The top 10 veterinary schools

Click here for a photo gallery of the top 10 veterinary schools

.

Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine has once again been ranked as the No. 1 veterinary program in the nation in U.S. News and World Report’s 2011 edition of “America’s Best Graduate Schools.”

Click here to see a photo gallery featuring the top 10 veterinary schools.

Cornell scored a 4.5 out of 5 possible points in the ranking—the same score it achieved during the last ranking in 2008.

"I would like to extend my sincere thanks to each member of our community for the hard work that this recognition symbolizes," says Dr. Michael I. Kotlikoff, dean of the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. "There are many outstanding veterinary colleges, each with unique strengths and innovative programs. The ranking is completed using peer assessments, a fact that makes our standing particularly gratifying, as it is recognition of the aggregate strengths of our programs by those who know us best."

The University of California-Davis School of Veterinary Medicine was ranked No. 2—the same ranking it earned in 2008. Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine tied for No. 3, compared to rankings at second and fifth place, respectively, in 2008.

The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine all were ranked No. 5 this year. Ohio State and Wisconsin were previously ranked fifth, and Penn was ranked fourth back in 2008.

The Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences moved from fifth place in 2008 to No. 8 this year. Michigan State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, last ranked at No. 9, and the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine, last named No. 10, both were ranked No. 9 this year, along with newcomer the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine.

No schools were ranked at No. 10. The full list of rankings can be found here.

The rankings, compiled every four years by U.S. News and World Report, are based on peer assessment surveys the publications sends to college deans, administrators and faculty members at each of the nation’s 28 veterinary colleges accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). U.S. News and World Report says the response rate for the 2011 report, for which surveys were sent out in fall 2010, was 48 percent.