About

The College of Veterinary Medicine at Mississippi State University

The Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine is Mississippi’s only college of veterinary medicine and serves all 82 counties in the state as well as the surrounding region through education, research, clinical service and outreach. Training for the college’s more than 600 students per year is housed in the 400,000-square-foot Wise Center located in Starkville, Miss. The college also operates health and diagnostic facilities across the state. Founded in 1974,  the college is dedicated to advancing animal, human and environmental health through innovative research, hands-on teaching and comprehensive veterinary care. Its faculty, staff, clinicians and students work to support the veterinary profession, strengthen communities and improve the lives of animals and the people who care for them. For more information, visit vetmed.msstate.edu.

Message From the Dean

Dr. Frank leads a horse.Dear Friends,

Welcome to the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine (MSU CVM)! This college was established in 1974 to serve the state of Mississippi, and our first class of veterinarians graduated in 1981. Since its beginning, the CVM has been a place of learning, discovery, and service, and one of our greatest strengths is the focus we place on community. All are welcome and we pride ourselves on the family atmosphere we have here. As you explore our website, you’ll see how we are Taking Care of What Matters every day here at MSU CVM.

I invite you to look through this website and learn more about MSU CVM and the work we do. We offer outstanding degree programs in veterinary medicine, veterinary technology, and graduate studies - as well as advanced training in veterinary specialties. MSU CVM conducts research that promotes and protects the health and well-being of animals, people, and the planet, all while furthering agriculture and aquatic health at the local, state, national, and international levels. Our excellent clinics and diagnostic laboratories support producers and referring veterinarians, and we provide exceptional medical care for the pets that bring us joy.  Everyone here contributes to the mission of the College, including faculty, staff, students, residents, and interns, as well as alumni and friends of the college. 

MSU CVM is proud to be a part of a world-class university that understands its role as a land grant institution, and if you are a prospective student, intern, resident, or employee, I invite you to visit us and learn more about the university, life in Mississippi, and all Starkville has to offer. Our city and state boast beautiful natural areas, affordable housing, and a wealth of extracurricular activities. Residents enjoy SEC sports, hunting and fishing, music, theatre, and volunteer organizations, as well as outstanding restaurants, festivals, and events. Mississippians are the most welcoming and friendly people in the world, and Starkville is a great place to raise a family.

Enjoy the website and consider joining us at the MSU CVM as we work together to make the future brighter. 

Dr. Nick Frank
Dean and Professor

The Wise Center

The Wise Center at Mississippi State University is home to the College of Veterinary Medicine, a more than 400,000-square-foot facility spanning more than 10 acres southwest of Mississippi State University’s main campus in Starkville.

The Wise Center has functioned as the central hub for veterinary education at MSU since the Center’s completion in 1980. The building is home to the college’s instructional wing, research facilities, Animal Health Center, and diagnostic laboratories.

In 1986, the Center was named in honor of emeritus vice president for agriculture, forestry, and veterinary medicine, Dr. Louis N. Wise. Wise served at MSU for 35 years and was instrumental during a time of extreme growth at the University in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Wise passed away in 1990. 

Over the years, the Wise Center has been a place of constant evolution, with new facilities and services regularly being added to the building and its outlying areas. Today, the College of Veterinary Medicine shares space with the University’s Television Center.