The North Carolina State College of Veterinary Medicine was established in 1978, admitted its first class of DVM students in August 1981, dedicated its main facility in April 1983, and graduated its first class of veterinarians in May 1985.

In addition to its academic program, the college provides on-site continuing education and outreach programs for more than 4,000 clients annually. The faculty routinely participate in continuing education and outreach programs throughout North Carolina, across North America and around the world.

Located on a 180-acre campus in west Raleigh, the facilities comprise more than 20 buildings at its main site, 8 buildings at other sites and 2 leased buildings. Facilities at the College are used for instruction, research, clinical service and outreach, and its Laboratory Animal Resource unit maintains more than 25 vertebrate and invertebrate species for these purposes.

The College of Veterinary Medicine was recently ranked as one of the top four colleges of veterinary medicine in the nation. The House Officer specialty training program and research funding rank among the top 5 schools, and its faculty student ratio is near the top.