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 fundamentally set apart from other medical colleges by its status as an Institute of National Importance, supreme autonomy & government funding. These advantages foster its medical ecosystem that blends clinical practice with pioneering research.

AIIMS Delhi is not just a college it is a premier super-specialty tertiary hospital. 

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.

Jamia Hamdard University has signed MoUs with sevaral organisations and companies. The below-mentioned are the university collaborations:

Collaborations
Sun Pharmaceuticals Ltd	Max Healthcare Institute Ltd	Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute
DIST	CSIR	ICMR
DBT	DRDO	-

Note: There are various other collaborations and for them, please reach the official site of the university.

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 offers MBBS course at UG level and MD/MS at PG level. It also offers DM/MCh at super-speciality level. PhD and Fellowship courses are also provided by the Institute. Besides, JIPMER Puducherry offers health Science courses such as BSc Nursing, MSc Nursing, MSc Allied Health Sciences and MPH. Check the JIPMER Pondicherry highlights:

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+

Chandigarh University Punjab offers state-of-the-art infrastructure to its students. CU Chandigarh offers Hostel, Library, Sports, Medical Transport, Banking, etc facilities to the students. There are separate hostel facilities are available for both boys and girls. The university has a Central Library and 14 other libraries across other academic blocks. There are over 120,000 books, 860,000 e-books, and more than 26,000 journals in the library.

Siksha O Anusandhan is a tier 2 university. It offers quality education to the students and the better opportunities. SOA University offers various courses in different fields such as Engineering, Management, Law, Medical, Pharmacy, Nursing, Agriculture, and others. Students, who perform an average of 7 or 7 CGPA also get placed at top companies such as Infosys, TCS, Dell, and others.

Yes, DMIHER is a good university. Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education and Research (DMIHER), earlier known as Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences (DMIMS), is ranked 71st under the Overall category, 42nd under the University category, and 24th under the Dental category by NIRF 2024. DMIHER is accredited with A+ Grade by NAAC and has NABH and NABL-accredited laboratories. This deemed to be university is ISO certified.

The MBBS course fees of AIIMS Jodhpur is 24000. The courses fees of different courses are given below 

1. B.F.Sc - INR 62,500 (1st Yr Fees)
2. M.Sc -INR 52,000 (1st Yr Fees)
3. MBA - INR 92,000 (1st Yr Fees)
4. D.Pharm -INR 73,500 (1st Yr Fees)
5. B.Tech - INR 85,000 (1st Yr Fees)
6. B.Ed - INR 49,500 (1st Yr Fees)
7. BCA - INR 38,500 (1st Yr Fees)

According to me Mahatma Jyoti Rao Phoole University is more expensive than Jodhpur University.

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.

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.

Maharishi Markandeshwar University offers U courses across various streams such as Science, Engineering, Pharmacy, Law, Arts, and others. The fee structure is cumulative of multiple components, such as tuition fee, hostel fee, medical insurance, mess and other security deposits, etc. The below-mentioned are MMU Mullan fees: 

Courses	Fees
BTech	INR 6.74 lakh - 10.19 lakh
BPharma	INR 6.39 lakh
BPT	INR 5.53 lakh
BCA	INR 2.73 lakh

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

The courses offered at GMCH are -:

1. B.Sc.
2. MBBS
3. MD
4. BOPTM
5. MS
6. DM
7. Master of Surgery