New loan estimates map veterinary school costs ahead of federal borrowing caps

For prospective veterinarians, the rising cost of education can be worrisome. Now, with sweeping federal student loan reforms taking effect this summer, many students will no longer have access to aid that covers the cost of attendance for veterinary school. In response, the Veterinary Information Network (VIN) Foundation has launched a new initiative called the “40 Veterinary School Loan Estimations in 60 Days” (40 in 60), which provides school-specific student loan estimates for all 40 veterinary programs in the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Caribbean.¹

The VIN Foundation said the project will help prospective veterinary students understand how federal student loan policy changes may affect them.

New legislation introduces borrowing limits for graduate students

The organization announced the 40 in 60 project in response to the One Big Beautiful Bill, signed into law by President Donald Trump on July 4, 2025. Under this bill, on July 1, 2026, federal student loan limits will drop to $50,000 per year and $200,000 over a lifetime per professional program.

Currently, federal student loan borrowing limits for graduate and professional students are tied to the full cost of attendance of their programs, allowing students to borrow up to the full cost of tuition, fees, and living expenses each year as needed.² For many incoming veterinary students, the new caps under the law will no longer cover the full cost of attendance.

Veterinary school costs often exceed the new federal limits

According to the VIN Foundation, most veterinary school programs exceed $50,000 per year for tuition, fees, and living expenses.¹ The 40 in 60 loan estimates reveal a widening gap between federal borrowing limits and actual costs, which may force some students to take on costly private loans with higher interest rates.

“For preveterinary students evaluating offers of admission, school choice and financial planning have never been more critical,” said Tony Bartels, DVM, MBA, the VIN Foundation’s student debt education expert, in a news release from the nonprofit.¹ “Our goal is to help students understand the impact of these decisions to set themselves up for success, ideally minimize their reliance on private student loans, and enter the profession with a clear understanding of their future repayment obligations."

Broader higher education trends may not apply to veterinary medicine

“Students are either going to borrow less or make up the difference with private loans, or they will not start or complete a graduate program,” said Lesley Turner, an associate professor at the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy and a research fellow of the National Bureau of Economic Research, in a news report on the incoming student loan limits.² She postulated that the new borrowing caps will “reshape” how students across different disciplines borrow.²

Over the last few years, experts have observed a growing trend toward 2-year programs or shorter-term credentials, according to news reports.³ The movement has been dubbed “un-college.”³ Aspiring veterinarians may be particularly exposed to new federal loan limits, as the role requires completion of a professional degree, with no shorter or lower-cost credentialing pathway available.

RELATED: Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment applications now open⁴

What the VIN Foundation’s 40 in 60 project provides

Over a 60-day period ending April 1, 2026, the VIN Foundation will release the loan estimations in weekly batches. Students and supporters can sign up for email alerts to track new data as it becomes available.

The 40 in 60 project highlights a pressing concern. Many veterinary school seats surpass the new federal loan limits, meaning some students may need to borrow more than $100,000 in private funding under less favorable terms and at higher interest rates.

Key features from the 40 in 60 project include¹:

• School-specific data: Detailed loan breakdowns for residents and nonresidents across the 40 veterinary schools
• Private loan forecasts: Estimates for when the cost of attendance surpasses the new $50,000 annual and $200,000 maximum federal loan limits
• Repayment simulations: Projected monthly payments after graduation, accounting for federal and private loans
• Expert guidance: Strategies for “Apply Smarter” and “Borrow Better,” including resident tuition rates, grants, scholarships, and targeted loans like Health Professions Student Loans or Loans for Disadvantaged Students
• Community support: Dedicated message board threads for each veterinary school, allowing students to ask questions, share insights, and engage anonymously if desired

Prospective veterinary students and advisers can explore the 40 in 60 project, the In-School Loan Estimator, and other resources from the VIN Foundation, including the Student Loan Repayment Simulator and WikiDebt, through the foundation’s website.

References

1. VIN Foundation Launches "40 Veterinary School Loan Estimations in 60 Days" to Help Future Veterinarians Navigate New Federal Student Loan Borrowing Limits. News release. VIN Foundation. February 10, 2026. Accessed February 10, 2026. https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vin-foundation-launches-40-veterinary-school-loan-estimations-in-60-days-to-help-future-veterinarians-navigate-new-federal-student-loan-borrowing-limits-302683139.html
2. Dickler J. Trump’s ‘big beautiful bill’ caps student loans. Here’s what it means for borrowers. CNBC. July 16, 2025. Accessed February 10, 2026. https://www.cnbc.com/2025/07/16/trump-big-beautiful-bill-student-loan-cap.html
3. Dickler J. Trump’s ‘big beautiful bill’ may spur significant changes to higher education in 2026 and the rise of ‘un-college,’ experts say. CNBC. February 8, 2026. Accessed February 10, 2026. https://www.cnbc.com/2026/02/08/trump-big-beautiful-bill-college-education.html
4. McCafferty C. Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment applications now open. dvm360. January 28, 2026. Accessed February 10, 2026. https://www.dvm360.com/view/veterinary-medicine-loan-repayment-applications-now-open