- ODM Public School, Patia — Fees & Honest Take
- DAV Public School, Unit-VIII — Fees & Honest Take
- SAI International School — Fees & Honest Take
- KIIT International School (KiiTIS) — Fees & Honest Take
- Quick Fee Comparison — All 4 Schools
- Things Nobody Tells You Before Admission
- Before You Visit the Admission Office
- The Bottom Line
I called admission offices, checked verified education portals, and cross-referenced data across multiple sources to get you the closest to real numbers available for 2025-26. Let's go school by school.
"Fee structures in Bhubaneswar CBSE schools range from ₹85,000/year for a solid day school to well over ₹4.5 lakhs for full boarding. Knowing the difference before you walk in matters."
ODM Public School
If you've lived in Bhubaneswar for more than five years, you already know ODM. The campus sits right on the Infocity Road stretch near Patia Chhak — hard to miss, with over 4,500 students and a campus that's been producing state toppers consistently. In the 2025 CBSE boards, they had a Science state topper at 99% and three students jointly topping Class X at 99.2%.
ODM runs three modes — Day Scholar, Day Boarding, and Full Residential — which means the fees vary significantly depending on what you sign up for.
Fee Structure 2025-26
| Mode | Annual Fee (Approx.) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Day School | ₹85,300 | Nursery – Class XII |
| Boarding (Residential) | ₹2,40,000 | Includes hostel + meals |
| Full Boarding (All-inclusive) | ₹4,75,400 | Tuition + hostel + extras |
DAV Public School, Unit-VIII
The Unit-VIII DAV is a different institution from the newer DAV at Chandrasekharpur — don't confuse them. This is the original DAV in Odisha, established in 1971 by Dr. Ayodhya Nath Khosla. Its motto "Work is Worship" is not just on the wall — old students will tell you it's in the DNA of how teachers here operate.
With around 3,800 students, this is a bustling campus. The Atal Tinkering Lab, English Language Lab, and auditorium are genuine additions — not just showroom props. The faculty retention rate here is notably high; many teachers have been here 15+ years.
Fee Structure 2025-26
| Mode | Annual Fee (Approx.) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Day School | ₹49,740 – ₹62,760 | Varies by class; lower for primary |
| Boarding | ₹1,34,000 – ₹1,96,480 | Depending on source/year |
| Total New Admission Cost | ₹98,880 – ₹1,06,260 | Incl. security + admission fees |
A practical walkthrough of what to look for when comparing CBSE schools in Bhubaneswar — campus, fees, board results, and admission process.
SAI International School
SAI International is the school Bhubaneswar parents discuss at Ekamra Haat on weekends — the one where the admission queue forms in November and parents drive down from as far as Rayagada. Located near the IT corridor in Chandrasekharpur, the campus has a Rose Bowl amphitheatre, a proper music school with both Hindustani and Western classical, and labs that look like they belong in a private college.
Fees here are premium, and the school doesn't hide that. The 10:1 student-teacher ratio is genuine, and the holistic development philosophy is not just brochure language.
Fee Structure 2025-26
| Type | Annual Cost (Approx.) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Fee (range) | ₹9,460 – ₹13,400/mo | Per school website; varies by class |
| Annual (minimum estimate) | ₹1,13,520 | Lower end × 12 months |
| Annual (maximum estimate) | ₹1,60,800 | Upper end × 12 months |
| One-time Admission Fee | ₹20,000 | Non-refundable |
| Security Deposit | ₹10,000 | Refundable on leaving |
KIIT International School (KiiTIS)
For parents who want CBSE but with an international flavour, KIIT International School offers something unusual: it's affiliated with CBSE, IB, and Cambridge simultaneously. The school sits inside the KIIT University campus in Patia — one of the most well-maintained green campuses in the city. Motto: "Selfless Service, Endless Learning."
It's consistently among the most enquired-about schools in Bhubaneswar, particularly by IT professionals relocating from other cities who want their children to have a seamless transition across boards if needed.
Fee Structure 2025-26
| Category | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Fee (Play Group) | ₹8,334/month | Above city average of ₹5,084 |
| Annual (estimated range) | ₹2,61,000 – ₹3,93,000 | Composite + admission fees |
| Day School Monthly Range | ₹1,800 – ₹27,100/mo | Playgroup to Class XII |
📊 Quick Fee Comparison — All 4 Schools
| School | Location | Day School (Annual) | Boarding (Annual) | Board |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ODM Public School | Patia, Infocity Road | ~₹85,300 | ~₹2,40,000+ | CBSE |
| DAV Public School, Unit-VIII | Nayapalli | ~₹49,740–₹62,760 | ~₹1,34,000–₹1,96,480 | CBSE |
| SAI International School | Chandrasekharpur | ~₹1,13,520–₹1,60,800 | Higher — contact school | CBSE + Cam |
| KIIT International School | Patia, KIIT Campus | ~₹2,61,000–₹3,93,000 | Higher — contact school | CBSE + IB + Cam |
💡 Things Nobody Tells You Before Admission
Read this before you queue at any admission counter
- The admission form itself costs money. At KiiTIS and SAI International, the brochure + application form comes with a registration fee. It's not ₹10 — budget ₹500 to ₹1,000 just to apply. Pick up the form only after you've decided you're serious about the school.
- Transport fees are not included. Every school in this list charges transport based on distance zones. If you live in Bhubaneswar Old Town, Nayapalli, or the area around Master Canteen Square — you're likely in a higher transport zone for Patia-based schools. Add ₹12,000–₹25,000/year mentally to the fee figures above.
- ODM's OSAT exam is your best friend. ODM runs a scholarship entrance test called OSAT every year. Students who score exceptionally well get partial-to-full tuition fee waivers. If your child is academically strong, this is the single most impactful thing you can do before admission season opens.
- The "furnished flat" problem applies here too. When a school says fees include "all activities," ask specifically which ones. Annual Day charges, science fair fees, inter-school tournament travel, and uniform costs are frequently billed separately — sometimes adding 15–25% to the published headline fee.
📋 Before You Visit the Admission Office
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Carry report cards for the last two years Most schools ask to see academic records at the counter itself — even before the formal application process begins.
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Ask: "Does this fee include computer lab, activity, and annual day charges?" The answer will almost always be "no." This is how schools keep the headline number clean.
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Visit boarding facilities on a school day — not a holiday The hostel and canteen feel very different when 300 kids are actually living there versus a quiet Saturday morning showcase visit.
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Ask about sibling discounts DAV and ODM both have provisions for sibling fee concessions, though they are not advertised prominently. Ask directly.
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Check the actual bus route on Google Maps Confirm the school bus covers your specific colony before assuming it does. Patia-based schools have route gaps in areas like VSS Nagar and Tamando.
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Note the admission window carefully DAV Nayapalli opens admissions for Nursery and KG in January–February. If you miss it, the waitlist is long and the next window is a year away.
🎯 The Bottom Line
For a family in Bhubaneswar looking for solid CBSE education without boarding, DAV Unit-VIII at Nayapalli remains the most value-for-money choice — structured, experienced, and genuinely disciplined. If academic results and competitive exam prep matter most to you and budget is secondary, ODM in Patia is the answer. For families who want international exposure alongside CBSE or have relocation plans, KIIT International School is worth the premium. And SAI International at Chandrasekharpur sits in the middle — premium, holistic, and worth it if the school's philosophy matches your family's values.
Data sourced from Schools18.com, Edustoke, Ezyschooling, and cross-verified against school portals. Fee figures are approximate and subject to revision by individual schools for 2025-26. Always confirm directly with the school's admission office before making any financial commitment. Last verified: March 22, 2026.
