associations, some with your state veterinary association, and some with your own school. Each program has its own rules about who can apply and its own yearly window, so the hard part is knowing which awards fit you and catching them while they are open.

This list is grouped by who each award is for, so you can skip straight to your year, your interests or your state. Every entry follows the same order: who qualifies, the award, how to apply and the months it usually opens or closes. We checked each program's own page in November 2026; where a detail comes from a school's external scholarship list instead, we say so. Award amounts are what each page listed then, with the cycle year where the page gives one. Dates move from year to year, so treat the months as a planning guide and confirm the exact deadline on the program's page. If you are still deciding whether vet school is right for you, start with our 10 things to consider before becoming a veterinarian.

Chooser matching vet students to scholarship groups: most DVM students, starting vet school, species or career track, state, military or service, outside the US — Infographic by I Love Veterinary

Before you apply: two steps students miss

Join the association first. Several of the awards below only accept members. HumaneVMA's application sits behind a free student membership. The swine (AASV) and bovine (AABP) scholarships require student membership, and Minnesota's state scholarships go to MVMA members. Join well before the deadline, not in deadline week.

Find your school's internal deadline. Some programs don't take applications straight from students. Morris Animal Foundation reviews students your school has already selected, and the Chewy Veterinary Leaders Program accepts one nominee per school. Your college picks its candidates before the national deadline, so ask your financial aid or research office when their cutoff is.

Scholarships for students starting vet school

VIN Foundation Veterinary Student Scholarship. The Mike Dunn, DVM Veterinary Student Scholarship is for two students entering their first year at a US vet school who are committed to companion animal medicine. For the 2027 award, each can receive up to $35,000 a year, up to $140,000 over four years, paid to the school for tuition and fees. The school's total tuition and fees can't exceed $170,000. You need a recommendation letter (due in mid-October in the 2027 cycle), AI-written answers are not allowed, and finalists do a video interview. The window usually opens in late July and closes once 300 applications are in. The 2027 cap was already met when we checked, so apply as soon as the next window opens. The page also links the foundation's Apply Smarter Tool. VIN Foundation scholarship page

Your vet school's own scholarships. Schools award their own scholarships too, and at some you apply separately. Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, for example, offers a Global Experience Scholarship ($45,000 total value) for students who have studied internationally, and you apply for its scholarships through the My Ross Vet portal. Ask every school on your list what it offers before you choose. Our list of top vet schools in the US is a good place to start comparing. Ross Vet scholarships

National scholarships for DVM students

American Veterinary Medical Foundation (AVMF). Cornell's external scholarship list shows several AVMF student scholarships, including ones funded by the Zoetis Foundation and Merck Animal Health and one for military veterans in vet school. The Zoetis Foundation/AVMF award for second and third-year students is listed as closing at the end of October. Cornell's list is our only source here, so confirm eligibility, amounts and dates on the AVMF page. AVMF scholarships

Chewy Veterinary Leaders Program. For second-year students from underserved groups who want to grow as leaders. In the 2026-2027 cycle, 15 students each receive a $20,000 scholarship paid to their school, plus peer support, an event at Chewy's headquarters and a MentorVet LEAP scholarship. The program runs with the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC), and each member school can nominate one student, with a dean's letter, a CV, a transcript, a 300-word statement and proof of financial need. Nominations usually run from early October to early November. Chewy Veterinary Leaders Program details

Teddy Sarna Veterinary Medicine Scholarship. Open to students at AVMA-accredited veterinary schools in the United States. Cornell's external list shows it due at the end of August, and the program's own page says winners hear by the end of November. Teddy Sarna scholarship page

Paw Prosper Student of Veterinary Medicine Scholarship. For US or Canadian residents studying veterinary medicine or a related field at an accredited US or Canadian school, with a minimum 2.5 GPA. Paw Prosper gives two $1,000 awards. Cornell's external list shows it due at the end of August. Paw Prosper scholarships

Scholarships by career interest

Shelter medicine and animal welfare

HumaneVMA Compassionate Care Veterinary Student Scholarships. For first, second and third-year students at AVMA-accredited schools in the US, Canada, the UK or the Caribbean. The 2026 cycle had five $10,000 awards. Join HumaneVMA first (student membership is free), then open the application from the member area. You need a transcript, two letters (one from faculty or a clinician at your school), a statement of intent, an activities sheet and your anticipated debt. It usually closes at the end of June, with winners named by the end of August. HumaneVMA scholarship page

Cats

FelineVMA/Merck Animal Health Scholarship. For second and third-year students at AVMA-accredited schools in the US or Canada. The 2026 cycle had two $10,000 scholarships. You need a CV, a transcript, a reference from a faculty member or FelineVMA member, and three essays. It usually closes in mid-June; FelineVMA announces the next round in its Student Connections newsletter. FelineVMA scholarship page

Horses

The Foundation for the Horse scholarships. The American Association of Equine Practitioners' foundation gives several named scholarships to students dedicated to equine medicine, including one funded by Merck Animal Health and one for third-year students. NC State's external list notes that applicants must be AAEP student members with the support of AAEP members and clinical instructors. You apply through the foundation's portal. Applications usually open in early April and close in mid-May, and applicants hear back by mid-September. More on the career path in our guide to becoming an equine veterinarian. Foundation for the Horse scholarships

Cattle and pigs

AABP Foundation Zoetis Foundation Scholarship (bovine). For AABP student members who are one year from graduation at an AVMA-accredited school, are US citizens and plan to work as bovine veterinarians in the US or Canada. The application and two reference letters are due on the same date. It usually opens in March and closes in early May. AABP Foundation scholarship page

AVC Foundation/Merck Foundation Scholarship (beef cattle). Aimed at students planning a career in beef cattle production medicine. The page lists two $10,000 scholarships. The online application usually opens in early February and must be complete by the end of June. Academy of Veterinary Consultants Foundation

AASVF-Merck Veterinary Student Scholarship (swine). Second and third-year students who are current AASV student members can apply from schools in the US, Canada, Mexico, South America and the Caribbean. The page lists five $10,000 scholarships. You email an application with a resume, a reference and answers to four essay questions. The deadline is usually the end of December, and winners are announced at the AASV annual meeting in early March. AASV Foundation scholarship page

Research and One Health

Morris Animal Foundation Veterinary Student Scholar Program. Students at any accredited vet program can apply to do a mentored research project on dogs, cats, horses and other equids, or wildlife. Combined DVM/PhD students can't apply. The stipend is up to $5,500. Your school selects its applicants first, so watch for the internal call; applications then go through Morris's SmartSimple portal. There are usually two rounds a year: one opening in April and closing in late May, another opening in early fall and closing in late November. Morris Animal Foundation program page

Dr. Gregory D. Bossart Memorial One Health Scholarship. Open to DVM, MD, MPH, MS or PhD students leading their own One Health research project. The One Health Commission runs it and pays the award to the student. Applications usually open in May and close at the end of July, with winners announced by early November. One Health Commission scholarship page

A background in dog sports

AKC Veterinary Outreach Scholarship. For vet students with a background in American Kennel Club events and programs. In the 2024-2025 cycle the AKC awarded $122,000 in total, with individual awards from $2,000 to $10,000. Cornell's external list says you download the application and email it to AKC's veterinary outreach team, and shows it usually opening in January and closing in March. AKC 2024-2025 recipients announcement

State scholarships

Many state veterinary medical associations, or their foundations, fund awards for students from that state or students who plan to practice there. Search "[your state] veterinary medical foundation scholarship" and check your school's list. Three examples show how different they are:

Minnesota: the Minnesota Veterinary Medical Foundation gives more than $179,000 a year in veterinary scholarships, based on academic standing, leadership, financial need and the wish to practice or benefit animal health in Minnesota. You must be an MVMA member (University of Minnesota vet students are enrolled automatically) and send a resume, a letter and a 750-word essay. The deadline is usually in early December. MVMF scholarships
California: in the 2026 cycle the California Veterinary Medical Foundation offered the CVMF/VISC Student Scholarship ($1,000) for third and fourth-year students at UC Davis or Western University, or California residents at out-of-state AVMA-accredited schools. Its Ron Faoro DVM Student Scholarships ($2,500) go to second to fourth-year students at UC Davis or Western University who show leadership. Both were closed for 2026 when we checked. CVMF/VISC scholarship
Vermont: the Vermont Veterinary Medical Association Foundation supports Vermont vet students who plan to return to practice in Vermont. The most recent deadline on its page was in mid-July 2025, so check whether a new cycle is posted. VVMAF scholarship page

Vet students outside the US

WVA/MSD Animal Health Veterinary Student Scholarship. Only for students in Latin America, Africa, North Africa and the Middle East, and Asia/Oceania. Students in the US, Canada and Europe are not eligible. You must be in your second or third year (or later in longer programs), have passed your first-year exams and apply in English. The 2026 cycle had 40 scholarships of US$5,000 each. It usually closes in mid-October. World Veterinary Association scholarship page

Studying in Canada? Several programs above (HumaneVMA, FelineVMA, Paw Prosper and AASVF) accept students at Canadian schools. See our guide to vet schools in Canada.

Other ways to fund vet school

These two aren't scholarships in the usual sense: both pay in exchange for service.

Army Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP). A route into the Army Veterinary Corps. The Army describes it as a full-tuition scholarship with a monthly stipend; in return you serve as an Army veterinarian after graduation, so ask about the length of the commitment before you sign. The Army says to contact a local Army Medical recruiter after you receive your vet school acceptance letter. Army Veterinary Corps opportunities

USDA Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP). For graduates, but it matters when you plan how much to borrow. If you commit to at least three years of practice in a USDA-designated veterinary shortage area, the National Institute of Food and Agriculture may repay up to $40,000 of your vet school loans per year (as listed for the fiscal 2027 round). Applications usually open in February and close in April. USDA NIFA VMLRP page

Vet school scholarship calendar

This is based on each program's most recent cycle. Use it to plan, then confirm the exact date on the program's page.

Months when vet school scholarships usually close, from AKC in early spring to AASVF-Merck in December — Infographic by I Love Veterinary

Month	Usually opens	Usually closes
January	AKC Veterinary Outreach
February	AVC-Merck (beef); VMLRP
March	AABP Zoetis Foundation (bovine)	AKC Veterinary Outreach
April	Foundation for the Horse; Morris spring round	VMLRP
May	One Health (Bossart)	AABP (early May); Foundation for the Horse (mid-May); Morris spring round
June		FelineVMA/Merck (mid-June); HumaneVMA (end of June); AVC-Merck (end of June)
July	VIN Foundation (late July, until 300 applications)	Vermont VVMAF (mid-July); One Health (end of July)
August		Teddy Sarna; Paw Prosper
October	Chewy Veterinary Leaders; Morris fall round	WVA/MSD (mid-October); Zoetis Foundation/AVMF (end of October)
November		Chewy Veterinary Leaders (early November); Morris fall round
December		Minnesota MVMF (early December); AASVF-Merck (end of December)

What to have ready

Most applications ask for the same handful of documents. Keep current versions in one folder:

Transcript.
CV or resume listing veterinary experience, volunteering, leadership and research.
One or two recommendation letters. Some programs need one from a faculty member or clinician at your school. Ask early and give your writers the deadline.
Personal statement or essays, written for each program's questions. The VIN Foundation does not accept AI-written answers.
Financial need documents, such as your FAFSA Student Aid Report or your school's aid statement.
Proof of membership where the program requires it.

Checklist of documents for a vet school scholarship application: transcript, CV, letters, essays, financial need documents, membership proof — Infographic by I Love Veterinary

Where to keep looking

Your school's financial aid office. Many schools keep their own external scholarship lists. Cornell's and NC State's are public, so anyone can use them.
Your state veterinary association or foundation, and the species association for the field you want to work in.
The program itself. If a link breaks or a page still shows last year's dates, email the organization and ask when the next cycle opens.

Pick the four to six programs that fit you best, put their usual months in your calendar now, and join any association they require before that month comes around.

Scholarship rules, amounts and dates change every cycle. Always check the official page before you apply.