Kasturba Medical College (KMC), Manipal was established on June 30, 1953. The college started with only the pre-clinical section at Manipal as the students had to go to Mangalore for their clinical training. In 1969, when the clinical programme started in Manipal, KMC became a full-fledged independent college.

Kasturba Medical College is the first college in the private sector and ranks among the top five medical colleges in the country today. Students from 44 countries have graduated from the college, and its degrees are recognised worldwide.

With the first graduating class of students in 1958, KMC was granted recognition by the Medical Council of India. Recognition by the General Medical Council of Great Britain and the Malaysian Medical Council soon followed. Today, Manipal University (of which KMC is a constituent college) degrees are recognised in all countries. The physical facilities for research work and student amenities have been steadily developed over the years. The 200-acre campus provides one of the finest environments for study in south Asia.