Studying veterinary medicine is not a one-step procedure, there are steps you’ll have to take to ensure that you are walking on the right path and we have listed the best veterinary schools in Illinois that you should consider.
One of these steps is completing your high school education and earning a bachelor’s degree.. It takes at least four years to study Veterinary Medicine in accredited schools.
To earn a doctorate in Veterinary Medicine, you’ll have to complete a Bachelor’s degree, and then study for four years in an accredited veterinary schools in illinois.
Studying Veterinary Medicine makes a range of jobs available to you. You can work as a veterinarian, a technician, or a surgeon.
You can also work in shelters, research centers, consulting and Animal Health industries.
There have been an increasing demand for people in the veterinary medicine field. The US Bureau of Labor predicts an increase of 18% from 2018 to 2028.
What is Veterinary Medicine?
Veterinary medicine is a field of medicine concerned with the treatment of, diagnosis, prevention, control, and research of diseases in animals.
It also deals with preventing diseases from being contracted by humans. In addition, it deals with animal husbandry, breeding, and research on feeding and nutrition.
Who is a Veterinarian?
Veterinarians are doctors of animals. A veterinarian is someone who treats, cures, and prevents diseases in animals, they also help conduct research concerned with the nutrition of animals.
Other veterinarian duties include:
- Treatment of animals, performing surgeries, administering vaccines and prescribing medications to diseased animals.
- Performing diagnostic tests, and conducting diagnoses.
- They educate animal owners. Veterinarians sometimes give nutrition schedules to animal owners. These nutrition schedules help animals grow healthy.
Difference Between Vet Technicians, Veterinarians and Vet Assistants.
While veterinarians are doctors who have to complete longer years of study compared to Veterinary technicians.
While veterinarians may take at least eight years to complete their course of study, veterinary technicians only have to study for two years.
The two years of training are completed under a licensed veterinarian. They have lesser responsibilities than veterinarians and act as assitants to veterinarians.
Vet technicians have to write certification exams to qualify as technicians. They help with restraining animals, conducting X-ray tests, and urinalysis.
They also collect and record animal cases and restrain animals during tests.
Vet assistants on the other hand do not have to write certification exams or train under a licensed veterinarian.
They disinfect cages, bathe animals and administer vaccines as prescribed by the veterinarian.
While the pay for vet assistants and vet Technicians may differ on the basis of education, vet technicians are paid better than vet assistants.
The median annual salary for a vet technician is $36,260, while that of a vet assistant is $29,930.
Requirements to Study Veterinary Medicine
- A high school diploma.
- Bachelor’s degree/ B.S or B.A.
- Some programs require that you write the Graduation Record Exam (GRE). The University of Illinois requires you to write GRE, the minimum score is 66%.
- Students without a Bachelor’s certificate can apply for Veterinary medicine but will have to study at least 60 semester hours and 44 hours of science courses from an accredited university or college.
- Some programs require a minimum CPGA and science GPA.
- Experience with animals – small and large. Experience working for a veterinarian and recommendation.
- A CGPA of 3.5 or higher.
Prerequisite Courses:
Biological sciences, Chemistry and Physics.
Prices of Programs:
The prices of programs may differ from school to school. The price of a public school is different from that of a private school, and the price of Masters’s degree programs may be higher than undergraduate programs.
The List of Veterinary Schools in Illinois
You can study veterinary education at the following universities:
1. John A. Logan College:
John A. Logan College is a public community college in Carterville, Illinois. It is part of the Illinois Community College System.
As of 2016, it had a total enrollment of 4,424 students, including 1,990 full-time students and 2,434 part-time students.
The college offers career preparation programs and a two-year college transfer curriculum. Logan’s transfer curriculum is articulated with Illinois’ four-year universities.
Online offerings include noncredit courses on topics not normally found in the higher education curriculum.
The college has been accredited since 1972 by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
In 2008, the Higher Learning Commission approved it to offer an online Associate of Arts degree.
Under its open admissions policy, the college admits students who have graduated from an accredited high school, completed the GED, or are at least 18 years old.
Applicants who have not graduated from high school must submit evidence of their ability to do college-level work.
Veterinary degrees offered include Pre-veterinary medicine, Veterinary Technology, Associate of Science degree, e.t.c.
It also offers a training program for Veterinary technicians. The acceptance rate for John A. Logan is 100%, net price is $5,400. SAT/ACT is neither recommended nor required.
No application fee. High school diploma is required.
2. Joliet Junior College:
Joliet Junior College (JJC) is a public community college in Joliet, Illinois. Founded in 1901, it was the first public community college founded in the United States.
The college has three campuses and three centers::
- Main Campus, 1215 Houbolt, Joliet, IL 60431.
- City Center Campus, 235 North Chicago Street, Joliet, IL 60432.
- Romeoville Campus, 1125 W. Romeo Road, Romeoville, IL 60446.
- Morris Education Center, 725 School Street, Morris, IL 60450.
- Frankfort Education Center, 201 Colorado Avenue, Frankfort, IL 60423.
- Westendorf Agricultural Education Center, 17840 W. Laraway Road, Joliet, IL 60433. Courses offered include Associate of Applied Science in Medical Technology.
Students who enroll in their programs are given the opportunity to have practical experience in Veterinary clinics.
The Veterinary Technology program takes at least two years. The acceptance rate is 100%, and no application fee for SAT/ACT is neither recommended or required.
A high school diploma is required.
3. Kaskaskia College – Centralia, Illinois:
Kaskaskia College is a public community college in Centralia, Illinois.
Kaskaskia College’s Community College District 501 serves all or part of nine counties, including Bond, Clinton, Fayette, Marion, Washington, Jefferson, St. Clair, Madison and Montgomery.
Kaskaskia College Associate of Arts and Associate of Science Degrees for students who wish to transfer to four-year colleges and universities.
The college also offers 50 associate degree career programs and 102 certificates in occupational areas. As of December 6, 2021, Kaskaskia College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Veterinary degrees offered include’ Veterinary Technology of Applied Science. Students who train as Vet Technicians will be able to apply for work in an office after completing the course.
The acceptance rate is 100%, net price is $5,839. No application fee. SAT/ACT is neither recommended nor required. A high school diploma is required.
4. Parkland College:
Degrees available include Associate of Applied Science in Veterinary Medical Technology. They also provide an associate’s degree in Veterinary Technology.
The net price is $7,615, the acceptance rate is 100%, no application fee. SAT/ACT is neither recommended nor required. A high school diploma is required.
5. Rend Lake College:
Rend Lake College (RLC) is a public community college in Ina, Illinois. It is part of the Illinois Community College System (ICCS).
Rend Lake College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Rend Lake College partners with area four-year colleges and universities, such as Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, and Western Illinois University as a part of the Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI), a statewide transfer agreement that ensures general education credits are transferable among more than 100 participating college or universities in Illinois.
In addition to the IAI, RLC offers students “two-plus-two” programs that guarantee students that the courses completed at the college will transfer to their majors at four-year baccalaureate institutions.[20] There are seven primary divisions at Rend Lake College: Advanced Technology, Math/Science/Education, Allied Health, Health & P.E., Applied Science, Skills Center, Liberal Arts, and Special Programs.
The divisions offer a total of 43 associate degree programs and 80 certificate programs.
Available courses include Associate of Applied Science in Veterinary Medical Technology, Animal Husbandry, Clinical Pathology, Parasitology, and Veterinary Pharmacology.
The net price is $6,872, the acceptance rate is 100%, and SAT/ACT is neither recommended nor required. $0 application fee. High school diploma.
6. Shawnee Community College:
Shawnee Community College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Shawnee Community College partners with area four-year colleges and universities, such as Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, and Western Illinois University as a part of the Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI), a statewide transfer agreement that ensures general education credits are transferable among more than 100 participating colleges or universities in Illinois.
In addition to the IAI, SCC offers students “two-plus-two” programs that guarantee students that the courses completed at the college will transfer to their majors at four-year baccalaureate institutions.
There are five primary divisions at SCC: Transfer Programs, Allied Health Programs, Business Occupational and Technical Programs, Entrepreneurship Programs, and Cooperative Programs.
The divisions offer a total of 40 associate degree programs and 52 certificate programs. Associate of Applied Science is one of the Veterinary degrees offered at the university.
Other courses include animal physiology, animal nursing, animal surgery technology, and animal nutrition. A high school diploma is required.
7. Southeastern Illinois College:
Southeastern Illinois College is a public community college between Harrisburg and Equality in Saline County, Illinois.
The college was founded in 1960 and offers associate degrees. A secondary campus, the David L. Stanley White County Center is in Carmi, White County. Approximately 5,000 students enroll each year.
Degrees available include Associate of Applied Science in Veterinary Medical Technology.
You can also learn courses like anatomy, veterinary practice administration and anatomy, e.t.c. A high school diploma is required.
8. The University of Illinois:
Degrees available include Bachelor of Science in Animal sciences, Veterinary Medicine Doctor, and Master’s degree in public health.
The University of Illinois also offers pre-veterinary training. Their Bachelor’s degree program lasts for four years, and the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine/Master’s Health joint degree program lasts for five years.
9. Fox college:
The acceptance rate for Fox College is 50%. Majors offered include Veterinary Technician and Assistant.
The application fee is $50, and SAT/ACT is considered, but not required. The net price is $13,195. A high school GPA is required. They prepare students by conducting training programs.
10. Illinois College:
The acceptance rate is 100%, a total number of 515 students and 50% graduate students.
No application fee, SAT/ACT is neither recommended nor required. The net price is $6,863. A high school diploma is required.
1. John A. Logan College. $3,766-$6,106. |
2. Joliet Junior College. $4,380, $12,360-$13,140. |
3. Kaskaskia College – Centralia, Illinois. $4,470, $7,530-$12,330. |
4. Parkland College. $4,290, $11,100-$15,870. |
5. Rend Lake College. $3,900, $5,850-$6,600. |
6. Shawnee Community College. $4,000, $6,464-$5,952. |
7. Southeastern Illinois College. $3,960, $5,940-$6,180. |
8. The University of Illinois. $15,094. |
What You Should Do Before You Apply.
It is much easier to start your applications early. When you do that, the only thing you’ll be waiting for is the response from the school you applied to.
While waiting, volunteer at a shelter and get experience, this will help increase your chances of being enrolled.
The University of Illinois conducts non-cognitive tests that require you to have worked at, or have experience with animals. You can also volunteer and work with vets.
● Research the requirements for vet schools. Not all vet schools have the same requirements. Check for each school, and measure your chance with it.
● Volunteer. Be intentional about volunteering.
● Look for internships, jobs, and volunteering opportunities.
● Research the required course combination for the vet school you’re applying for. It may differ from school to school.
Conclusion:
This article has covered everything you need to know about your choice of veterinary medicine colleges in Illinois.
To know more about veterinary medicine colleges in other states or countries, check out our other articles: