Top Medical Colleges in India 2024

For any medical aspirant, studying in one of the top medical colleges in India would be the dream to pursue. This is also correct as success in the medical field depends significantly on the institution where the medical course is being pursued. Therefore, all the students preparing for NEET UG should start identifying the best medical colleges in India, which will help them plan their future course of action accordingly. Admission in private and government MBBS colleges in India is largely based on the performance of the students in the NEET UG Exam.

The total number of recognised medical colleges in India is around 706 (as per NMC website). These top medical colleges differ in various key aspects such as infrastructure, specialisations, fee structure, eligibility criteria and several others. MHRD releases a list of top medical colleges as per NIRF ranking every year. Some of the leading medical colleges in India are AIIMS, Christian Medical College, PGIMER Chandigarh, Maulana Azad Medical College and others. The average annual fee for medical colleges in India varies greatly, starting from Rs. 7,000 for government colleges and going up to Rs. 25 Lakhs for private colleges.

For your convenience, here we have listed the top medical colleges in India based on key parameters like rating, placement, reviews and several more.

Top Medical Colleges in India (NIRF Ranking)

National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) rankings are released annually by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD). Participating Educational Institutions are rated on certain key parameters like infrastructure, faculty, placements, academic performance, and others. This year, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi has emerged as the top medical college in India as per NIRF rankings followed by PGIMER Chandigarh and Christian Medical College Vellore, which have secure NRIF ranking of 2 and 3 respectively.  

Top 20 Medical colleges in India as per the NIRF rankings: - 

Top Medical Colleges in India – Careers360 Ranking

Careers360 ranks the top medical colleges in India based on several important parameters like quality of students, research publications, academic productivity, and several others. The top three positions in Careers360 ranking for medical colleges in India have been taken by AIIMS, Delhi; Christian Medical College, Vellore; and Kasturba Medical College, Manipal. Listed below are the top 10 medical colleges in India as per the score assigned to them by Careers360 experts.

List of Top Medical Colleges in India - Careers360 Ranking 

Top Medical Colleges in India – Placement-wise

When it comes to medical colleges, India boasts some of the best medical colleges in the world. Usually, placement record is not a major criterion for medical students as most students prefer to pursue MD or MS after completing their MBBS. But some colleges do offer placement assistance for their students. The top three medical colleges in India based on their placement ratings are PGIMER (Chandigarh), Vardhman Mahavir Medical College (Delhi), Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research (Chennai). The top medical colleges in India based on their placement track record are: -

Top Medical Colleges in India – Region-wise

With medical colleges present across all the major cities of India, it is important to know about the top medical colleges in India according to the regions. For convenience, we can divide India into four regions, i.e. North, south, east, and west, to list the top medical colleges. Here is a region-wise listing of top medical colleges in India.

Top Medical Colleges in North India

Top Medical Colleges in South India

Top Medical Colleges in West India

Top Medical Colleges in East India

Top Medical Colleges in India – NEET Cut off

NEET is one of the most popular medical entrance exams conducted for admission into undergraduate medical courses across government and private medical colleges of India. Here is a list of the top medical colleges of India based on their NEET cut-off for general category. 

 Medical Colleges in India – Admission Process

In order to gain admission in top medical colleges in India, students need to appear for NEET UG exam. The cut off for NEET varies according to the different medical colleges. Along with scoring the cut off marks, students must also have scored the required marks in class 12th exams and should have studied Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. Thereafter, the shortlisted candidates have to appear for the counselling session to get a seat in the preferred medical college.

Medical Streams

The most preferred medical course for the students in India is MBBS, followed by a Bachelor of Physiotherapy (BPT), Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS). Some of the most popular specialisations include: -

- ENT

- Gynaecology

- Oncology

- Dermatology

- Orthopedics

-  Pediatrics

-  Audiology and Speech Language Pathology

- Pharmacy

- Occupational Therapy

- Renal Dialysis

- Optometry

- Dentistry

- Laboratory Technology

- Imaging Technology

- Nursing

- Physiotherapy

Top 5 Medical Colleges in India

AIIMS, Delhi

All India Institute of Medical Sciences is the leading autonomous medical university of India. It is recognised by the Universities Grants Commission and the Medical Council of India. While there are a total of 25 AIIMS located across various cities of India, AIIMS Delhi is the leading medical education institute. AIIMS offers undergraduate, postgraduate as well as doctoral-level programs. It is also a leading name when it comes to world-class research facilities for the students.

Medical courses offered by AIIMS Delhi

-  MBBS

-  Master in Hospital Administration (MHA)

-  Bachelor of Optometry (B.Optom)

- Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.)

- Bachelor of Science Hons (B.Sc. Hons)

- Master of Science (M.Sc.)

- Post Basic Bachelor of Science Nursing (P.B.B.Sc.)

PGIMER, Chandigarh

Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research is one of the oldest and most famous medical education institutes of India. Established in 1962, PGIMER is not only a leading educational institution but is also a prominent healthcare centre in north India. It must be noted that PGIMER does not offer MBBS courses but offers several other specialisations, including the following: -

Medical courses offered by PGIMER Chandigarh

- Master in Hospital Administration (MHA)

- Master of Public Health (MPH)

- Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) – Nursing, Medical technology, Perfusion Technology, Operation Theatre Technology, Audiology and Speech Rehabilitation, Medical X Ray Technology.

- Master of Science (M.Sc.) – Microbiology, Speech and Hearing, Nursing, Pharmacology, Biochemistry, Pathology, Medical Biotechnology, Medical Technology, Blood Transfusion Medicine.

- Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health Management (PGDPHM)

Christian Medical College, Vellore

Located in Vellore, Tamil Nadu, Christian Medical College is a premier medical education institution of India. It delivers a large number of courses in the field of medicine, nursing, and health sciences. Every year the college offers admission to around 2,500 students who can choose from the various medical specialisations being offered, including the following: -

Medical courses offered by Christian Medical College Vellore

- MBBS

- Master of Physiotherapy (MPT)

- Bachelor of Physiotherapy (BPT)

- Bachelor of Science Nursing

-  Bachelor of Occupational Therapy

- Bachelor of Optometry

- Bachelor of Prosthetics and Orthotics

- Bachelor in Audiology and Speech Language Pathology 

National Institute of Mental Health & Neurosciences, Bangalore

Popularly known as NIMHANS, the National Institute of Mental Health & Neurosciences is a prominent medical education college of India, located in the city of Bangalore. The institution offers multiple specialisations at the undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral level.

Medical courses offered by National Institute of Mental Health & Neurosciences, Bangalore

- B.Sc.  – Nursing, Radiography, Anaesthesia Technology

- Master of Public Health

- Diploma in Clinical Neuropathy

- M.Sc – Biostatistics, Psychiatric Nursing

- Master of Chirurgiae (Neurosurgery)

- Doctorate of Medicine (Psychiatry)

Armed Forces Medical College, Pune

Established in the year 1948, Armed Forces Medical College, Pune is one of the most popular medical education centres in India. The institute is known for its teaching and research facilities. Various specialisations are offered to the students at multiple levels.

Medical courses offered by Armed Forces Medical College, Pune

- MBBS

- Master in Hospital Administration

- B.Sc Nursing

- Post Basic Bachelor of Science

- M.Sc  - Nursing, Anatomy

How to select the best medical college in India?

With numerous medical colleges in India to choose from, selecting the best medical college can be a tough decision for the students. Any mistake in choosing the right college can have serious implications on the future prospects for the students. Thus, it becomes essential for the students to undertake in-depth research before reaching a final decision. Here are some useful tips to help you select the best medical college in India: -

- When you are shortlisting a college, it is important to check the specialisations offered by them. Not all medical colleges offer all specialisations, and then some colleges are well-known for certain specialisations. So, investing some time to check the various specialisations on offer is a wise decision. 

- Use the power of social media and connect with the current students and alumni of the college. This way, you will be able to get comprehensive details about various aspects of the college, helping you make a final decision. 

- The infrastructure of the college plays a key role in ensuring a superior learning experience. Undertake some research regarding the physical infrastructure of the college such as hostel facilities, library resources, classroom facilities etc. 

- Make sure that the college is accredited with UGC and the Medical Council of India. 

- If you like to enjoy sports or music or other extra-curricular activities, make sure that the college offers the facility. 

Frequently Asked Questions

1.  Which is the best medical college in India?

As per various rankings and parameters, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi is the leading medical education institution of India. 

2. Which are the best private medical colleges of India?

The most prominent private medical colleges in India are CMC Vellore, Kasturba Medical College Manipal, CMC Ludhiana, Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute Chennai, and JSS Medical College Mysore. 

3.  Which entrance exam is acceptable for admission to medical colleges in India?

In order to be eligible for admission to medical courses in India, students must appear for NEET UG conducted by the National Testing Agency. 

4.  What is the significance of NIRF rankings?

NIRF rankings are issued by the Ministry of Human Resource Development after evaluating institutes on various essential parameters. They offer an unbiased perspective. 

5.  Which are the leading government medical colleges of India?

The leading government medical colleges of India include AIIMS Delhi, PGIMER Chandigarh, Maulana Azad Medical College Delhi, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, and University College of Medical Sciences Delhi. 

6. What is the average fees for government medical colleges?

The fees charged by government medical colleges is extremely affordable. It averages around Rs. 10,000- Rs. 12,000 per year across the leading government medical colleges of India. 

7.  Are any placement facilities available in private medical colleges?

While several private medical colleges have a placement assistance cell in place, but in most cases students opt to pursue a MD or MS after MBBS instead of going for a job directly. 

8.  What are some of the most popular specialisations available at medical colleges in India?

Some of the most popular specialisations pursued by students at medical colleges include ENT, Gynaecology, Cardiology, Urology, Dermatology, Oncology amongst several others. 

9.  How many medical colleges offer admission into MBBS through NEET UG Exam?

Approximately 700+ medical colleges in India offer admission into MBBS courses through the NEET UG Exam. For admission into PG courses, students need to appear for admission tests like NEET PG or AIIMS PG. 

10.  Does JIPMER Puducherry accept NEET scores for admission?

Yes, JIPMER MBBS admissions are also on the basis of the NEET scores. Counselling is through the All India Counselling Process.