Reducing educational debt for Cornell veterinary students

According to Alison Smith, director of development at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, between 65-70% of veterinary students apply for financial aid. The average aid they receive is about $10,000 per year, while the annual cost of attendance (tuition plus other expenses) is currently $78,000. So, financial aid only covers about 13% of students’ overall costs.

The majority of veterinary students graduate with educational debt of $160,000, or more if they also took out loans to fund their undergraduate studies.

In summer 2021, the RED Veterinary Scholars program launched. This new scholarship program fully funds two third- and fourth-year veterinary students—so that they can complete their degrees tuition-free.

With the support of one enthusiastic donor—Cynthia Suprenant—the RED Veterinary Scholars endowment now supports a third scholar annually.

"What the RED Veterinary Scholars program does is help these students get to the finish line of their DVM program with less debt and more freedom to pursue post-graduate opportunities that serve the greatest good (like service in low-cost clinics)," Cynthia says.

Learn how this scholarship program is helping students complete their DVM degrees.