NEET 2025: Expert PU College’s Nikhil Sonnad Leads Karnataka with AIR 17
Mangaluru, June 17, 2025: In a major achievement, Nikhil Sonnad, a student of Expert Pre-University College, Mangaluru, has secured 17th rank at the All India level in the NEET UG 2025 examination, emerging as the topper from Karnataka and all of South India.
According to a press statement Nikhil scored 670 out of 720 marks in what has been described as one of the toughest editions of NEET. Adding to his accolades, he earlier secured a perfect 100 in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology in the Second PUC exams. In the KCET 2025, he achieved top rankings across multiple streams, including 8th in Agriculture, 26th in BNYS, 51st in Veterinary Sciences, 61st in Pharmacy, and 65th in Engineering.
Also read: NEET 2025: Nikhil Sonnad of Expert college secures first rank in the state
Nikhil’s success is part of a broader trend at Expert College, which recorded an extraordinary 99% qualification rate for NEET—far above the national average of 56%. “This is unprecedented,” said Prof. Narendra L. Nayak, Chairman of the Expert Group of Institutions. “An astounding 1.43% of all students in India who scored 601 marks and above in NEET 2025 are from Expert College alone.”
Among other stellar performers:
- Nidhi K.G. scored 648 marks, securing 84th rank All India
- Saish Shravana Pandit scored 636 (159th rank)
- Shreyas Mahalingapura scored 632 (214th)
- Suchit P. Prasad and Varun Siddappa scored 630 (226th and 241st)
- Siddesh B. Dammalli scored 626 (317th)
In all, ten students from Expert ranked within the top 500, fifteen in the top 1,000, and twenty-four in the top 2,000 ranks nationwide.
The scale of academic performance is remarkable:
- 233 students scored above 500
- 324 above 475, 440 above 450
- 567 scored over 425, and 684 students crossed the 400-mark barrier
In the NEET long-term batch alone, all enrolled students qualified, with nine scoring over 525 marks, and 109 students scoring above 400.
Adding to the list of honours, Amulya Kamath of Expert PU scored 599 out of 600 in the Second PUC Science stream exams held earlier this year. The college also secured 33 top-ten ranks across seven CET sections, including 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 8th, and 9th positions.
“These outcomes reflect years of dedicated preparation, rigorous academic support, and a mentorship culture focused on individual success,” Prof. Nayak said. He praised the faculty for their tireless efforts in nurturing talent and guiding students toward consistent excellence.
With these results, Expert PU College continues to set new standards in academic achievement, making it a premier destination for students aiming for top ranks in competitive medical and engineering entrance exams.
