Updated on Jun 18, 2026 12:17 IST
Tasbiya Khan

Tasbiya KhanSenior Executive

Top Medical Colleges in Karnataka 2026: Ranking, Fees, Courses, Admission

Candidates going for Medicine courses in Karnataka either get admission by merit or through the NEET entrance. The top medical colleges in Karnataka have the recognition of the Medical Council of India and the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences. Medicine courses are at UG, PG, and Diploma levels. Programmes from such institutes in this state are MBBS, BAMS, BHMS, BPT, and Nursing. Careers after these include doctor, dentist, surgeon, and cardiologist, among others. NIMHANS, KMC, JSS Medical College and M S Ramaiah Medical College are the top-ranked ones in the state.  

Key Highlights of the Top Medical College in Karnataka 2026

On admissions, NEET UG and NEET PG are the entrance exams used for MBBS and MD admissions respectively, with NEET UG conducted by the National Board of Examinations, and there's no direct admission route into MBBS in Karnataka; even management quota seats require a valid NEET score. Check below for key highlights - 

Parameters

Particulars

Total no. of Medical Colleges in Karnataka

7 colleges

Top Medical Colleges in Karnataka

NIMHANS, KMC Manipal, St. John's Medical College, etc.

Fee range of Karnataka Medical colleges

~ INR 12,000 - INR 1+ Cr.

Top Medical Specialisations in Karnataka

Perfusion Technology, Psychiatry

Accepted Entrance Exams

NEET

Top Medical Colleges in Karnataka: NIRF Ranking 2025

NIMHANS Bengaluru holds the highest position among Karnataka colleges at All India Rank 7, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal follows at Rank 10, St. John's Medical College, Bengaluru comes in at Rank 30. Here is the table below showing NIRF rankings 2024 and 2025 of top Medical colleges in Karnataka.

Top Colleges

NIRF 2024

NIRF 2025

NIMHANS Bangalore Ranking

4 7

KMC Manipal Ranking

9 10

St. John's Medical College Ranking

28 30

Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore Ranking

33 35

JSS Medical College, Mysore Ranking

39 37

M. S. Ramaiah Medical College Ranking

46 50

Source: The above mentioned rankings are taken from NIRF official site and may/will change.

The Week Ranking 2025 of the top Medical colleges in Karnataka

The table below shows the top Medical colleges in Karnataka along with the Week ranking 2025:

Top Colleges The Week Ranking 2025
KMC Manipal 7
St. John’s National Academy of Health Sciences 13
M S Ramaiah Medical College 19
KMC Mangalore 20
K.S. Hegde Medical Academy 27

Source: The above mentioned rankings have been taken from the Week official site and may/will change.

Eligibility Criteria to get Admission to Karnataka Medical Colleges 2026

Listed below is the eligibility criteria to get admission to the top Medical colleges in Karnataka.

  • Candidates must complete their Class 12 boards with a minimum 50% aggregate marks in PCB subjects and clear NEET entrance exam.
  • Should be 17 years and above on the date of admission.

NEET Entrance Exam Accepted in Karnataka Medical Colleges 2026

To take admission to the top Medical colleges in Karnataka, candidates must have passed Class 12 boards or through entrance exam like NEET. Listed below is the entrance exam accepted in the MBBS colleges in Karnataka with schedule and NEET college predictor -

Exam Name

Exam Schedule

Exam Cutoff Predictor

NEET NEET Schedule NEET College Predictor

Top Private Medical Colleges in Karnataka

Karnataka best private medical colleges. Best Private medical colleges in Karnataka is known for their academic excellence, superb clinical exposure, and robust research facilities. The best medical colleges are listed as KMC manipal, St. John's bangalore, JSS Mysore, MS Ramaiah, etc. Admissions are mostly through NEET-UG and KEA counselling for government quota and private quota seats in the best medical colleges in Karnataka.

Private Colleges

Total Tuition Fee

NIRF 2025

KMC Manipal Medical Courses

INR 13.66 lakh

10

St. John’s Medical College Medical Courses

INR 30 lakh

30

Kasturba Medical College Mangalore Medical Courses

INR 6.91 lakh

35

JSS Medical College Medical Courses

INR 5.40 lakh

37

Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College Medical Courses

INR 86.40 lakh

46

M.S. Ramaiah Medical College Medical Courses

INR 1.25 Cr

50

Source: The above mentioned data has been taken from the official colleges website and may vary.

ROI of Top Private Medical Colleges in Karnataka

JSS Medical College and Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore, are the best value-for-money private medical colleges in Karnataka, when it comes to the ROI at top private medical colleges in Karnataka, with the minimum fee of just INR 5.40 lakh and INR 6.91 lakh, respectively, whereas Kasturba Medical College, Manipal offers the highest median package of INR 11.75 LPA, and M S Ramaiah Medical College charges the highest fee of INR 1.25 Cr in exchange for a median package of INR 6.60 LPA.
Top Colleges Tuition Fee Median Package
Kasturba Medical College Manipal Placements INR 13.66 lakh INR 11.75 LPA
St. John’s National Academy of Health Sciences Placements INR 30 lakh INR 5.50 LPA
Kasturba Medical College Mangalore Placements INR 6.91 lakh INR 9.20 LPA
JSS Medical College Placements INR 5.40 lakh INR 9.75 LPA
M S Ramaiah Medical College Placements INR 1.25 Cr INR 6.60 LPA

Source: The above mentioned data has been taken from the official colleges website and may vary.

Top Government Medical Colleges in Karnataka

Top government medical college in Karnataka include NIMHANS Bangalore is known for its high clinical exposure, low fees and good PG ranking. To get admission, a high NEET-UG rank is required. The 590-600+ cut off is common for general/OBC. Given below is the college with tuition fee and NIRF ranking 2025 -

College Name

Total Tuition Fee

NIRF 2025

National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences Admission

INR 12,200

7

Source: The above mentioned data has been taken from the official colleges website and may vary.

Top Low-Cost Medical Colleges in Karnataka

NIMHANS is the only government Medical college in Karnataka having tuition fees of less than INR 1 lakh. Listed below is the top affordable college -

College Name Tuition Fee NIRF 2025
NIMHANS Fees INR 12,200 7

Source: The above mentioned data has been taken from the official colleges website and may vary.

Top Medical Colleges in Karnataka: Comparison 2026

To check the comparison between the top Medical Colleges in Karnataka government rank wise, click the link below:  

Read More

Selected Filters

Location

Total Fees

Rating

Ownership

Specialization

Exams Accepted

7
NIRF ' 25
(All India)
National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences
4.3

Placements

4.3

Infrastructure

4.6

Faculty & Course Curriculum

4.2

Crowd & Campus Life

4.2

Value for Money

4.2

Learning Experience

0.0

Course Support

0.0
(9)
Fees: 12,200
Not Ranked
India Today ' 26
Not Ranked
The Week ' 26
Not Ranked
QS World University Rankings ' 26
10
NIRF ' 25
(All India)
Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, Manipal Academy of Higher Education
4.5

Placements

4.5

Infrastructure

4.6

Faculty & Course Curriculum

4.6

Crowd & Campus Life

4.7

Value for Money

4.4

Learning Experience

0.0

Course Support

0.0
(43)
Fees: 13.66 Lakh
Salary : 11.75 Lakh
11
India Today ' 26
6
The Week ' 26
Not Ranked
QS World University Rankings ' 26
30
NIRF ' 25
(All India)
St. John’s National Academy of Health Sciences
4.4

Placements

4.5

Infrastructure

4.5

Faculty & Course Curriculum

4.5

Crowd & Campus Life

4.5

Value for Money

4.0

Learning Experience

0.0

Course Support

0.0
(13)
Fees: 30.00 Lakh
Salary : 5.50 Lakh
24
India Today ' 26
13
The Week ' 26
Not Ranked
QS World University Rankings ' 26
35
NIRF ' 25
(All India)
Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore, Manipal Academy of Higher Education
4.3

Placements

4.4

Infrastructure

4.3

Faculty & Course Curriculum

4.5

Crowd & Campus Life

4.2

Value for Money

4.2

Learning Experience

0.0

Course Support

0.0
(19)
Fees: 6.91 Lakh
Salary : 9.20 Lakh
28
India Today ' 26
21
The Week ' 26
Not Ranked
QS World University Rankings ' 26
37
NIRF ' 25
(All India)
JSS Medical College, JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research
4.2

Placements

4.1

Infrastructure

4.3

Faculty & Course Curriculum

4.2

Crowd & Campus Life

4.2

Value for Money

4.1

Learning Experience

0.0

Course Support

0.0
(59)
Fees: 5.40 Lakh
Salary : 9.75 Lakh
Not Ranked
India Today ' 26
Not Ranked
The Week ' 26
Not Ranked
QS World University Rankings ' 26
Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
On Top Medical Colleges in Karnataka 2026: Ranking, Fees, Courses, Admission
Q:   Which is the No.1 Medical college in Karnataka?
A: 

Hi, NIMHANS or National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences is the top Medical college in Karnataka according to NIRF 2025 under the Medical category.

Q:   How can I get MBBS seat at St John's Medical College?
A: 

After counselling is over, the Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA), Bangalore, announces the St. John's Medical College NEET Cutoff. For 15% of the All India Quota (AIQ) seats, the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) will announce the St. John's Medical College NEET Cutoff.  Only those who successfully pass the NEET exam will be qualified for counselling and seat allocation. Tabulated below are the cutoffs of NEET 2023:

CategoryNEET 2023 Cutoff PercentileNEET 2023 Cutoff Marks
General/EWS50720-137
OBC, SC, ST40136-107
General/EWS/PH45136-121
OBC & PH40120-107
SC & PH40120-107
ST & PH40120-108

Candidates can click here for a detailed information about NEET cutoff 2023.

Q:   How many top ranked Medical colleges in Karnataka?
A: 

Karnataka has about 6 top ranked Medical colleges. Of these, 6 are private colleges and 1 is government college. Karnataka is the top medical education location in India.

Top vcolleges are RGUHS is a well-established university that governs medical education in the state. NIMHANS, KMC, St. John's National Academy of Health Sciences, JSS Medical College and M S Ramaiah Medical College are the best Medical colleges in KarnatakaNEET is the popular entrance exam for admission to top 10 Medical colleges in Karnataka.

Q:   Can I get a medical college in Karnataka with a low NEET score?
A: 

Yes, several private medical colleges in Karnataka accept admission through the management or NRI quota at a comparatively lower NEET score, though fees are significantly higher than government seats. Some of the top private colleges are mentionedbelow -

Private Colleges

Total Tuition Fee

Jawaharlal Manipal Medical Courses

INR 13.66 lakh

Jawaharlal John's Medical College Medical Courses

INR 30 lakh

Kasturba Medical College Mangalore Medical Courses

INR 6.91 lakh

JSS Medical College Medical Courses

INR 5.40 lakh

Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College Medical Courses

INR 86.40 lakh

M.S. Ramaiah Medical College Medical Courses

INR 1.25 Cr

46
NIRF ' 25
(All India)
Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, KLE Academy of Higher Education and Research
4.2

Placements

4.1

Infrastructure

4.6

Faculty & Course Curriculum

4.7

Crowd & Campus Life

4.1

Value for Money

3.8

Learning Experience

0.0

Course Support

0.0
(9)
Fees: 86.40 Lakh
Salary : 4.08 Lakh
39
India Today ' 26
Not Ranked
The Week ' 26
Not Ranked
QS World University Rankings ' 26
50
NIRF ' 25
(All India)
M S Ramaiah Medical College
4.3

Placements

4.0

Infrastructure

4.4

Faculty & Course Curriculum

4.4

Crowd & Campus Life

4.2

Value for Money

4.1

Learning Experience

0.0

Course Support

0.0
(23)
Fees: 1.25 Crores
Salary : 6.60 Lakh
23
India Today ' 26
18
The Week ' 26
Not Ranked
QS World University Rankings ' 26
Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
On Top Medical Colleges in Karnataka 2026: Ranking, Fees, Courses, Admission
Q:   Can I pursue MBBS course through online or part-time?
A: 

No, Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS full form in Medical) cannot be done fully online because of the nature of the program. The MBBS program is highly practical and clinical. An MBBS course includes strict hands-on training, clinical placements, and practical classes. 

While we can find some theoretical component, or some other courses in medicine that could be online, a full MBBS degree requires face to face on campus, and non-academic contact with patients, nurses and allied health workers to meet minimum competency set down by medical councils. 

Q:   What are the scholarships available for MBBS students in India?
A: 

There are various scholarships available for students pursuing a Bachelor of Medicine or Bachelor of Surgery degree. You can find them in the section below.

MBBS Colleges

MBBS Scholarships

AIIMS Delhi

  • Post-Matric Scholarship

  • Merit cum Means Scholarship Schemes for Minority Communities

  • Post-Matric Top-Class/MCM Scholarship Schemes

King George's Medical University (KGMU) 

  • Grant – In – Aid for Students Presenting Research Paper in a Scientific Event

  • Financial Aid for Needy Undergraduate Students (In Campus Part-Time Jobs)

  • Scholarship Scheme under Dean Student Welfare

Madras Medical College

  • Central sector scholarship (MBBS)
    CBSE scholarship (MBBS)
    Free Education Scholarship (MBBS)

St. John's Medical College

  • The Cardinal Gracias Scholarship

  • The SJMC Alumni Association Scholarships

Kasturba Medical College, Manipal

  • Merit Scholarship for Post Graduate (PG) Medical / Dental and Super Specialty Programs

  • Kalam-Pai, Freeship and Scholars Scholarship for MBBS

Q:   Are there any private Medical colleges in Karnataka?
A: 

Hi, among the top Medical Colleges, 6 top Medical colleges are owned privately and listed below are the best private Medical colleges in Karnataka:

Private Colleges

Total Tuition Fee

NIRF 2025

KMC Manipal Admission

INR 12.42 lakh

10

St. John’s Medical College Admission

INR 30 lakh

30

Kasturba Medical College Mangalore Admission

INR 43.95 lakh

35

JSS Medical College Admission

INR 5.40 lakh

37

M.S. Ramaiah Medical College Admission

INR 6.35 lakh

50

Source: Official site and may vary.



Q:   What are the top government Medical colleges in Karnataka?
A: 

Hi, among the top Medical Colleges, 1 top Medical college is owned by the government and listed below are the best government Medical colleges in Karnataka:

College Name

Total Tuition Fee/Seat Intake

NIRF 2025

National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences Admission

INR 12,200

7

Source: Official site and may vary.
Q:   What was the highest package offered at Kasturba Medical College, Manipal?
A: 

The KMC Manipal highest package has not been disclosed yet. Once released it will be updated here. Meanwhile, students can refer to the median package given in the table below:

Particulars 

Placement Statistics (2024)

Median Package 

INR 9.5 LPA (MBBS)

NOTE: The above data is obtained from the NIRF report 2025

Q:   Is doing MBBS from KMC Manipal worth it?
A: 

KMC Manipal provides good placements to its graduating students. The students are given excellent placement support every year placing them in top companies. Check out the table below to know the key highlights of the KMC Manipal placements 2024:

Course 

Total Students (2024)

Students Placed (2024)

Median Salary (2024)

MBBS

223

193

INR 9.5 LPA

NOTE: The above data is obtained from the NIRF report 2025

Other popular Medicine & Health Sciences colleges in Karnataka

4 Courses
3 L - 5.08 L
1.8 - 3.2 LPA
80 K - 20.95 L
4.1 - 12 LPA
8 Courses
2.6 - 3.4 LPA
1.8 L - 5.73 L
2.84 L - 27.12 L
10.5 L - 12.5 L
4.2
59 Courses
56.77 K - 6.83 L
4.1

#14 India Today

1.67 L - 37.92 L
8 LPA

Top 15 in Bangalore

60 K - 7.75 L
30 K - 89.4 L
1.6 - 8.64 LPA

#10 The Week

2.9 L - 4.08 L
4.5

#31 India Today

38 Courses
7 K - 21.42 L
8.4 LPA

#7 Outlook

3.28 L - 47.25 L
0.4 LPA

Top 25 in Karnataka

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45 Courses
45 K - 1.17 Cr
4 - 18 LPA

#19 The Week

8 Courses
3.83 L - 11.18 L
1.44 - 2.8 LPA
1.88 L - 10.02 L
6.8 - 11.75 LPA

Top 25 in Karnataka

17 Courses
1.75 L - 2.9 L
3.4
3.6 L - 6.4 L
5.2 - 8.16 LPA

Top 15 in Bangalore

6.68 L
14 Courses
1.32 L - 43.53 L
3.8 - 5 LPA

Top 25 in Karnataka

26 Courses
5 K - 15 L
8.35 - 10.76 LPA
6.91 L - 1.35 Cr
3.8

Top 25 in Karnataka

1.67 L - 15.91 L
1.8 L - 6.85 L
17 Courses
1.04 L - 18.2 L
4 - 7 LPA

Top 25 in Karnataka

2.84 L - 27.12 L
3.15 LPA

Top 15 in Bangalore

Select any publisher to see further ranking
NIRF 2025India Today 2026The Week 2026