QS 2026 vet school rankings keep RVC first, UC Davis second

The QS 2026 veterinary school rankings are out, and the top of the table looks familiar: the Royal Veterinary College in London remains No. 1 globally, while the University of California, Davis holds at No. 2 and remains the top-ranked U.S. program. Texas A&M moved up to No. 5 worldwide, making it one of the biggest risers among the global top 10. QS published the 2026 veterinary science rankings on March 25, 2026, and said this year’s veterinary table includes 100 institutions. UC Davis said it has now ranked No. 1 in the world five times since veterinary science was added to the QS subject rankings in 2015, and No. 2 for a seventh time. (topuniversities.com)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, these rankings are less about bragging rights than about signals: academic reputation, employer reputation, research impact, and international research networks all feed into the QS methodology. That means the results can shape student recruitment, faculty hiring, philanthropy, international partnerships, and how schools position themselves in an increasingly competitive workforce and training environment. They also highlight the difference between global and domestic rankings: UC Davis is still No. 1 nationally in the QS framework, while U.S. News has recently placed Texas A&M at No. 5 in the U.S., underscoring that ranking systems measure different things. (ucdavis.edu)

What to watch: Watch how schools use the 2026 rankings in recruitment and fundraising, especially as Texas A&M builds on its climb and UC Davis and RVC defend long-running leadership positions. (ucdavis.edu)