Veterinary doctorate program at Murray State moves forward in approval process
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- CPE approved Murray State to pursue a doctorate of veterinary medicine, the first in KY.
- Program seeks provisional accreditation and could enroll fall 2028.
- The state has been facing a veterinary shortage for several years.
Murray State University has received approval from the state’s higher education body to move forward with its doctoral program in veterinary medicine, the next step in establishing that degree.
The Council on Postsecondary Education gave approval for Murray State to establish the degree — which would be the first doctorate of veterinary medicine in Kentucky — at its board meetings on Friday. Murray State will now seek provisional accreditation from the American Veterinary Medical Association’s Council on Education.
“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,” Murray State President Ron Patterson said in a news release.
Once finalized, the program could begin admitting students for the fall 2028 semester, according to CPE. By the fifth year of the program at Murray State, enrollment is estimated to be at 400 students. The expected expenses over the next five years are $67.9 million, according to meeting materials from CPE.
No college or university in the state offers a doctorate in veterinary science or studies, though some places offer master’s degrees in similar fields. Among current programs, the University of Kentucky offers a pre-veterinary program and master’s degree in veterinary science, with an emphasis on equine studies, and the University of Louisville offers a pre-veterinary program. Murray State also has a pre-veterinary medicine program.
Kentucky has a partnership with Auburn University and Tuskegee University that allows students to be classified as in-state to attend Auburn’s veterinary program, dating back to 1951.
“This program will help address Kentucky’s veterinarian shortage and create more opportunities for our students who want to enter this field,” said CPE President Aaron Thompson. “In 2023, 160 Kentucky residents applied to DVM programs, but only 67 were admitted.”
There are 31 veterinary colleges accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association in the country, according to the group’s website.
Kentucky has been facing a veterinarian shortage, particularly veterinarians who work with large animals, a working group found in 2023. Only about 3% of veterinarians in Kentucky are dedicated to large animal practice, according to the Kentucky Department of Agriculture.
The group had several suggestions for expanding the number of veterinarians in Kentucky, including creating more positions for Kentucky students at out-of-state veterinary schools.
The veterinary medicine program at Murray State was introduced in the state legislature in 2024, though the bill did not pass. In 2025, Senate Bill 77 was passed, which established criteria for universities when submitting a proposal for a new doctorate program and guidelines for CPE when approving proposals.
This story was originally published February 2, 2026 at 10:26 AM.