Best Optometry Colleges in India 2026: Ranking, Fees, Admission, Courses, Placements

About 300+ best Optometry colleges are there in India. Of these,  228 colleges are privately owned, 30 colleges are owned by public/government organisations, and public-private entities own 6 colleges. Some of the top Optometry colleges in India include AIIMS Delhi, CMC Vellore, Jamia Hamdard, JIPMER Puducherry, AIIMS Rishikesh, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, LPU, KGMU, AIIMS Jodhpur, Chandigarh University, SOA University, Maharishi Markandeshwar University, Mullana, and many others. Students can secure admission after passing Class 12 boards or through entrance exams like CUET, CUET PG, etc.

According to NIRF ranking 2024, under “Medical” category, AIIMS Delhi emerged be as the No. 1 Optometry college in India by securing 1^st position followed by CMC Vellore and JIPMER Puducherry.

As per NIRF ranking 2024, AIIMS Delhi emerged to be as the top Optometry college in India. Some of the other colleges are mentioned below along with their tuition fees:

Top Colleges	NIRF 2022	NIRF 2023	NIRF 2024
All India Institute of Medical Sciences Ranking	1	1
Christian Medical College Ranking	3	3
JIPMER Puducherry Ranking	6	5	5
Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences Ranking	25	18	12
KGMU Ranking	11	12	19

Disclaimer: This information is sourced from official website of the ranking body listed and may vary.

Optometry course is a professional course in healthcare domain that deals with measuring vision, developing and studying lens types, and diagnosis and treatment of vision-related ailments, among others. Duration of undergraduate Optometry courses is four years and that of postgraduate level is two years. 

Optometry subjects involve both theoretical as well as practical lessons. An internship or training of six months to one year is also mandatory for successful completion of course. 

 

AIIMS Delhi is one of the cheapest institutes for education in the field of Medicine in India. The fee information is taken from the official/ sanctioning body and is subject to change. Check below table to know AIIMS Delhi tuition fees:

Course	Total tuition fees
B.Sc.	INR 900 - 1,200
M.Sc.	INR 1,400
MD	INR 750 - 2,490
MBBS	INR 6,080
M.Ch.	INR 3,330
B.Sc. (Post Basic)	INR 400
DM	INR 3,330
Master of Surgery	INR 2,110

If students find the fee costly, they can apply for the various scholarships offered by AIIMS Delhi.

Career options in after Optometry is wide and in huge demand both in India and abroad. Optometrists can work as post-secondary teachers, occupational/industrial safety programs, consultants in eye care industry or do research in optometry colleges. Optometrists can also set up their own private clinics & work independently.

They can also choose a career in sports vision, public health and government service or community health centers. Regards.

Yes, there are many affordable Optometry colleges in India. Some of them are mentioned below having tuition fees of less than INR 1 lakh:

Low-cost Colleges	Tuition Fee
AIIMS Delhi	INR 1,200
CMC Vellore	INR 1,800
JIPMER Puducherry	INR 4,800
KGMU	INR 48,000
GMCH Chandigarh	INR 38,000

Disclaimer: This information is sourced from official website.

The Optometry salary in India can always vary depending on the various factors such as the location, experience and even the type of practice (private clinic, hospital, corporate eye care chain), and level of education. 

• Entry-Level: INR 2-4 LPA

• Mid-Level: INR 4-6 LPA 

• Senior-Level: INR 6-10 LPA

Yes, joining the best Optometry colleges in India can be worthwhile for you. For that, you need to check its ROI. Listed below are some colleges along with their tuition fees and average placement package:

College Names	Tuition Fee	Average Placement Package
AIIMS Delhi Courses	INR 1,200	INR 24 LPA
Jamia Hamdard Courses	INR 2 lakh	INR 6 LPA
JIPMER Puducherry Courses	INR 4,800	INR 8 LPA
SIMTS Chennai Courses	INR 5 lakh	INR 4 LPA
SOA University Courses	INR 3 lakh	INR 4 LPA

Disclaimer: This information is sourced from official website / media reports/ NIRF website and may vary.

Yes, students can get direct admission in Christian Medical College, Vellore. The college reserves some of its intake under the management quota. However, even under the management quota, students have to appear for NEET and meet the basic eligibility. Students can connect with the college to know more.

Yes, an optometrist has a doctorate-level degree in optometry which is also known as a Doctor of Optometry (OD) degree.

The Doctor of Optometry degree is a professional doctoral degree that enables individuals to practice Optometry which is called the field of healthcare focused on the examination, diagnosis, treatment and even management of vision and eye-related disorders.

 

Yes, there are many private Optometry colleges in India. Some of them are mentioned below along with their tuition fees:

Private Colleges	Tuition Fee
CMC Vellore Admission	INR 1,800
Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences Admission	INR 5 lakh
LPU Admission	INR 5 lakh
Chandigarh University Admission	INR 2 Lacs – INR 5 lakh
SOA University Admission	INR 3 lakh

Disclaimer: This information is sourced from official website and may vary.

BOptometry and BSc Optometry are two different courses that come under Optometry. Candidates can see table below to see comparison between two courses -

Yes, there are many government Optometry colleges in India. Some of them are mentioned below along with their tuition fees:

Public/Govt. Colleges	Tuition Fee
AIIMS Delhi Admission	INR 1,200
Jamia Hamdard Admission	INR 2 lakh
JIPMER Puducherry Admission	INR 4,800
AIIMS Rishikesh Admission	INR 1 lakh
KGMU Admission	INR 48,000

Disclaimer: This information is sourced from official website and may vary.

JIPMER Puducherry inducts candidates for the MBBS programme based on valid NEET-UG scores followed by the counselling process conducted by the Medical Counselling Committee, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.

The NEET last round closing rank for admission to the MBBS programme at the JIPMER, Puducherry was 17588. Candidates having their rank as specified by the institute cut-off list can register for the counselling round at JIPMER followed by document verification and fee payment leading to final seat allotment.

Yes, practical training and internships are an essential part of the BSc Optometry course. These hands-on experiences allow students to apply theoretical knowledge in real-world settings and develop the necessary skills to perform eye examinations, diagnose visual problems, and recommend corrective measures. 

Internships typically take place in the final year, providing exposure to patient care, optometric instruments, and various vision correction techniques. This practical training is crucial for building confidence and proficiency before entering the workforce.

BSc Optometry is not a doctorate. It is an undergraduate degree. It does not make graduates eligible for surgeries either. The term 'doctor' is for individuals who have earned a doctoral degree. 

The best government colleges for BSc Optometry have good infrastructure and high-quality education.

• AIIMS Delhi
• JIPMER 
• AIIMS Rishikesh
• Pt. Bhagwat Dayal Sharma Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences
• Christian Medical College & Hospital, Ludhiana
• MUHS
• Kerala University of Health Sciences

Source - Multiple external / official sites on the web hence the data may/ may not vary.

Physics might hold some importance when it comes to BSc Optometry. Though this course is not entirely a physics specialization. But some topics might require extra effort from your side.

King George's Medical University is a goverment university which was established in 1905. The university is accredited with A Grade by NAAC and is approved by UGC, DCI, and MCI. King George's Medical University is a public university which is accredited with A Grade by NAAC. Being a public university. The fee for various courses is not very high. Even if the students find the fee a little high, they can apply for the scholarships offered by the university.

Lovely Professional University has a strong record of placements for courses like BTech, BBA, BCA, BArch, MBA, MCA, etc. Currently, the highest international package offered during LPU placements in 2025 was INR 2.5 crore per annum, whereas the highest domestic package offered stood at INR 1 crore per annum. The LPU average package offered to the top 25% students of the batch 2025 was INR 10.23 LPA. The key highlights of LPU placements for the Class of 2023, 2024 and 2025 are tabulated below:

Particulars	Placement Statistics (2023)	Placement Statistics (2024)	Placement Statistics (2025)
Highest package	INR 54.75 LPA	INR 53 LPA	INR 250 LPA (International) INR 100 LPA (Domestic)
Average package	INR 7 LPA (MBA, BTech CSE)	INR 7.80 (MBA) INR 7.92 LPA (BTech CSE)	INR 10.23 LPA (top 25%)
Total recruiters	1,107	1,611	2,225+
Total offers	5,500+	7,443	6,000+

All the CUCET-based scholarships awarded to CU students are valid for the first year only. To renew them for the further years, students should apply for renewal every year. The eligibility criteria for scholarship renewal is mentioned below:

• Performance: 7.5 CGPA at the end of each year
• College students must not indulge in any indiscipline activity
• Students should not have E, F or I in any of the subject in any year

For other merit-based scholarships offered by CU on the basis of JEE Main/ CAT/ MAT/ ATMA/ Class 12 & graduation scores, renewal of scholarship will only be possible if students maintain a minimum CGPA of 7.5 in the semester exams. However, for PharmaD course, it is mandatory that the students don't have any semester/year break in between.

Yes, Siksha O Anusandhan University is worthwhile choice for many students. The college is popularly know for its Engineerin, Managemnet, Pharmacy and other courses. The university is approved by the  AICTE, UGC and SIRO and accredited by the NBA, NABHL, NABH, ICAR, ABET and NAAC A+ Grade. SOA University ranked 332 in Asian University Rankings- Southern Asia category by the QS World Ranking 2026 and 15 in University category by the NIRF Ranking 2025.

Led by Dr Suresh K Sharma, a renowned expert in Medical-Surgical Nursing, AIIMS Jodhpur team of doctors and professors includes accomplished Associate Professors and Assistant Professors with diverse specialisations. Refer to the table below for more details:

Faculty Name	Faculty Designation
Dr. Pradeep Kumar Bhatia	Professor and Head
Dr. Manoj Kamal	Professor
Dr. Nikhil Kothari	Professor

AIIMS Jodhpur faculty have more than 15 years of working experience in various areas of Medical Sciences. Some are even working as doctors in the AIIMS Jodhpur hospital. 

Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research has been rated 4.7 for faculty as per reviews by students. This represents that Institute has decent, qualified and experienced faculty members.

Maharishi Markandeshwar University, also known as MMDU is a Deemed to be University, located in Mullana, Haryana. It has a NIRF ranking of 85 amongst all Universities in India in 2025 and 26 under the Pharmacy category by the NIRF 2025. It is ranked 14 under the Medical Private category by Outlook 2025. Overall, it is a highly ranked university.

AIIMS Bhopal offers well-equipped campus facilities to students. The institute offers plethora of campus facilities such as state-of-the-art infrastructure, smart classrooms, airy surroundings, hi-tech computer labs, faculty rooms, audio-visual classrooms, etc. which helps in facilitating interactive sessions and project presentations to the students. 

As per the Shiksha Verified Reviews, "The infrastructure of the college is very good. Lecture halls are well furnished and with digital boards plus green boards. The central library has a wide variety of books with awesome seating arrangements along with Wi-Fi and computer systems if required. Many labs are there in each department so you get your table and microscopes. You don't have to share it and the student cadaver ratio in 1st year is also good which is 12 students for 1 cadaver which is not very good in other institutes," said a student.

Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research offers many scholarships such as Founder-Chancellor Merit-cum-Means Scholarship, Founder-Chancellor Cash Award, Hospital Ward Technician Course, Chancellor Undergraduate Summer Research Fellowships, Founder-Chancellor Fellowships for PhD. Candidates and Publication Support Grant. Students can avail of the scholarships only if they meet the eligibility criteria. After meeting the eligibility criteria, students are awarded the scholarship amount. Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research scholarship amount is awarded for a fixed period of time, that is, till the completion of the course. The eligibility criteria for SRIHER scholarships are given below:

Scholarship Name	Eligibility Criteria
Founder-Chancellor Merit-cum-Means Scholarship	Students should have passed the previous year/semester’s university exam on the first attempt and are pursuing 2nd year UG Paramedical programme
Founder-Chancellor Cash Award	Students who have obtained the highest marks in the 1st-year undergraduate programme university examination

No, students cannot apply offline for admission in GMCH Chandigarh - Government Medical College and Hospital. The application process is conducted in online mode. Students must register for relevant entrance exam. Aspirants must also apply on college official portal, fill the application form and pay application fee.