2025 DVM Graduate Expectations for Salaries and Contracts

This seminar will present graduating student expectations regarding salary and other benefits based on the 2024 AVMA National and from our internal survey of 2025 Kansas State graduates. Actions taken by the K-State CVM has addressed student debt and the overall student debt:income ratio is now 1.6 to 1. The recent veterinary job market includes robust opportunities for new veterinary graduates with salary offers at an all-time high and contract offers that often include moving expenses, maternity leave, (48%) of jobs) retirement contributions (59% of employers match), full medical plans (70%) and signing bonuses (average $9574), as well as training and mentoring data. Overall average reported salary ranges are often misinterpreted and misleading due to inclusion of training program and other salaries in the data. Kansas veterinary starting salaries average 3rd lowest among states, and even adjusting for cost-of-living leaves the state well below national average salaries.

Dr. Roush will also discuss Kansas applicant numbers and admissions in light of national numbers. K-State ranks 2nd highest in the percent of in-state students admitted annually compared to all states with veterinary colleges, yet the CVM is funded at the 2nd lowest state and tuition level of all veterinary colleges. The 2nd least number of Kansas residents go to out-of-state veterinary colleges compared to residents from all states with a veterinary college.

Dr. James K. Roush, DVM, MS, Diplomate ACVS, Associate Dean of Academic Programs and Student Success, Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine