NEET 2025 counselling: Students rush for deemed varsities with lower fees; cut-offs close faster, TN colleges lag

CHENNAI: Deemed universities that charge lower fees, even if they are new, were among the first choices of candidates aspiring to become doctors, as shown by the results of the round 1 counselling released by the Medical Counselling Committee.

The committee, led by the Directorate General of Health Services, allots seats online to students based on merit in NEET and the rule of reservation for 15% of seats under the all-India quota in state-run colleges, all central govt institutions, and deemed universities.

Students are required to choose and lock in their preferred medical colleges in order of preference.

Overall, the cut-off for All-India rank and NEET score was higher in 2025 at 215/720 marks in NEET 2025 (7.3 lakh all-India rank) compared to 135/720 marks in NEET 2024 (13.3 lakh all-India rank). "Although toppers' scores were lower, there was crowding in scores between 400-500," said R Saravanakumar, a NEET coach at a private institution.

Analysis of round 1 counselling results, however, showed the most opted medical college among deemed universities in the country is Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University in Manipal, which charges around 17.7 lakh every year.

The cut-offs in this college were the first to close at the all-India rank of 40008 with a NEET-2025 score of 511/720. The college was followed by Symbiosis Medical College for Women in Pune (47592 rank and 504 marks) and Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University, Mangalore (52466 rank and 500 marks).

Tamil Nadu colleges, which charge up to 30.5 lakh per year, were not among the top 20 choices of students. While colleges from Karnataka and Maharashtra were among the top 10 colleges to close early, a student with a rank of 263126 and 374 marks in NEET was the last to be given a seat at TN's Sri Ramachandra Medical College.

"When tuition fees per year are around 30 lakh, the overall fee for four years is nearly 1.2 crore. Parents may have to pay another 10-15 lakh more for boarding, lodging, books, and other fees," said student counsellor Manickavel Arumugam.