Medical postgraduate (MD) course fees at private deemed universities have surged, with eight colleges now charging over Rs 2 crore for specific programs. An analysis shows 313 courses (42%) now exceed Rs 1 crore . Sri Siddhartha Academy of Higher Education (SSHAE), Tumkur, Karnataka, saw the sharpest increase for the 2025-26 academic year.
SSHAE increased annual tuition fees for MD Radiodiagnosis and MD Dermatology from Rs 31.5 lakh to Rs 70 lakh . This marks a 122% hike. With additional university and other fees, the three-year postgraduate courses now cost approximately Rs 2.14 crore . This makes SSMC Tumkur one of the nation’s most expensive medical colleges.
Santosh Medical College, Ghaziabad, remains the costliest institution for MD Radiodiagnosis, with an annual fee of Rs 76 lakh , totaling Rs 2.28 crore . Sree Balaji Medical College (SBMCH Chennai) is the second most expensive. It increased annual fees for its Radiodiagnosis and Dermatology programs by Rs 5 lakh each, reaching Rs 75 lakh per year, or Rs 2.25 crore over three years.
Medical education counsellor Muzaffar Khan and Careers360 analyzed fee structures for 720 courses at 44 private deemed university medical colleges. Their analysis confirms 15 programs across eight institutes now cost above Rs 2 crore , up from eight courses last year. 313 courses now exceed Rs 1 crore , compared to 260 last year.
Top MD Course Fees and Changes
The table below lists the ten most expensive postgraduate medical programs at deemed universities and their fee changes over the past year:
| Course | Institute | Fees (2024, Rs/year) | Fees (2025, Rs/year) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Radiodiagnosis | Santosh Medical College and Hospital, Ghaziabad | 76 lakh | 76 lakh |
| Radiodiagnosis | Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital, Chennai | 70 lakh | 75 lakh |
| Dermatology | Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital, Chennai | 70 lakh | 75 lakh |
| Dermatology | Sri Siddhartha Medical College, Tumkur | 31.5 lakh | 70 lakh |
| Radiodiagnosis | Sri Siddhartha Medical College, Tumkur | 31.5 lakh | 70 lakh |
| Dermatology | Sri Lakshmi Narayana Institute of Medical Science, Puducherry | 70 lakh | 70 lakh |
| OBGY | Dr DY Patil Medical College, Navi Mumbai | 68.5 lakh | 68.5 lakh |
| Radiodiagnosis | Dr DY Patil Medical College, Navi Mumbai | 68.5 lakh | 68.5 lakh |
| Dermatology | Dr DY Patil Medical College, Navi Mumbai | 68.5 lakh | 68.5 lakh |
| Radiodiagnosis | Dr DY Patil Medical College, Pune | 65 lakh | 68 lakh |
Approximately 44% of reviewed courses increased fees compared to last year. 55% maintained previous charges. A small number saw slight fee reductions.
Regulatory Scrutiny and Admissions
Private deemed universities frequently face criticism for high fees. A parliamentary panel on health earlier this year recommended a 50% fee reduction and strict controls on capitation fees. Admission to PG medicine programs depends on NEET PG scores. The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) centrally manages counselling for deemed universities under the Directorate General of Health Science (DGHS) and the Ministry of Health.
Clinical Branches Drive Higher Costs
A fee disparity exists between clinical and non-clinical medical specializations. Clinical branches, such as Radiodiagnosis and Dermatology, cost more. Their annual fees range from Rs 9 lakh to Rs 76 lakh . Non-clinical streams, like pathology, microbiology, and pharmacology, are less expensive, costing up to Rs 20 lakh annually. Some institutes even offer these programs for free. Radiodiagnosis and Dermatology remain the most expensive, with an average annual fee of Rs 48 lakh at deemed universities.
Sri Siddhartha Medical College Under Scrutiny
Sri Siddhartha Medical College, site of the largest fee hikes, faces legal and investigative issues. In August, the Karnataka High Court ordered the college to pay Rs 15 lakh compensation after a student’s wrongful MBBS admission denial in 2017-18. Earlier this year, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) searched organizations linked to state home minister G Parmeshwara, including SSHAE colleges, during a gold smuggling case probe.
Undergraduate Fees Also Rising
Undergraduate medical program fees also rose. The maximum annual MBBS fee now reaches Rs 30.5 lakh at Sree Balaji Medical College. The four-and-a-half-year program costs Rs 1.37 crore . Total student cost with additional fees exceeds Rs 1.5 crore . Deemed university colleges with an overall MBBS tuition fee over Rs 1 crore doubled from 16 in 2022-23 to 32 today. 36 out of 54 deemed universities revised MBBS fees this year.