Oklahoma State University (OSU) has secured a record-breaking $250 million from the Oklahoma Legislature to build a new, state-of-the-art veterinary teaching hospital. This is the largest state appropriation in the university’s history. When combined with $78 million allocated in 2023, the total investment marks a major step forward for veterinary education, food security, and public health in Oklahoma.
The new 255,000-square-foot facility will replace OSU’s current 145,000-square-foot hospital, which was originally built to serve 60 students but now supports over 150. This expansion will allow OSU to better train future veterinarians and address critical infrastructure needs in the program.
Veterinary medicine plays a vital role in Oklahoma, supporting animal health, food production, and rural economies. OSU’s veterinary college is one of only 33 accredited programs in the U.S. Each year, it admits more than 100 students, with graduates serving all 77 counties in the state. The new facility will help address a growing shortage of large-animal veterinarians, particularly in rural areas.
The university’s current veterinary hospital was flagged as a concern in 2024, when the program was placed on probation by the American Veterinary Medical Association. While full accreditation has been restored, ongoing compliance depends on significant facility upgrades—something this investment now makes possible.
The new hospital will feature modern technologies and expanded space for both small and large animal care. Plans include advanced imaging tools such as CT, MRI, ultrasound, and radiography, along with an oncology treatment linear accelerator and an aqua cow float tank. These upgrades will improve veterinary services for animals across Oklahoma while enhancing hands-on learning for students.
University and state leaders have praised the investment as transformational. The facility is expected to serve Oklahoma for at least the next 40 years and strengthen OSU’s position as a national leader in veterinary education.
With other institutions across the country developing veterinary programs, OSU’s expansion helps the university remain competitive and retain top students and faculty. More importantly, it ensures that farmers, ranchers, and animal owners across the state will continue to have access to high-quality veterinary care—supporting Oklahoma’s agricultural economy and public health for generations to come.
