Federal Student Loan Changes Raise Concerns for Veterinary Students | |
AAVMC staff continue to monitor the evolving understanding of student loan policy changes enacted through the recently passed “One Big Beautiful Bill.” These updates will significantly affect veterinary students and other professional degree-seekers.
As previously reported, the new federal loan limit for professional degree-seeking students, including those pursuing a DVM, will be capped at $200,000 beginning July 1, 2026. Encouragingly, the bill establishes a separate loan limit for undergraduate borrowing—meaning undergraduate loans will no longer count toward the professional cap. This is particularly beneficial for the approximately 40 percent of DVM students who begin veterinary school with undergraduate debt.
However, despite this positive clarification, the overall federal cap is still expected to leave a substantial funding gap for veterinary students. With the planned phaseout of the GradPLUS loan program over the next three years, nearly 83 percent of DVM students will likely need to seek additional financing from private lenders to cover their full cost of attendance.
Here’s a breakdown of the new federal loan limits:
- Undergraduate Degree: $57,500
- Graduate Program: $100,000
- Professional Degree (DVM): $200,000
AAVMC estimates that:
- Resident tuition-paying students may face a gap of up to $40,000.
- Non-resident tuition-paying students could see shortfalls as high as $113,000.
The implications are especially concerning for students with the greatest financial need. Additionally, the impact on dual degree students and veterinary residents enrolled in graduate programs remains uncertain.
Importantly, private loans are not eligible for federal forgiveness programs, such as the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program, underscoring the long-term consequences these changes may have for students pursuing careers in public service or academia.
AAVMC remains committed to advocating for accessible, equitable financing options for all veterinary medical students and will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.
| SOCI Spotlight: Glossary of Key Terms | |
Words matter—especially when those words shape how we teach, practice, and understand veterinary care.
This month, we feature the Glossary of Key Terms in our Spectrum of Care Implementation Strategies Guide. More than just definitions, this glossary is a powerful tool for clarity, alignment, and impact.
The glossary defines foundational concepts such as:
- Spectrum of Care
- Contextualized Care
- Professional Identity
- Moral Distress
- Incremental Care
- and more.
It also offers a timely and necessary reflection on why the term “Gold Standard Care” can be misleading and how a shift to contextualized, shared decision-making better serves both clients and patients.
Want to hear more about this shift in thinking? Check out this "On Air" podcast episode, What Is the Gold Standard?
Special thanks to the Open Door Veterinary Collective for allowing us to include their definitions in this glossary.
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About the Implementation Strategies Guide
Developed by veterinary educators to support Spectrum of Care pedagogy, the Implementation Strategies Guide provides adaptable tools for planning, implementing, and sustaining curricular transformation. The resources are grounded in the Ecosystem Model of Systemic Change Leadership, featured in the Change Leadership Toolkit created by the University of Southern California’s Pullias Center for Higher Education.
The Guide is a collaborative effort, drawing on the expertise of
- Approximately 40 veterinary educators from 25 AAVMC member institutions
- Contributors from five countries
- Over 25 veterinary practitioners and professionals
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Your input helps us keep AAVMC resources relevant and responsive to the needs of the veterinary education community. Please complete this brief survey and let us know how we can continue to support your work.
| | AAVMC Releases Guidelines for Proper Use of CBVE® Trademark | | |
AAVMC holds a registered trademark for the acronym CBVE®, which stands for Competency-Based Veterinary Education (USPTO Registration No. 97257671).
To support consistent and accurate use across the veterinary education community, AAVMC has released updated guidelines.
Key points include:
- Always reference CBVE as “AAVMC Competency-Based Veterinary Education (CBVE®)” upon first mention in written materials.
- Do not alter or combine the acronym without prior permission (e.g., “CBVSOCE” is not permitted).
- The ® symbol is only required at first mention in each piece of content.
- AAVMC monitors usage to protect the integrity of the trademark.
We appreciate the community’s commitment to advancing competency-based education. If you have questions about these guidelines, email us.
| | Call for Proposals: 2026 AAVMC Annual Conference and Iverson Bell Symposium | | |
Proposals for the 2026 Annual Conference and Iverson Bell Symposium, taking place April 16–18 in Washington, DC, are now being accepted.
This premier event brings together leaders in academic veterinary medicine to explore various topics, including admissions, academic affairs, Competency-Based Veterinary Education, international veterinary education, interprofessional collaboration, institutional health, and more.
Submissions are welcome in three formats—short communications, long communications, and workshops—with a strong emphasis on diversity, evidence-based practices, collaboration, and global perspectives.
Submissions are due September 5.
| | Recruitment and Admissions | | AAVMC and HOSA Award Veterinary Science Scholarship to Aspiring Veterinarian Layla Barksdale | | |
HOSA–Future Health Professionals, in partnership with the AAVMC, awarded the AAVMC Veterinary Science Scholarship to Layla Barksdale in recognition of her dedication to a future career in veterinary medicine. The scholarship was presented during the HOSA International Leadership Conference, which took place last month in June in Nashville, TN.
The $1,000 scholarship supports aspiring veterinary students in achieving their educational goals. This fall, Barksdale will begin her undergraduate studies at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. A committed student leader, she has served as Secretary of her school’s HOSA chapter, a member of the SGA Executive Board, and President of Best Buddies. She also earned the Silver Award from Girl Scouts Heart of the South for organizing efforts to raise funds and collect diapers and essential resources for mothers in need.
“Receiving this scholarship means the world to me,” said Barksdale. “It not only eases the financial burden of pursuing my undergraduate education, but also reminds me that there are people who believe in my potential and passion. This support brings me one step closer to my dream of attending veterinary school. Opportunities like this inspire me to stay motivated and committed to giving back to communities through veterinary medicine.”
The HOSA Scholarship Program is open to current HOSA members who are high school seniors, enrolled in postsecondary or collegiate institutions, or pursuing a certification in a health-related field.
| | HOSA Veterinary Science Competition Winners Announced | | |
AAVMC congratulates the first, second, and third place winners of the HOSA Veterinary Science Competition! Part of the HOSA Competitive Events Program, this event celebrates the knowledge and skills students develop through Health Science and Biomedical Science classes, hands-on training, and HOSA activities.
The Veterinary Science competition introduces students to the fundamentals of animal care, helping them build the skills essential for future careers in veterinary medicine and related fields.
AAVMC is proud to sponsor the competition's middle school, high school, and postsecondary divisions, supporting the next generation of veterinary professionals.
| | VMCAS Applications Now Being Accepted; Fee Waivers Due by August 14 | | |
The Veterinary Medical College Application Service (VMCAS) is now open for the 2025–2026 application cycle.
To help offset costs, the VMCAS Fee Assistance Program offers a limited number of fee waivers to qualified applicants on a first-come, first-served basis. All fee waiver requests must be submitted by August 14.
| | Funding Gap Could Push 75 Percent of Veterinary Students Toward Risky Private Loans | | |
A projected $145.2 million student loan gap across U.S. colleges of veterinary medicine could impact more than 75 percent of veterinary students—each facing a shortfall of approximately $41,000. Without sufficient federal aid, many may be forced into the private lending market. This is particularly troubling amid the rollback of anti-discrimination protections, creating a real risk of predatory lending practices targeting a vulnerable student population.
| | Support the Next Generation of Veterinary Researchers at the 2025 Veterinary Scholars Symposium | | |
The 2025 Veterinary Scholars Symposium (VSS) will take place August 7–9 in Spokane, Washington. Make plans now to attend and support this national celebration of veterinary student research.
At VSS, students showcase original research conducted through summer programs, gaining valuable experience, mentorship, and exposure to career pathways in science and academia. Your presence plays a critical role in encouraging these emerging scholars, fostering meaningful connections, and advancing a culture of research and discovery across the profession.
Join colleagues from across the country to engage with student researchers, share your expertise, and help shape the future of veterinary medicine.
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Connect with Fellow Educators at the Primary Care Veterinary Educators Symposium, October 22–25
Registration is now open for the 2025 Primary Care Veterinary Educators Symposium.
This annual event features presentations and networking opportunities designed to help small-animal primary care veterinary educators generate new ideas and develop more effective educational strategies. Topics will include presentations on small-animal care veterinary education, pedagogical innovation and research, as well as a Swap Shop designed for sharing best teaching practices, innovations, and solutions to challenges.
| | Final Call: Deadline Nears for the Fall 2025 Systemic Wellbeing Course | | |
Applications for the Fall 2025 cohort of the Introduction to Systemic Wellbeing online course are now being accepted. Designed for a two-person team—one college leader and one wellbeing professional—the course runs from August 11 to December 5. It features a blend of asynchronous and synchronous activities and requires an estimated two-hour weekly time commitment.
Applications are due July 27.
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The AAVMC strives to create a culture of diversity and inclusion in every dimension of academic veterinary medicine. To foster this goal, the photographs and illustrations which are used in our communications programs are aspirational, and do not necessarily reflect the levels of diversity and inclusion that currently exist.
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