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.

BA LLB from Jamia Hamdard is undoubtedly a good choice though it is not ranked by NIRF 2025, the university still has a strong legal department with its Hamdard Institute of Legal Studies and Research and has been approved by the BCI.

Some strong pros of BA LLB from Jamia Hamdard include:

• According to reviews the university focuses on making students industry ready by providing on field experience.
• Exposure through Legal Aid Clinic and Legal Literacy Club in collaboration with Delhi Legal Service Authority.
• Further most of the faculty at Jamia Hamdard hold Ph.D. degrees and are well experienced

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.

LPU does not offer direct admission. However, admission to few courses is merit-based.  Aspirants scoring a 65% aggregate have a good chance of getting admission in LPU. Candidates seeking admission must visit the official website of the university to apply online. To apply for LPU, aspirants need to register for LPUNEST for admission to undergraduate and postgraduate courses. LPU admission to most of the courses is based on LPUNEST score. However, national-level entrance exam scores are also accepted for admission to BA LLB (Hons), MBA, BTech, etc. Candidates must complete Class 12 for UG courses and graduation for PG courses. The selection rounds are followed by counselling and document verification.

Starting first year at Chandigarh University is an exciting transition. Students should focus on maintaining high attendance, actively engaging with faculty mentors & balancing academics with campus life.

Siksha 'O' Anusandhan University Admission 2026 is open for all courses. Siksha 'O' Anusandhan University offers a number of UG, PG, and doctoral courses. Candidates may apply for admission by filling the SAAT 2026 application forms. Popular courses include MBA, MCA, MBBS, and PhD.

Students can follow this process to fill application form:

DMIHER releases admission notifications on website. 

Fill out online application form.

Pay application fee & attach a scanned copy of docs.

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.

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, 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.

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

GMCH Chandigarh has a well-equipped campus with the required facilities to improve student's learning experience. It has 5 Hospital blocks, Central library, Seminar and lecture halls, Cafeteria, etc. The hospital is well facilitated with emergency areas for various specialties, ICU, operation theatres, private wards, canteen, etc. The Chandigarh Medical College offers hostel facilities and other facilities to the students.