Are you in search of the best medical colleges in India? The following three institutions are recognized as the top universities in India: AIIMS (Delhi), JIPMER (Puducherry), CMC (Vellore).
- Best Government Medical Colleges in India
- List of Best Medical Colleges in India Private
- Best Medical Colleges in India After 12th
- Low-Cost Best Medical Colleges in India
- Best Medical Colleges in India For PG
- Best Medical Colleges In India That Do Not Require The NEET
- Best Medical Colleges in India That Aren’t AIIMS
- Finding a College When You Are Lost?
- Continuing Life After MBBS: The Next Steps
- Best Medical Colleges In India FAQs
- Your Next Steps
Government medical universities charge between ₹50,000—₹5,00,000 total for an MBBS degree while private medical universities charge between ₹15–₹25 lakhs per year for the same degree.
In order to get accepted into a government best medical colleges in India, you need to score 600 or above on the NEET exam; if you want to get accepted into a private medical college, you’ll need to score 450 or above on the NEET exam.
Using this CareerGrowKaro guide will break down the various options/benefits associated with attending either a government (or private) institution along with exam fees associated with each type of institution, additional fees, and admission tips.
Best Government Medical Colleges in India
Government Medical Universities are known as the best medical Colleges in India. Total cost for the entire course to earn an MBBS degree is between ₹50,000 – ₹5,00,000.
Top 8 Best Medical Colleges in India Government
| Name | Location | NEET Cut-off Marks | Annual Fees |
| AIIMS Delhi | New Delhi | 700+ | ₹1,588 |
| JIPMER | Puducherry | 680+ | ₹3,500 |
| CMC Vellore | Tamil Nadu | 670+ | ₹5,500 |
| KGMC | Lucknow | 650+ | ₹50,000 |
| MAMC | Delhi | 680+ | ₹4,734 |
| Grant Medical College | Mumbai | 660+ | ₹25,000 |
| Madras Medical College | Chennai | 650+ | ₹5,400 |
| Armed Forces Medical College | Pune | 670+ | Free |
The Benefit of the State Quota:
Many students are unaware that 85% of government medical seats are reserved for those with state domicile status due to the increasing competition. It may take 620 marks to get into a government college in your state if you’re a resident, but 670 to gain entry as an out-of-state resident. As such, it’s recommended to begin your search for a government medical school in India to see what is available in qualified states such as Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra.
Best of all: use this advice from CareerGrowKaro to develop a spreadsheet containing previous year’s cutoff marks for all categories. Search using this information will produce more relevant results when compared to other methods of searching.
List of Best Medical Colleges in India Private
Once government seats are taken, you have to go with the next best option of a private medical college in India. However, there are a variety of private colleges.
Top 5 Best Medical Colleges in India Private
Kasturba Medical College
- Annual Fee- 20 Lakhs
- NEET cutoff- 600+
- 70+ Years of Legacy with great placement options.
St. John’s Medical College (Bangalore)
- Fee- 18 Lakhs per annum
- Excellent clinical exposure and ethical practices.
Hamdard Institute (Delhi)
- Annual Fee- 17 Lakhs
- NEET cutoff of 580+, advantages of being in delhi.
SRM Medical College (Chennai)
- Annual Tuition – 16.5 Lakhs
- It has a strong culture of research.
JSS Medical College (Mysore)
- Annual Tuition – 15 Lakhs
- This college has an exceptional campus & lower cut-off points in comparison to other universities.
A Note of Caution
The total cost of Private MBBS is within 75 to 125 Lakhs including Hostel & living expenses. As an example, when you first become a doctor expect to earn between 6 to 10 Lakhs/year initially, and then after PG between 15 to 50 Lakhs depending upon your specialty.
Best Medical Colleges in India After 12th
How to find the best medical colleges in India after completion of your 12th grade:
Step 1- NEET is a requirement to apply for admission to the MBBS/BDS programs.
While your 12th grade marks are a requirement for admission to MBBS/BDS programs (you need at least 50% in the combined PCB subjects), your NEET score will determine which of the best medical colleges in India you will be placed into.
Step 2- Choose your stream:
- MBBS (5.5 years) this is the most competitive
- BDS (5 years) for dental medicine
- BAMS (5.5 years) Ayurveda
- BHMS (5.5 years) Homeopathy
- B.Sc Nursing (4 years) nursing has good job prospects after completing your degree.
Expected marks and number of college choices:
- 700+ – Top five government colleges
- 650-699 = Good government colleges – Best Private colleges
- 600-649= Average Government colleges – Very good Private colleges
- 550-599= State Government Colleges – Good Private colleges
- 500-549 = Private Colleges or State Government AYUSH colleges.
- Below 450= You should think about re taking NEET again.
Gap year question
50% of the students who take the NEET exam for the first time take an additional year of preparation before retaking their exam. If you scored over 550 the first time, then you should consider taking a focused year of study where you could potentially score over 620 on the second attempt. On the other hand, if you score below 500 on the first attempt, consider very carefully before taking a gap year and producing a second attempt.
CareerGrowthKaro Tip- Use our NEET Score Predictor tool to estimate your score range for your own NEET exam and evaluate whether the extra preparation provided by a gap year will allow you to reach the best medical colleges in India.
Low-Cost Best Medical Colleges in India
Best Medical Colleges in India Government Around ₹10,000 Annually
Government best medical colleges in India provide affordable options for many people to get a quality education at an affordable price.
- AIIMS Delhi- ₹1588
- JIPMER – ₹3500
- MAMC Delhi- ₹4734
- Madras Medical College- ₹5400
- GMC Nagpur– ₹6850
- BJ Medical College- Pune– ₹8500
Best Medical Colleges in India State Government Under ₹1 Lakh:
- Most state government colleges range from ₹20,000 to ₹80,000 per year.
- Overall, MBBS costs approximately ₹1-4 lakh (for the duration of the program).
Government Scholarship Programs:
Government scholarships can significantly reduce the financial burden of medical education.
- EWS Quota Scholarship (household income under ₹8 lakh)
- State Merit Scholarship
- Minority Scholarships
- SC/ST Full Fee Waiver Scholarship
Education Loan:
You can apply for an unsecured medical loan of up to ₹20 lakh with interest rates between 7% and 10%, with repayment beginning after you finish your degree plus 1 year.
Best Medical Colleges in India For PG
If you have completed an MBBS degree, which medical PG college to choose can determine your potential earnings and which specialty you will pursue.
NEET is Compulsory for PG
All MD/MS/DNB courses require you to pass the NEET PG exam. Approximately 200k students sit for the 35k seats available each year.
Best Medical Colleges in India For PG
AIIMS, New Delhi – Gold Standard
- Super Specialty Degree Programs
- PG Monthly Stipend: 80K+</br>
- Rank Required: Top 50
PGIMER, Chandigarh
- Great Facilities
- Research-oriented Approach
- Rank Required: Top 100
Jipmer, Puducherry
- Strong Clinical Learning Experience
- Rank Required: Top 200
SGPGI, Lucknow
- Super Specialty Oriented
- Good Infrastructure
State Medical Colleges for PG
- Typically have 50% of seats available for state quota students
- Lower cutoffs for home state
- PG Monthly Stipends: 60k-75k
- Tuition Fees: 50k-3lakhs
Private PG Colleges
- Tuition Fees: 20L – 100L for entire MD/MS
- Consider attending a private college only if you are unable to pass the NEET after 2 tries or have a specific specialty you wish to pursue and cannot find a government PG seat in your preferred location.
A Guide to Choosing a Specialty
- Higher Earning (1-5Cr): Cardiology, Radiology, Dermatology, Orthopaedics
- Moderate Earning (50L-1Cr): Surgery, General Medicine, Paediatrics.
Balance your interest, lifestyle, earning potential and chances of competition to decide on a specialty.
Best Medical Colleges In India That Do Not Require The NEET
Not sure which colleges in India to consider? Start by familiarizing yourself with relevant restrictions.
Realities of AYUSH Courses
The AYUSH courses (such as BAMS, BHMS, BUMS, and BNYS) will require a NEET score beginning with the 2020-2021 academic year. However, the cutoffs have been lowered to 400–450 in most cases.
Actual Medical Options Other Than NEET
Some options include the following:
1. Nursing (B.Sc / GNM)
- No NEET requirements
- State Level Entrance Exams
- Starting Salary 8500–18,500 in India
- 20,000+ (Abroad)
2. Paramedical Courses
- Medical Lab Technology
- Radiology Technology
- Physiotherapy
- Eligibility Requirements – 12th grade PCB or State Entrance Exam
3. Foreign Medical School Admission without NEET
- Philippines, China, & Bangladesh do not require NEET for admission.
- But you will still need a NEET score in order to practice medicine in India.
- Total costs can range from ₹25-50 lakhs
Foreign Medical Graduate Reality:
30% of Students who Study Medicine Abroad Will Fail the FMGE (Foreign Medical Graduate Examination). Pass Rate is 18% – 22%
Best Strategy: Attempt the NEET Series at least twice prior to considering studying medicine abroad.
Alternate Healthcare Related Careers:
Some alternate careers include:
- Hospital Administration (BHA/MHA)
- Medical Coder
- Clinical Researcher
- Pharmacist (B.Pharm is done through CET State Level Entrance Exams)
- Public Health Careers
Each pays between 4 to 12 lakhs and does not require a NEET score.
Best Medical Colleges in India That Aren’t AIIMS
Almost everyone focuses solely on AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Science) when thinking about their medical college options. But, if you’re a smart student, there are plenty of quality options outside of AIIMS, also.
Quality alternatives to AIIMS include:
BHU Institute of Medical Sciences (IMS Varanasi)
Located on the campus of BHU, this is a Central University, has very low fees just like AIIMS, and has low NEET cutoffs (650‐670) versus very high NEET cutoffs for AIIMS (700+). Plus it has a strong research environment.
North‐Eastern India Medical Colleges:
- Assam Medical College, Dibrugarh
- Regional Institute of Medical Sciences, Imphal
- Both of these colleges have low NEET cutoffs (580‐620) and many fewer applicants than most other institutions.
- It is much easier to get into these colleges versus AIIMS.
Middle Tier Government Best Medical Colleges in India in Tier‐2 Cities:
Gandhi Medical College, Bhopal
Top college in Madhya Pradesh, tuition of ₹35,000 per year, excellent clinical exposure and opportunities for research.
MLN Medical College, Jhansi
UP state college, great diversity of availability of patients.
Reason You Should Not Target AIIMS:
Your first employer is not going to ask you if you went to AIIMS; they will ask you if you have an approved degree from a school or the registration to practice medicine.
Your Post-Graduate Program (PG) will be more important than your MBBS degree. Many graduates from state colleges receive very high ranks on the NEET PG exam, then go to AIIMS for an MD program.
Smart Strategy:
Don’t waste attempts on just AIIMS. Obtain admission in a good government medical college and study hard and achieve a good score on the NEET PG exam to be able to transfer into one of the top specialties offered at either a public or a private college/university once you have received your MBBS degree.
Finding a College When You Are Lost?
Decision-Making Guidelines for the Best Medical Colleges In India
- 650+ Best government – All India Quota
- 600 – 649 Excellent chances Government State Quota
- 550 – 599 Strong Chance Home State Government College / Quota
- 500 – 549 Private colleges are your best option.
- Below 500 Take a focused drop or explore other options.
Financial Footprint:
The total cost to attend a Government College: ₹5 to ₹12 Lakhs Private College about 80 Lakhs to 1.3 Crore.
Include the overall cost of attending College by taking into account the cost of hostel living; book expenses; and living expenses when calculating.
Location Matters:
Location is a key factor to consider when determining the Best Medical Colleges in India with regards to Safety, Living Costs, Distance from Home, and Climate.
Continuing Life After MBBS: The Next Steps
Once you have made it into the best medical schools in India, your journey doesn’t end. There are various career paths you can follow after completion of an MBBS degree. Many students elect to pursue a PG degree (MD or MS) by preparing for the NEET PG which will increase both their salary and advancement opportunities. Alternatively, some students will join a government agency or create a private practice and/or take exams such as PLAB or USMLE for opportunities to work internationally.
Additionally, there are many ways of getting involved in non-clinical opportunities, for example hospital management/public health or clinical research that are also appealing and growing rapidly.
The key point to remember is that while you will certainly get some benefit from graduating from a prestigious medical school, your ability to perform your job accurately and consistently as well as your performance on your PG examinations will be much more important. Many graduates from state run medical schools have achieved very successful careers at the highest level.
CareerGrowKaro recommends that you first find a suitable college and focus on being a good student while in your MBBS course and start planning to meet your long-term career goals early on.
Best Medical Colleges In India FAQs
1. Are there any Government Best Medical Colleges in India?
AIIMS Delhi, PGIMER Chandigarh, JIPMER Puducherry, CMC Vellore, MAMC Delhi consistently rank in government 5 best medical colleges in India. Additionally, many state government medical colleges such as Madras Medical College & Grant Medical College also have comparable quality but charge lower tuition fees.
2. What Are The Best Medical Colleges In India With Low Tuition Fees?
The best medical colleges in India with the lowest tuition fees are Government medical colleges: AIIMS ₹1,588/year, JIPMER ₹3,500 and state government colleges ₹20,000-50,000. The total cost of obtaining the MBBS degree from AIIMS, JIPMER and state colleges is between ₹2-Lakh to ₹6-Lakh including accommodations.
3. What are the Top Medical Schools in India for PG?
Medical schools in India with the highest rankings for postgraduate programs are AIIMS Delhi, PGIMER Chandigarh, SGPGI Lucknow and JIPMER. All of these colleges provide quality training with monthly allowances between ₹60,000 and ₹80,000. There are also some good quality state based medical schools offering post graduate education but they do so by providing 50% of the seats based on a state quota.
4. Are there any good medical schools in India that do not require the NEET exam?
No, all medical schools in India require the NEET exam for admission to MBBS/BDS programs. The only exception would be for students who are pursuing alternate healthcare careers like B.Sc Nursing and paramedical courses as there is no NEET requirement for those. If you want to be a medical practitioner in India then you must take the NEET exam whether you are studying in an Indian or foreign country.
Your Next Steps
There are a number of ways in which you can get into the top medical schools of India by having an organized strategic plan.
1) Your NEET study preparation will be the most crucial factor.
2) Research colleges that have admission criteria in line with (at least) your projected NEET score.
3) Plan ahead and have your finances established well before applying to college, regardless of whether it be AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences) or a state level college.
More important than the name of a college is the amount of work you put in while attending the college for the 5 ½ years that you will be in attendance.
At CareerGrowKaro, we have seen students who have graduated from tier 2 colleges go on to become amazing physicians.
The primary thing that allows a college to provide opportunities is your commitment to becoming a physician.
For more information regarding how to develop and implement a career plan as well as preparing for the NEET examination, please visit CareerGrowKaro’s website, as your medical career will require planning (not just hard work).
