Admissions

Admissions & Prospective Student Information

• Academic Requirements for Admission

  GPA Requirements

  In-State: 3.0*
  Out-of-State: 3.4
  On a 4.0 scale

  *Alternate Eligibility Policy (SC Residents only)

  The Harvey S. Peeler Jr. College of Veterinary Medicine recognizes that some qualified applicants may not meet the minimum academic standards. Consideration under “Alternative Eligibility” applies only to SC residents and to GPA requirement (not to any other of the admissions requirements). A subcommittee of the Admissions Committee will review all SC residents that do not meet the minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA for further consideration. The subcommittee will perform a targeted candidate review to assess the academic performance in the context of their other application information (hardships, 1st generation college student, county of residence, etc). Applicants with <2.5 Cumulative GPA will not be considered for admissions and will be encouraged to meet with the admissions team for application counseling.  

  Prerequisites*

  To be eligible, candidates must complete or be enrolled in the following pre-requisite courses. No more than two of the courses listed below can be “in progress” at the time of application. Please note that an undergraduate degree is not required for admission.

  Course Title	Clemson Course Number
  General Biology I (3 hrs.) with Laboratory (1 hr.) OR  Principles of Biology (5 hrs.)	BIOL 1030 and 1050 OR BIOL 1100
  General Biology II (3 hrs.) with Laboratory (1 hr.) OR Principal of Biology II (5 hrs.)	BIOL 1040 and 1060 OR BIOL 1110
  General Chemistry I (4 hrs.)	CH 1010
  General Chemistry II (4 hrs.)	CH 1020
  Organic Chemistry I (3 hrs.) with Laboratory (1 hr.)	CH 2240 and 2280
  Organic Chemistry II (3 hrs.) with Laboratory (1 hr.)	CH 2230 and 2270
  Biochemistry (3 hrs.)	BCHM 3010 OR 3050
  General Physics I (3 hrs.) with Laboratory (1 hr.)	PHYS 2070 and 2090
  General Physics II (3 hrs.) with Laboratory (1 hr.)	PHYS 2080 and 2100
  Introduction to Human Communication (3 hrs.) OR Public Speaking (3 hrs.)	COMM 1500 OR 2500
  Composition (3 hrs.)	ENGL 1030
  Statistical Methods I (3 hrs.)	STAT 2300

  *Additional considerations regarding pre-requisite courses: 

  • A grade of C- or higher is required for all courses.
  • Applicants are strongly encouraged to complete prerequisite courses within five years of submitting their application.
  • To be considered, online courses must be taken at any institution accredited by a regional accrediting body.
  • Pass/Satisfactory grades may be used in lieu of a letter grade for prerequisite courses completed in 2020.
  • Advanced Placement (AP) credit may be used to meet prerequisite requirements if the primary institution attended grants credit for a course that fulfills the prerequisite.

  Standardized Test Requirement

  None

• Nonacademic Requirements for Admission

  Experience Hours

  Candidates are required to have a minimum of 100 hours of clinical, agribusiness/farm, health science or research experience supervised by a DVM or PhD. In addition, candidates are required to have 100 hours of animal experience, and an additional 100 hours of community service.  

  Applicants are evaluated for duration, level of duties, and diversity of experiences. Pet ownership does not count towards this requirement. 

  Geographic Diversity Focused on Underserved Rural Areas of SC 

  The Harvey S. Peeler Jr. College of Veterinary Medicine will focus on recruiting talented students from underserved rural areas of SC where there is a shortage of veterinary professionals. 

  Professional Diversity with Emphasis on Agricultural Animals 

  The Harvey S. Peeler Jr. College of Veterinary Medicine will focus on recruiting individuals who wish to serve the animal agricultural industry and farms in SC. 

  Recommendation Letters 

  • Three recommendations are required.
    • One letter must be written by an individual holding a DVM or PhD. 
    • Two additional letters are required on behalf of the applicant. 
  • All letters must be submitted directly through the application portal; physical copies or email submissions will not be accepted. 
  • Letters should describe the nature of the professional or academic relationship with the applicant and provide insights into their experience, academic readiness, professionalism, and other qualities that will contribute to their success in the curriculum and the profession.
  • Exceptions may be considered for strong applicants from underserved communities with limited opportunities. 
  • The Admissions Committee may contact a reference directly if further information or clarification is required. 

  Additional Considerations 

  Accepted students will be required to undergo a criminal background check and follow the CDC guidelines for vaccination to prevent rabies.

• Additional Admissions Criteria

  In addition to the application materials and minimum requirements listed above, all applicants will be evaluated holistically, considering all aspects of an applicant’s background including unique employment and life experiences, as well as personal hardship perseverance.  

  Applicants who meet minimum requirements will also be required to submit recorded interview questions for review by the Admissions Committee. Full instructions and details are provided two weeks prior to the due date. Administration of the interview is at no cost to the applicant.

  The criteria below are a set of objectives and characteristics, each of which have implications for the selection of entering students to uphold the mission of the program.  The “weight” assigned to each criteria as well as the method of assessment is included.

  Candidate Traits and Attributes	Applicant Data	Assessment Tool	Scoring Weight
  Academic Ability	Cumulative GPA/Last 45 credit hours GPA/Science GPA	Calculated	30%
  Critical Thinking, Communication, Empathy, Teamwork, Ethical Judgment, and Self-Awareness	Interview videos	Video Review Scores	30%
  Geographic/Professional Diversity	SC County of residence, 1st generation college student, Pell grant recipient, Rural/agricultural veterinary experience	Application Review	15%
  Commitment to Service/Servant Leadership	Demonstrated engagement, experience & volunteer hours; Essays	Application Review	10%
  Strength of Character, Resiliency	Essays & Letters of Recommendation	Application Review	10%
  Accomplishments/Talents	Honors/Awards	Application Review	5%

• How to Apply

  Due to the accreditation timeline, the Harvey S. Peeler Jr. College of Veterinary Medicine at Clemson University will not participate in VMCAS in the 2025 admissions cycle. Please check this page frequently for updates on admission procedures.

• Admissions Timeline

  An accurate timeline will be provided upon completion of the American Veterinary Medicine Association Council on Education (AVMA COE) accreditation procedures. Please check this page for updates.

  Students intending to start in the DVM program in Fall of 2026 will apply in Fall of 2025. 

  Offer letters will be sent in February of 2026. Applicants must confirm their acceptance by April 15, 2026. 

• Tuition and Fees

  In-State

  Category	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	Year 4	Total
  Tuition (in-state)	$21,000.00	$21,000.00	$21,000.00	$31,500.00	$94,500.00
  Fees	$4,460.00	$4,460.00	$4,460.00	$1,888.00	$15,268.00
  Estimated living expenses	$21,992.00	$20,192.00	$20,192.00	$30,288.00	$92,664.00
  TOTAL	$47,452.00	$45,652.00	$45,652.00	$63,676.00	$202,432.00

  Out-of-State

  Category	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	Year 4	Total
  Tuition (out-of-state)	$50,000.00	$50,000.00	$50,000.00	$75,000.00	$225,000.00
  Fees	$4,460.00	$4,460.00	$4,460.00	$1,888.00	$15,268.00
  Estimated living expenses	$21,992.00	$20,192.00	$20,192.00	$30,288.00	$92,664.00
  TOTAL	$76,452.00	$74,652.00	$74,652.00	$107,176.00	$332,932.00

  Note: Tuition has been proposed, pending Clemson Board of Trustees approval, at $10,500.00/term for in-state tuition and $25,000.00/term for out-of-state tuition, with a total of nine terms for the degree program (two in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd years, and three in the 4th clinical year).

  Students are required to carry health insurance during the duration of the program; this amount is not included in the costs above.

• Financial Aid and Debt Management

  For information regarding financial aid, please visit Clemson's Graduate Student Financial Aid and The American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) Scholarship Opportunities.

  The American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) and the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) offer tools for prospective students to develop a plan for attending veterinary school. View the AAVMC Cost Comparison Tool to compare financial data across veterinary schools. View the AVMA Personal Financial Planning Tool to create a budget.

• Requirements for Licensure

  Upon graduating from the Clemson DVM program, graduates will follow these steps to be licensed to practice:

  • Complete the AVMA COE-accredited DVM program.
  • Achieve a passing score on the North American Veterinary License Examination (NAVLE®).
  • Achieve a passing score on the state veterinary practice exam*. 
  • Complete and submit your application for a veterinary medical license** with the South Carolina Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners.
  • Pay the application fee (the 2024 application fee is $175).

  See further information regarding licensing in the state of South Carolina.

  *In SC, this is the Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners’ Jurisprudence Examination.
  **The license fee is $300 biennially.

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