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 offers admission for UG, PG, Doctoral and Super Speciality courses such as BSc, MSc, MD, MDS, MS, and PhD, among others. Admission to any of the course is conducted based on entrance. Therefore, candidates must  prepare for the accepted entrance exams such as NEET UG, AIIMS Paramedical Entrance Exam, INICET, Joint CSIR-UGC NET for JRF/ ICMR - JRF/ ICMR- SRF/ DBT - JRF/ NBHM screening test/ INSPIRE fellowship. 

The accepted entrance exams may vary as per the choice of course opted for. Candidates must analyse the cutoffs to learn more about the probability of qualifying for AIIMS Delhi and securing a seat. Although, every admission year is more challenging than the previous one, candidates can still make it by putting in some efforts and work on those grades.

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 is a reputed institution of PG Diploma in the following areas: b.s., m.d., certificate BASLP, MD, DM, M.Ch. FNB (Fellow of National Board), Ph.D., MPH, MS, MDS, MBBS. These programs may be chosen by students to pursue careers in the fields of medicine and health sciences, nursing. The institute's trained and experienced faculty are delivering these programs. According to the student evaluations, JIPMER Pondicherry had a rating of 4.7. Moreover, it was accorded a grade of 4.7 on campus life, 4.1 on placements, 5 on faculty and 4.6 on infrastructure.

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+

Yes, Chandigarh University campus is safe for girls and boys. The college campus is located in Punjab. It has a good connection with roads and public transports. CCTV cameras are installed in the campus to keep a check on students safety. 

Siksha O Anusandhan University is a eminent university and accredited by NBA, NABHL, NABH, ICAR, ABET and NAAC A+ Grade. The university is approved by the AICTE, UGC and SIRO. SOA University Bhubaneswar has been ranked the 15 under the University category and 22 under the Enginnering category by the NIRF Ranking 2025. The university appoints well-trained and expert faculty members with years of experince. 

 It is observable that in the 'Ayurveda' category, the institute's ranks have shown stability in trend when evaluated against the ranking of the past year. In 2025, DMIHER's rank is #5, the same as last year's rank in the 'Ayurveda' category by the Outlook-ICARE ranking.

Yes, AIIMS Jodhpur is one of the highest ranked colleges present in India. All India Institute of Medical Sciences AIIMS Jodhpur ranking is given by various ranking bodies such as NIRF, India Today, The Week,  and others. The below-mentioned are AIIMS Jodhpur ranking details:

Ranking Body	Ranks
India Today 2024 under the Medical category	14
NIRF 2024 under the Medical category	16
NIRF 2024 under the Overall category	83
The Week 2023 under the University (Medical) category	8
NIRF 2023 under the Medical category	13
India Today 2023 under the Medical category	19
NIRF 2022 under the Medical category	16
India Today 2022 under the Medical category	21
NIRF 2022 under the Overall category	86

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.

Yes, MMU Mullana is accredited with NAAC. Maharishi Markandeshwar University, also known as MMDU is a Deemed to be University, is located in Mullana, Haryana. It has been approved by UGC and accredited by NAAC with Grade 'A+'. The University has two other campuses that are located in Karnal and Solan. It offers various UG and PG courses across different streams such as Management, Engineering, Dental, Medical, Law, Agriculture, Pharmacy, etc. The flagship courses are BTech, BSc and MBA.

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 conducts its own entrance exam for admission to UG, PG and MBA programmes. The test is conducted for three hours and includes a total of 180 multiple-choice questions. Besides, the deemed-to-be university also accepts NEET-UG, NEET-MDS and other national-level entrance exams for admission to specific courses.

GMCH Chandigarh - Government Medical College and Hospital is a reputed institute for DM, Master of Surgery, B.Sc., BOPTM, MBBS, MD, MS. Students can opt these programs to pursue their career in Medicine & Health Sciences, Nursing. Institute has trained & experienced faculty who deliver these programs. GMCH Chandigarh - Government Medical College and Hospital has a review rating of 4.5 on the basis of reviews by students. In addition to this, it has been rated 4.4 on campuslife, 4.3 on placements, 4.5 on faculty and 4.5 on Infrastructure.