Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education approves DVM program
By MSU Public Relations | Jan 30, 2026
MURRAY, Ky. — Murray State University has received program approval by the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education to offer a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine (DVM), marking a significant step forward in its pursuit of a School of Veterinary Medicine.
Murray State has received approval and support from countless individuals and entities to pursue a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in order to advance the Commonwealth from numerous standpoints, particularly in areas of economic growth, workforce development, and industry needs.
“This is a significant step as we continue to make great strides in advancing this important initiative, which will greatly benefit our region and the Commonwealth. We are very grateful to the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education, led by Dr. Aaron Thompson, for supporting our efforts as we move forward with offering a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine at Murray State University,” Murray State President Dr. Ron Patterson said. “I would also like to thank both past and present members of our Board of Regents, my predecessor, Dr. Bob Jackson and the leadership team, Murray State faculty, staff, and students, our west Kentucky delegation, and the General Assembly.”
Murray State will work toward obtaining American Veterinary Medical Association program accreditation, and remains on track to enroll the first class of DVM students as soon as Fall 2028.
In 2025 Senate Bill 77 was passed unanimously by both chambers in a bipartisan manner and was signed into law by Governor Andy Beshear. Passage of this bill provided a path forward for the University to establish a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine.
According to a 2024 study by Deloitte, 80 out of Kentucky’s 120 counties are currently designated as having a veterinary shortage or identified as an underserved rural area for veterinarians. The state of Kentucky currently does not have a School of Veterinary Medicine, and in the United States, there are only 33 veterinary colleges accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates that there are 86,300 veterinarians in the United States and this occupation is expected to grow by over 19% by 2031. The BLS also reports a total of 122,800 veterinarian technologists/technicians are working today and the field is expected to grow by 20% by 2031.
Celebrating its 100th year of agriculture, Murray State holds multiple existing assets on its campus, including the A. Carman Animal Health Technology Center, the Rudolph Equine Education Center, multiple farms, as well as the Breathitt Veterinary Center, which is a nationally preeminent animal disease diagnostic laboratory dedicated to protecting the invaluable assets of Kentucky’s equine, livestock and poultry industries. In addition, a new $60 million Veterinary Sciences Building generously funded by the state legislature will be constructed on the University’s west farm.
The University’s Hutson School of Agriculture has the largest estimated pre-veterinary medicine/veterinary technology enrollment of any university in Kentucky, and is just one of three programs in Kentucky that is fully accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association. This past fall, the Hutson School of Agriculture achieved a record enrollment of undergraduate and graduate students.