Oklahoma State University (OSU) is set to transform veterinary education in the state with a historic $250 million appropriation from the Oklahoma Legislature—marking the largest state-funded investment in the university’s history. Combined with a prior $78 million allocated in 2023, this funding will support the construction of a new, state-of-the-art veterinary teaching hospital.
The 255,000-square-foot facility will replace OSU’s current veterinary hospital, which was originally designed for 60 students but now accommodates more than 150. The expansion will significantly boost OSU’s capacity to educate future veterinarians and meet Oklahoma’s growing demand for veterinary care, particularly in rural and agricultural communities.
The initiative is a critical response to infrastructure concerns raised in 2024, when the American Veterinary Medical Association placed OSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine on probation due to outdated facilities. Though full accreditation has since been restored, continued compliance hinges on modernizing the college’s infrastructure—a need this investment directly addresses.
Veterinary medicine is deeply integrated into Oklahoma’s economy, supporting both public health and food production. With veterinarians serving all 77 counties, OSU’s program is instrumental in addressing workforce shortages, especially in large-animal rural practice—a persistent challenge for the agricultural sector.
The new teaching hospital will be equipped with cutting-edge technologies, including CT and MRI imaging, radiography, ultrasound, an oncology treatment linear accelerator, and an aqua cow float tank for large animal recovery. These updates are expected to bring OSU’s veterinary care capabilities into alignment with 21st-century standards.
Leaders across the university and state have hailed the funding as a generational investment. The facility is expected to serve Oklahoma for at least the next 40 years, reinforcing OSU’s role as one of only 33 accredited veterinary colleges in the U.S.
This initiative not only secures OSU’s future competitiveness as other institutions develop veterinary programs but also reinforces the university’s land-grant mission to meet the needs of Oklahomans—from urban pet owners to rural ranchers—through education, research, and service.
