When most people think about where to get a good education, they think about colleges and universities.

They think about Ivy League schools and schools with the best football teams. But there’s more to a good education than just football and famous alumni.

When it comes to veterinary medicine, there are a lot of things that matter more than just the name of the school. For one thing, students need to find a program that offers the right mix of theory and practical hands-on training. For another, they need to find a program that will give them access to the best facilities, resources, and instructors.And that’s not always an easy thing to find.

For most students, vet school is not the first thing they think of when they start looking at colleges. But it should be.

Today, we’ll discuss the best veterinary schools in South Carolina, based on the programs offered by the state’s best colleges.

Veterinary technicians are a vital part of the veterinary team, performing many tasks that allow veterinarians to focus their energies on the most critical cases.

That's why Tri-County Technical College in Florence, South Carolina, chose to start a veterinary technician program, in partnership with the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine.

To earn their associate's degree in veterinary technology, students at Tri-County must complete two semesters of in-person classes, covering topics such as animal anatomy and physiology, disease prevention and control, and clinical procedures.

These in-person classes are supplemented by online learning, which covers topics such as veterinary medical procedures and pathology.

Upon graduating, students are eligible to take the Veterinary Technician National Exam, which if passed earns them the title of certified veterinary technician.

Thanks to the partnership with the University of Tennessee, Tri-County's veterinary technician program is accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association, ensuring that its graduates meet the industry's most rigorous standards.

As part of Clemson University, the Veterinary Medical Center is home to one of the most respected programs in the country. Since 1942, the VMC has maintained a 95% acceptance rate into the program.

In addition to an impressive acceptance rate, the VMC has a 100% first-time pass rate on the Veterinary Medical Exam.

The VMC trains its students in a fully-functional, 32,000 sq. ft. hospital that houses over 3,000 animals each year. The hospital features a collection of highly-specialized equipment, including an MRI machine and a CT scanner.

Students gain hands-on experience in the hospital, where they work with a wide variety of species, including dogs, cats, horses, birds, reptiles, and farm animals. The VMC is one of the few veterinary schools that allows its students to work with small animals and large animals simultaneously, giving them a more well-rounded experience.

Along with a first-rate facility and equipment, the VMC provides every student with a $25,000 scholarship. Along with a fully-funded education, each student receives a $30,000 signing bonus after graduation.

Although this technical college may be best known for its automotive and computer technology programs, it also provides a solid foundation for a career in veterinary medicine.

That's thanks in part to the two associate of science degrees that the school offers in animal science and animal health technology.

These degrees provide students with the scientific and technical expertise needed to work in animal care and health, giving them knowledge in areas ranging from animal anatomy to veterinary medicine.

Students gain this knowledge through a solid foundation in biology, as well as classes in animal husbandry, animal first aid, and veterinary medicine.

They also gain hands-on experience through required courses in animal care and veterinary medicine, which put their knowledge to work by having them perform duties such as animal health care and veterinary technology examinations.

Those looking for a more intensive, specialized education in veterinary medicine can enroll in the veterinary technology program at Greenville Technical College.

This program, offered through the school's Health and Sciences Institute, gives students the chance to complete their first two years of college study at Greenville Tech and then move on to the University of Georgia for their third and fourth years of study.

This arrangement allows students to get a jump-start on their education while still having the support of a smaller, more focused college.

Trident Technical College is part of the statewide network of Technical Colleges in South Carolina. It was founded in 1962 in response to the state's growing demand for vocational and technical education.

Today, Trident Technical College has two main campuses: one in Charleston and the other in Port Charlotte.

The Port Charlotte campus features programs in auto collision repair, computer networking technology, and commercial and culinary arts. The Charleston campus has programs in computer networking technology, commercial and culinary arts, and medical assistant services.

All of the college's programs are meant to prepare students for immediate employment following graduation or to join the workforce with the skills and experience needed to transition into a different position.

As part of a Technical College, Trident Technical College also offers a range of associate degrees and pre-professional credentials designed to meet the needs of adult learners. These include associate degrees in liberal arts, business, and healthcare.

In addition, the Trident Technical College Center for Adult Education provides non-credit courses and classes for community members looking to learn or improve their English language proficiency.

As a part of the statewide network of Technical Colleges, Trident Technical College also offers students the opportunity to complete their bachelor's degree at nearby Charleston Southern University, Claflin University, or Trident Technical College.

The affiliation between Trident Technical College and these four-year institutions provides an additional option for students looking to earn a bachelor's degree in a variety of subjects.

Along with the opportunity to earn a bachelor's degree, Trident Technical College also provides support for its students pursuing a bachelor's degree through the use of the Academic Common Market and Early Start programs.

The Academic Common Market is a state-wide program that allows South Carolina residents who have already earned an associate degree from a South Carolina Technical College to apply that credit toward their bachelor's degree.

Through the Academic Common Market, students are able to earn the credits needed for their bachelor's degree without having to pay out-of-state tuition fees. Instead, they are able to take advantage of in-state tuition rates and save money.

The Early Start Program is a way for students to begin their undergraduate education at a Technical College and save time and money.

Through this program, students can take courses at a Technical College that count toward both their associate degree and their bachelor's degree.

In addition, Trident Technical College students who earn an associate degree through the Early Start program can apply to transfer directly into Charleston Southern University, Claflin University, or another institution that accepts Trident Technical College's associate degrees.

By pursuing a two-year associate's degree in veterinary technology, students at Piedmont Technical College can get a head start on a career that can span decades.

The associate degree program at Piedmont Technical College was the first of its kind in South Carolina, having launched in 1988. Since then, other schools have followed PTC's lead, offering similar programs. But none can match PTC's decades of experience in training the next generation of veterinary technicians.

Throughout their education, PTC veterinary technology students gain hands-on experience in the intensive care and surgery rooms of the school's veterinary technology school. There, they work alongside professional veterinarians, performing tasks familiar to anyone who's visited a vet's office, from drawing blood samples to administering vaccinations.

Receiving an associate degree from PTC means that students can then transfer to other schools with more advanced programs, such as the University of Charleston and the Medical University of South Carolina.

As a branch of the statewide Technical College System of South Carolina, PTC knows that its students come from all walks of life. Some are returning to the workforce after raising families, while others are still in high school and hope to one day attend veterinary school. Regardless of their backgrounds, PTC's students share a commitment to the animals that they will serve for the rest of their lives.

Limestone University's Department of Veterinary Sciences is committed to equipping future veterinarians with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to provide excellent care to animals. To that end, the department offers four majors and a number of collaborative study opportunities.

Students in Limestone's bachelor's of science in veterinary sciences degree program gain a broad knowledge base in animal and public health, along with the biological, physical, and social sciences. Additionally, students gain hands-on experience through internships and participation in the Limestone Veterinary Health Center. The center provides a full range of services, including surgery, radiology, and hospital care, as well as a pet food pantry.

Students can also gain experience through Limestone's Veterinary Medical Assistance Program. Through the program, which is run in partnership with the Limestone Veterinary Health Center and the American Veterinary Medical Association, students in the college can gain experience interviewing clients, taking medical histories, and performing physical exams. They can also gain experience working with teaching hospitals and animals.

Newberry College is located in Newberry, South Carolina, in the Newberry County. It is a private college with an enrollment of 1,500 students. It is also the only college in the state to offer a bachelor's of science in veterinary medicine.

The veterinary school was established in 1998 following a $2.5 million donation from the Hay Foundation. The Newberry College Institute of Veterinary Medicine is the only veterinary school in the state that is not part of a larger university.

Students in the veterinary program spend their first two years taking classes in the core sciences, including anatomy, microbiology, immunology, and pathology.

They then move on to their third and fourth years, which consist of a clinical rotation and externship in small animal medicine at the Laughter Clinic Animal Hospital in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Upon graduation, students receive a bachelor's degree in science in animal biology. However, they can enter the veterinary medicine licensing exam after one year of study, unlike traditional students.

As such, Newberry College students are some of the fastest-tracked in the country. Of the 79 students who have entered the exam since the school's inception, 73 have passed on their first attempt.

Located in the small town of Dillon on the campus of the University of South Carolina, Pima Medical Institute is a small, specialized college offering two programs.

However, those two programs are some of the most sought-after in the country. The Pima medical assistant (PMA) program is ranked #1 by the U.S. News & World Report, while the Pima medical technician program is ranked #2.

With a acceptance rate of only 3.2%, Pima is one of the most exclusive schools in the country, admitting only the very best students.

Students in the Pima Medical Institute receive a foundation in the sciences, as well as a broad range of healthcare experience, all in an immersive and highly practical environment.

Through the program's clinical rotation component, students spend 80% of their time in hospitals, working with practitioners in a wide range of specialties.

Students gain experience working with patients and practitioners in areas such as primary care, surgery, and critical care.