The NEET UG counselling for 2025 is starting soon, and students hoping to secure MBBS seats in deemed universities are facing a financial shock. The central Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) manages the counselling process for these universities, but this year, many have raised their annual fees significantly. In fact, the highest MBBS fee has now soared to an astonishing ₹30.5 lakh per year, a huge increase from previous years.
In the 2022-23 academic year, only 16 deemed medical colleges had total MBBS tuition fees crossing ₹1 crore. Now, that number has doubled to 32, meaning that over half of all deemed universities have fees surpassing this mark. This alarming trend comes from an analysis of fee structures for the 2025-26 academic year at 54 private medical colleges, conducted by Careers360 and medical education counsellor Muzaffar Khan from Thane, Maharashtra.
The analysis focused solely on tuition and annual fees for regular management seats, excluding one-time admission payments and costs related to hostels and transport. Notably, fee structures for NRI students differ from those for Indian students. While most colleges maintain consistent fees, some increase them annually.
The rising MBBS fees in privately-run deemed universities have drawn criticism due to the lack of government oversight. For example, Tamil Nadu has recently set MBBS fees at ₹4.5 lakh for general seats and ₹15 lakh for management quota seats in self-financing colleges, which is considerably lower than the charges imposed by deemed universities in the same state.
Earlier this year, a parliamentary health panel expressed concern over the escalating costs of medical education and suggested a 50% fee reduction, alongside strict action against capitation fees. The latest findings reveal that 36 out of 54 deemed universities have increased their MBBS fees for the 2025-26 academic year, while 18 have kept them the same as last year.
Among the most costly institutions are the Bharati Vidyapeeth Medical College in Pune, which charges ₹28.6 lakh, and the DY Patil medical colleges in Pune and Navi Mumbai with fees of ₹27 lakh. In contrast, Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences in Bhubaneswar has maintained its annual MBBS fee at ₹18.5 lakh, as has the Hamdard Institute of Medical Sciences and Research in New Delhi, which has only made minor adjustments in fees over the years.
Muzaffar Khan has called for government intervention to regulate these rising costs. He stated, “There seems to be no respite from the fee hike. While the government previously discussed reducing fees for half of the private college seats to match government rates, no action has been taken.” Khan referred to a 2022 proposal by the National Medical Commission (NMC) to cap fees for a minimum of 50% of seats in private and deemed universities at equivalent government levels, a plan that has yet to be implemented.
The NEET UG 2025 counselling schedule has been released, and registration will begin on July 21. Students should prepare their documents and be ready for the counselling process, which is crucial for securing their desired medical seats. The increase in fees is a pressing issue for many students and their families, making it essential for prospective candidates to plan their finances carefully.
As students gear up for this year’s counselling, it is vital to stay informed and proactive. The situation highlights the need for greater transparency and fairness in medical education costs, as students continue to navigate an increasingly challenging landscape in their pursuit of a medical career.