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List of Top Dental Colleges in India 2026: NIRF Ranks & Fees
The top 20 dental colleges in India by NIRF 2025 rank, with BDS/MDS admission through NEET UG, NEET MDS and MCC counselling, approximate fees, careers and FAQs.
Looking for the list of top dental colleges in India for 2026? This guide ranks the 20 best dental institutes using the official NIRF 2025 – Dental category (the latest edition confirmed so far), and explains BDS and MDS admission through NEET, approximate fees in government and private colleges, and the careers a dental degree opens up.
The NIRF 2025 results were announced by the Ministry of Education on 4 September 2025. In the Dental category, AIIMS New Delhi took the top spot in its very first year of participation, pushing Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai, to second place after three years at No. 1.
Quick answer: As per NIRF 2025 (Dental), the top 5 dental colleges in India are AIIMS New Delhi, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (Chennai), Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences (Delhi), Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth (Pune) and Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal. BDS admission is through NEET UG; MDS admission is through NEET MDS (INI-CET for AIIMS).
Top 20 dental colleges in India at a glance (NIRF 2025)
The table below follows the order published in the NIRF 2025 Dental ranking. Scores are out of 100. Type is shown in broad terms; always confirm the current status on the institute's own website.
| NIRF 2025 Rank | Institute | City, State | Type | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | All India Institute of Medical Sciences (CDER) | New Delhi, Delhi | Central (INI) | 89.12 |
| 2 | Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences | Chennai, Tamil Nadu | Deemed (private) | 85.31 |
| 3 | Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences | New Delhi, Delhi | Government | 72.55 |
| 4 | Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth | Pune, Maharashtra | Deemed (private) | 72.36 |
| 5 | Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal | Manipal, Karnataka | Deemed (MAHE) | 70.58 |
| 6 | A.B. Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences | Mangaluru, Karnataka | Deemed (Nitte) | 69.00 |
| 7 | King George's Medical University | Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh | State university | 68.89 |
| 8 | SRM Dental College | Chennai, Tamil Nadu | Private | 68.19 |
| 9 | Siksha 'O' Anusandhan | Bhubaneswar, Odisha | Deemed (private) | 63.12 |
| 10 | JSS Dental College and Hospital | Mysuru, Karnataka | Deemed (JSS AHER) | 62.59 |
| 11 | Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Mangalore | Mangaluru, Karnataka | Deemed (MAHE) | 62.43 |
| 12 | Postgraduate Institute of Dental Sciences | Rohtak, Haryana | Government | 62.03 |
| 13 | Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research | Chennai, Tamil Nadu | Deemed (private) | 61.28 |
| 14 | Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham | Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu* | Deemed (private) | 60.83 |
| 15 | Banaras Hindu University | Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh | Central university | 60.14 |
| 16 | Meenakshi Academy of Higher Education and Research | Chennai, Tamil Nadu | Deemed (private) | 59.92 |
| 17 | Jamia Millia Islamia | New Delhi, Delhi | Central university | 59.50 |
| 18 | Faculty of Dental Sciences, Institute of Medical Sciences | Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh | Central (BHU) | 58.21 |
| 19 | Nair Hospital Dental College | Mumbai, Maharashtra | Municipal (government) | 58.10 |
| 20 | Government Dental College, Nagpur | Nagpur, Maharashtra | Government | 57.70 |
Note: *NIRF lists Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham under its headquarters in Coimbatore; its dental school, Amrita School of Dentistry, is on the Kochi campus in Kerala. NIRF also lists BHU (rank 15) and the Faculty of Dental Sciences, IMS (rank 18) as separate entries, both in Varanasi. The full table is on nirfindia.org.
Profiles of the top 10 dental colleges
Here is a short look at the ten highest-ranked dental institutes. Fees are approximate and based on recent years, so treat them as a rough guide only.
1. AIIMS New Delhi – Centre for Dental Education and Research (CDER)
AIIMS New Delhi entered the NIRF Dental ranking for the first time in 2025 and went straight to No. 1. Its dental work runs through the Centre for Dental Education and Research, which grew out of a dental surgery department set up in 1960. The focus is mainly on postgraduate training, research and complex patient care.
- Dental department since: 1960 (CDER foundation stone laid in 2003)
- Type: Institute of National Importance (Central Government)
- NIRF 2025: Dental rank 1 (score 89.12)
- Popular programmes: MDS in Orthodontics, Prosthodontics, Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Paediatric and Preventive Dentistry
- Admission via: INI-CET for MDS (AIIMS does not take MDS students through NEET MDS)
- Approx. fees: Very low, as at all AIIMS institutes; check aiims.edu
2. Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Chennai
Saveetha Dental College and Hospital is the dental arm of SIMATS, a deemed university in Chennai. It topped the NIRF Dental ranking in the three cycles before 2025. It has a large hospital and very high research output, though its research practices have drawn public criticism, and NIRF 2025 began deducting marks for retracted papers.
- Established: 1988 (dental college)
- Type: Deemed to be University (private)
- NIRF 2025: Dental rank 2 (score 85.31)
- Popular courses: BDS, MDS (all major specialities), PhD
- Admission via: NEET UG (MCC deemed university counselling) and NEET MDS
- Approx. fees: BDS several lakh rupees per year; see saveetha.com
3. Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences (MAIDS), New Delhi
MAIDS is a Delhi Government dental college on the Maulana Azad Medical College campus and is affiliated to the University of Delhi. It is the highest-ranked dental college that admits BDS students at government fees, so its NEET cut-offs are among the highest in the country.
- Type: Government (Delhi Government, affiliated to University of Delhi)
- NIRF 2025: Dental rank 3 (score 72.55)
- Popular courses: BDS, MDS
- Admission via: NEET UG (15% AIQ through MCC, the rest through Delhi quota) and NEET MDS
- Approx. fees: Nominal, in the range of a few thousand rupees a year
4. Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth, Pune
Dr. D. Y. Patil Dental College and Hospital at Pimpri, Pune, is part of Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth, a deemed university. It is known for its large clinical workload and well-equipped departments.
- Type: Deemed to be University (private)
- NIRF 2025: Dental rank 4 (score 72.36)
- Popular courses: BDS, MDS, certificate courses
- Admission via: NEET UG (MCC deemed counselling) and NEET MDS
- Approx. fees: private deemed-university BDS fees; check the current fee notice on the official site
5. Manipal College of Dental Sciences (MCODS), Manipal
MCODS Manipal is one of the oldest private dental schools in India and a constituent of Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE). It attracts many students from other states and abroad.
- Established: 1965
- Type: Deemed to be University (MAHE, private)
- NIRF 2025: Dental rank 5 (score 70.58)
- Popular courses: BDS, MDS, PhD
- Admission via: NEET UG (MCC deemed counselling) and NEET MDS
- Approx. fees: BDS total about ₹22 lakh (approx., 2025)
6. A.B. Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences, Mangaluru
ABSMIDS is the dental college of Nitte (Deemed to be University). It is known for strong clinical training and community dental programmes in coastal Karnataka.
- Established: 1985
- Type: Deemed to be University (Nitte, private)
- NIRF 2025: Dental rank 6 (score 69.00)
- Popular courses: BDS, MDS
- Admission via: NEET UG (MCC deemed counselling) and NEET MDS
- Approx. fees: Several lakh rupees per year; check the Nitte website
7. King George's Medical University (KGMU), Lucknow
KGMU's Faculty of Dental Sciences is one of the biggest government dental schools in North India. Its hospital serves a very large number of patients, so students get plenty of hands-on practice.
- Type: State university (Uttar Pradesh Government)
- NIRF 2025: Dental rank 7 (score 68.89)
- Popular courses: BDS, MDS
- Admission via: NEET UG (15% AIQ via MCC, 85% UP state counselling) and NEET MDS
- Approx. fees: Low (government fee structure)
8. SRM Dental College, Chennai
SRM Dental College, Ramapuram, is a well-known private dental school in Chennai with a busy attached hospital.
- Type: Private
- NIRF 2025: Dental rank 8 (score 68.19)
- Popular courses: BDS, MDS
- Admission via: NEET UG and NEET MDS through the applicable counselling
- Approx. fees: Private-college range; check the official site
9. Siksha 'O' Anusandhan (SOA), Bhubaneswar
SOA's Institute of Dental Sciences is the top-ranked dental school in eastern India in NIRF 2025.
- Type: Deemed to be University (private)
- NIRF 2025: Dental rank 9 (score 63.12)
- Popular courses: BDS, MDS
- Admission via: NEET UG (MCC deemed counselling) and NEET MDS
- Approx. fees: Private-college range; check the official site
10. JSS Dental College and Hospital, Mysuru
JSS Dental College is part of JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research, a deemed university in Mysuru, and is respected for its academic record and patient care.
- Type: Deemed to be University (private)
- NIRF 2025: Dental rank 10 (score 62.59)
- Popular courses: BDS, MDS
- Admission via: NEET UG (MCC deemed counselling) and NEET MDS
- Approx. fees: Private-college range; check the official site
Ranks 11 to 20 also include strong options, especially the government colleges: PGIDS Rohtak, BHU, Jamia Millia Islamia, Nair Hospital Dental College Mumbai and Government Dental College Nagpur. These offer top-quality training at much lower fees.
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BDS and MDS: courses at dental colleges
BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery) is the undergraduate dental degree. It lasts five years: four years of study followed by a one-year compulsory rotating internship. To be eligible, you need to have passed Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry, Biology and English and to have qualified NEET UG.
MDS (Master of Dental Surgery) is a three-year postgraduate degree in a speciality such as orthodontics, prosthodontics, endodontics, periodontics, oral surgery or paediatric dentistry. You need a BDS degree, a completed internship and a qualifying NEET MDS score (or INI-CET for AIIMS and other INIs).
Check recognition: Choose only colleges and seats approved by the National Dental Commission (NDC), which replaced the Dental Council of India in March 2026. A degree from a college without valid approval for your batch can cause problems with registration and practice later.
How admission to top dental colleges works in 2026
Admission to every BDS seat in India, government or private, goes through NEET UG, which is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). After the result, seats are filled through several counselling channels.
- Take NEET UG: Qualify NEET UG with at least the minimum percentile for your category.
- MCC counselling (mcc.nic.in): The Medical Counselling Committee fills 15% All India Quota seats in government dental colleges, plus seats in deemed universities and in central universities like BHU, AMU and Jamia Millia Islamia.
- State counselling: The remaining 85% state quota seats in government colleges, and seats in state private colleges, are filled by each state's counselling authority. Domicile rules apply.
- Choice filling and allotment: Fill your preferred colleges, accept the seat you are allotted, and report with your documents within the deadline. MCC normally holds several rounds and a stray vacancy round.
- For MDS: Take NEET MDS, run by NBEMS (the 2026 exam was held on 2 May 2026). MCC fills 50% All India Quota MDS seats and deemed/central university seats, and states fill the rest. AIIMS and other INIs admit through INI-CET.
Note: Seat-sharing rules, dates and eligibility can change every year. Always check the latest information bulletin on mcc.nic.in and your state counselling website.
Fees at government vs private dental colleges
Fees vary much more for dentistry than for most other courses. The table below gives broad, approximate ranges for recent years.
| College type | Approx. BDS fees per year | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Central / government | A few thousand to about ₹1 lakh | MAIDS Delhi, KGMU, PGIDS Rohtak, Govt Dental College Nagpur |
| Private (state quota) | About ₹2 lakh to ₹6 lakh | Fees fixed by the state fee regulation committee |
| Deemed universities | About ₹4 lakh to ₹8 lakh or more | Saveetha, Manipal, Nitte, D. Y. Patil, SOA |
MDS fees at private and deemed colleges can be much higher, especially for clinical specialities such as orthodontics. Hostel, mess and caution deposits are extra.
Verify fees: These figures are approximate. Check the official fee notice of each college and the counselling authority before you lock your choices.
How to choose the right dental college
- Clinical exposure: The more patients a college treats, the more procedures you will perform yourself. Large government hospitals are strong here.
- NDC approval: Confirm that the college and its seat intake are approved by the NDC for your admission year.
- Total cost: Add up tuition, hostel and other fees for all five years, not just the first year.
- Faculty and PG seats: Colleges with many MDS departments usually have experienced teachers and better research facilities.
- Location: Think about distance from home, language and living costs.
Tip: A government dental college at rank 20 is often a better deal than a private one at rank 10, because the fees are a fraction of the cost and the patient flow is usually high. Use NIRF as one input, not the only one.
Career options after BDS and MDS
A dental degree leads to several career paths in India and abroad. Many graduates start in private practice, either by joining an established clinic or setting up their own.
- Clinical practice: General dentist or specialist (after MDS) in your own clinic or a hospital.
- Government jobs: Dental surgeon posts in state health services, the Armed Forces Dental Corps, railways and public sector hospitals.
- Teaching and research: Faculty posts in dental colleges generally need an MDS.
- Public health and industry: Public health dentistry, clinical research, dental product companies, and healthcare management (often with an MPH or MBA).
- Abroad: Some graduates practise abroad after clearing licensing exams in countries such as the UK, USA, Canada or Australia.
Scholarships and financial help for dental students
Dental education, especially at private and deemed universities, is a big financial commitment, so look at scholarships early. You can find options on the National Scholarship Portal (NSP), including post-matric scholarships for SC, ST, OBC and minority students, and in state scholarship schemes. Many deemed universities also give merit-based fee waivers.
The AISEE scholarship exam is another option worth considering. You can read about awards for BDS and MBBS aspirants on the AISEE scholarship for medical students page, and you can browse more schemes in this guide to scholarships after 12th in India. Education loans from banks under schemes like the Central Sector Interest Subsidy Scheme can help cover the rest.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the No. 1 dental college in India?
According to NIRF 2025 (Dental category), the No. 1 dental institute is AIIMS New Delhi with a score of 89.12. Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai, is second. Among colleges that admit BDS students at government fees, Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences, Delhi (rank 3) is the highest-ranked.
Has NIRF 2026 dental ranking been released?
We could not confirm an official NIRF 2026 Dental list at the time of writing, so this guide uses NIRF 2025, released on 4 September 2025. Check nirfindia.org for the newest edition.
Is NEET compulsory for BDS admission?
Yes. Admission to all BDS seats in India, in government, private and deemed colleges alike, is based on NEET UG scores. There is no separate entrance exam for BDS.
How are BDS seats filled through MCC and state counselling?
MCC fills the 15% All India Quota seats in government dental colleges plus deemed and central university seats. The 85% state quota seats and private college seats are filled by state counselling authorities, usually with domicile rules.
What is the fee for BDS in a government dental college?
Government BDS fees are usually low, from a few thousand rupees to around ₹1 lakh per year depending on the state (approx.). Private and deemed colleges can charge from about ₹2 lakh to over ₹8 lakh per year.
Which exam is needed for MDS admission?
Most MDS seats are filled through NEET MDS, conducted by NBEMS. AIIMS and other Institutes of National Importance admit MDS students through INI-CET instead.
How long is the BDS course?
BDS lasts five years, made up of four years of academic study and a one-year compulsory rotating internship.
Conclusion: picking from the top dental colleges in India
This list of top dental colleges in India is a strong starting point, but the right choice depends on your NEET rank, budget and state. Shortlist a mix of AIIMS-style central institutes, government colleges and well-ranked deemed universities. Then check NDC approval, fees and counselling dates on official sites. As your next step, prepare well for NEET UG and line up scholarships early so that money does not limit your choice of college.
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