Every year, millions of students give NEET or some other competitive exam to grab a seat in the finest colleges India has to offer. Getting in isn’t simply a tough competition - it is practically a sport, one that requires you to practice hard, have a strategy, and have your goals figured out.
Medical Education in India, to put it simply, is no joke - it decides the future of the country’s healthcare system. That is why if you are studying for NEET, or looking for a career in Medical Education, you have to define your goals and strategize accordingly. That is why this is the blog for you. In it, we go over everything you should know about the top 10 medical colleges in India, right from their academics, to their fees and cut-offs.
Top 10 Medical Colleges
According to NIRF India’s 2024 ranking of medical colleges in India , the top 10 medical colleges in India are : -
- All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi (AIIMS)
- Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh (PGIMER)
- Christian Medical College, Vellore (CMC),
- National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bangalore (NIMHANS)
- Jawaharlal Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research, Pondicherry (JIPMER)
- Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow (SGPGIMS)
- Banaras Hindu University (BHU)
- Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Coimbatore
- Kasturba Medical College, Manipal
- Madras Medical College and Government General Hospital, Chennai (MMC)
Now, with that out of the way, let’s move deeper into what keeps these institutions as the best medical colleges in India.
All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi
AIIMS New Delhi tops the ranking of medical colleges in India by consistently securing the #1 spot. Built over a period of 4 years and established in 1956, AIIMS New Delhi is the first, not only in ranking but also in establishing a bunch of more universities. Today, there are 19 AIIMS Campuses all over India, with 7 more being built. AIIMS Delhi features 50 Departments specializing in different fields of medicine, Specialty Centers, and other facilities like a Computer Lab and extensive Library.
Admissions at AIIMS New Delhi is based on test scores, with MBBS admissions happening based on NEET-UG scores while PG and super-specialty scores using INI-CET and institute-level exams. It's also one of the cheapest colleges that India has to offer, with a 5.5 YEAR MBBS degree costing ₹6100 in its entirety. Sounds like a dream, doesn't it?
Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh
Securing #2 is Chandigarh’s PGIMER, a research-oriented institute. Enrolling only a handful of postgraduate and doctorate students, admissions at PGIMER happen twice a year and only 1 to 2% candidates are selected every year, making PGIMER one of the most competitive and top government medical colleges in India.
Applications are invited through countrywide advertisement in leading newspapers usually during September/October for the January Session and March/April for the July Session. The entrance exam is held in December for the January Session and June for the July Session. The type of examination depends on what courses(s) you are enrolling for. The first year fees for MD and MDS programs is around ₹3400 and total fees for M.H.A is around ₹5200
Christian Medical College, Vellore
Coming in at #3 spot, CMC Vellore is a private, community-run medical college. Founded in 1900, it has made a place for itself in the pages of India's Medical History by starting the first College of Nursing in the country all the way back in 1946, and performing the first successful open Heart Surgery in 1961 AND kidney transplant in India in 1971.
CMC has 85 departments, distributed over 5 campuses, admissions to its programs are on the basis of NEET scores.
National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bangalore
NIMHANS Bangalore ranks #4 among the best medical colleges in India for its reputation in psychology and neurology. With 5 campuses across Bangalore, the institute features 42 Centers and Departments, with a strong focus on research.
If you’re keen on joining here, we suggest determining what course or courses you’d like to take, since admissions are done based on INI-CET and other entrance tests, depending on your course, naturally. If you’re interested in pursuing your masters here, you should note that the fees here ranges from ₹20,000-₹1,50,000.
Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Pondicherry
Ranked #5, JIPMER is one of the oldest medical schools in India, originally founded by the French colonists over 200 years ago. It was transferred to the Government of India in 1956, and got its current name in July 1964. Admissions at JIPMER is based on your NEET score and the average fees for the first year at JIPMER is around ₹14,900.
But that’s not all! JIPMER contributes to society by being the only hospital in the entirety of South India to provide free cancer treatment.
Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow
Founded in 1983 and located in the City of Nawabs, SGPGIMS is ranked #6 in India. Featuring 34 departments and 11 centers. Admissions here are primarily NEET score-dependent, with some specialty courses having different exams to take, such as CPET for paramedical courses. The fees ranges between ₹1.1 Lakhs-₹1.5 Lakhs
Banaras Hindu University
Banaras Hindu University’s Institute of Medical Sciences is ranked #7 in India for a reason. BHU is a part of India’s history, and so is its Institute of Medical Sciences, which was begun in 1960.
Admission is based on NEET scores. With 3 Faculties, a College for Nursing and 4 Centres, alongside additional facilities, justifying its place as one of the top government medical colleges in India. The total MBBS fees here is ₹1.50 Lakhs.
Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Coimbatore
Also known as Amrita University, this multi-campus, research-focused private university ranks #8 in India. With nine campuses across India, its Coimbatore campus is the hub for medical education, offering over 300 undergraduate, postgraduate, and research programs. For admission, students are required to give the university’s own entrance test. The total fees for MBBS is around ₹1.2 Crore.
Kasturba Medical College, Manipal
Securing the #9 rank in India, KMC was established in 1953 as a single institution in Manipal. The first of two campuses, KMC is among the best in India for a reason. With around 50 departments that offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs, admissions at KMC are based on NEET and MET scores (depending on the course you are taking).
The total MBBS fees at KMC Manipal is ₹44 Lakhs.
Madras Medical College and Government General Hospital, Chennai.
Last but definitely not the least is Madras Medical College. Established about 200 years ago, this college features 7 departments, offering a mix of modern and traditional medical sciences. Admission is done on the basis of NEET UG and PG scores. The total fees for the entire course is about ₹90,400.
