Cut Off Mark for Universities in Nigeria. One of the first things every Nigerian student checks after their JAMB result is released is the cut off mark for universities — and rightfully so. Your UTME score is only useful when you understand what it means in the context of real admission cut offs. Scoring 220 and not knowing whether that qualifies you for your preferred school and course is as frustrating as not knowing your score at all.
And yet, every year thousands of students either aim too low because they do not understand how cut offs work, or aim at a school without realising their score falls short of that institution’s departmental minimum. This guide is designed to end that confusion completely.
The cut off mark for universities in Nigeria was officially announced at the JAMB Policy Meeting on Admissions held in Abuja on Monday, May 11, 2026. The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has retained 150 as the cut off mark for admission into universities for the 2026 to 2027 academic session. The decision followed a vote by vice-chancellors available at the meeting.
The Heads of Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria unanimously agreed that the Minimum Admissible Score for admissions into universities should be 150, Colleges of Nursing 150, and Polytechnics 100. That is the national baseline. But as this guide will explain clearly, meeting the national minimum is only the beginning of the conversation — and understanding the full picture is what actually positions you for successful admission.
The Two Types of Cut Off Marks Every Student Must Understand
Before getting into the specific numbers for individual universities, it is critical to understand that there are two completely different types of cut off marks that apply to every Nigerian student going through the university admission process — and confusing the two is one of the most common reasons students make poor decisions about where to apply and what to expect.
The first type is the National Minimum Cut Off Mark — set by JAMB every year at the Policy Meeting on Admissions. Each institution has the autonomy to set its own cut off mark, but it must not fall below the minimum threshold established by JAMB. This policy ensures a standardised approach while accommodating the unique standards of different institutions. The national minimum for universities in 2026 is 150. This means that no university in Nigeria is allowed to admit a candidate who scored below 150 in UTME — and no candidate who scored below 150 can be considered for university admission regardless of their Post-UTME performance or O’Level grades. This minimum is the absolute floor, not a target score.
The second type is the Institutional or Departmental Cut Off Mark — set by each individual university, often at the departmental level, based on the number of available spaces and the quality of the applicant pool in any given year. Candidates should understand that these are only the minimum scores approved by JAMB. Individual institutions can still set higher cut off marks for their courses and departments.
A university may choose 180, 200, or even 250 for competitive courses like Medicine, Law, Nursing, or Engineering. But no institution is allowed to admit candidates below the official JAMB minimum approved for their category. It is this second type — the institutional and departmental cut off — that actually determines whether you will be offered admission, and it is almost always significantly higher than the JAMB national minimum.
Official JAMB Cut Off Mark for Universities 2026 — National Minimum
The official national minimum cut off marks announced at the JAMB Policy Meeting on May 11, 2026 are as follows:
— Universities (Federal, State, and Private): 150
— Colleges of Nursing Sciences: 150
— Polytechnics and Monotechnics: 100
— Colleges of Education (NCE): Exempted from UTME requirement for the 2026/2027 cycle
— National Diploma in non-technology Agriculture courses: Exempted from UTME requirement for the 2026/2027 cycle
In a major reform aimed at expanding access to teacher education, the Minister of Education announced that candidates seeking admission into Nigeria Certificate in Education programmes with a minimum of four credit passes will no longer be required to sit for UTME. This policy, which takes effect from the 2026/2027 admission cycle, also covers candidates applying for National Diploma programmes in non-technology agricultural and agriculture-related courses. Eligible candidates would still be mandated to register with JAMB for screening, verification and certification through CAPS before admission letters are issued.
Public universities are expected to complete admissions by October 31, private universities by November 30, while polytechnics, monotechnics and colleges of education have until December 31, 2026. These deadlines matter for students who are monitoring their JAMB CAPS portal — they tell you the latest point by which you should expect to see an admission offer or a definitive outcome from your chosen institutions.
Cut Off Mark for Federal Universities in Nigeria 2026
Federal universities are the most competitive institutions in the Nigerian tertiary education system, and their institutional cut off marks are consistently higher than the JAMB national minimum of 150. While JAMB’s national minimum is 150, most federal universities require a minimum of 180 to 200 for general admission, with science and professional courses demanding even higher scores. Here are the officially announced minimum cut off marks for the most prominent federal universities based on information released at and after the 2026 Policy Meeting:
Several top institutions including Obafemi Awolowo University, University of Benin, University of Ibadan, University of Lagos, and University of Nigeria adopted 200 as their minimum cut off marks. Here is the confirmed list for major federal universities:
— University of Lagos (UNILAG): 200 minimum. Competitive courses such as Medicine, Law, and Engineering may require higher scores.
— University of Ibadan (UI): 200 minimum. Highly competitive courses like Medicine and Law may require scores above 220.
— University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN): 180 minimum.
— Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU): 200 minimum. Medicine and Law are especially competitive.
— Ahmadu Bello University (ABU Zaria): 180 minimum. Courses such as Medicine, Engineering, and Law have higher departmental cut offs.
— University of Benin (UNIBEN): 200 minimum.
— University of Ilorin (UNILORIN): 180 minimum.
— University of Abuja (UNIABUJA): 180 minimum.
— University of Jos (UNIJOS): 170 minimum.
— Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA): 180 minimum.
— Federal University of Medicine and Medical Sciences: 200 minimum.
— Nigeria Police Academy: 180 minimum.
— Air Force Institute of Technology: 200 minimum.
It is important to understand that the figures above represent the minimum institutional cut off — the floor below which no candidate is considered for any course at that university. The actual scores needed for competitive courses like Medicine, Law, Pharmacy, and Computer Science at these institutions are significantly higher than the institutional minimum, and are determined after Post-UTME screening based on the applicant pool for that specific year.
Cut Off Mark for State Universities in Nigeria 2026
State universities are funded by their respective state governments and generally have cut off marks that are slightly lower than federal universities — though this varies significantly between institutions and is largely dependent on how competitive the state university is in its region. Lagos State University and Lagos State University of Science and Technology fixed 195, while Lagos State University of Education adopted 185. Here are the cut off marks for major state universities:
— Lagos State University (LASU): 195 minimum. Competitive courses such as Law, Medicine, and Accounting may require higher scores.
— Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH): 195 minimum.
— Lagos State University of Education: 185 minimum.
— Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH): 170 minimum.
— Nasarawa State University: 170 minimum.
— Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University: 160 minimum.
— Rivers State University (RSU): 160 minimum. Courses like Engineering and Medicine have higher departmental cut offs.
State universities that are newer or located in less competitive regions of the country typically set their institutional minimum at the JAMB national floor of 150, which means a candidate with a score of 150 who cannot access federal or more competitive state universities still has viable state university options available. Always verify the specific cut off for your target state university through the institution’s official admissions portal or through the JAMB brochure, as figures can shift between cycles.
Cut Off Mark for Private Universities in Nigeria 2026
Private universities in Nigeria are independently funded and generally offer more flexible admission requirements than federal institutions — though this flexibility should not be mistaken for lower academic standards, particularly at the most established private universities. Pan-Atlantic University adopted 220 as the highest minimum institutional cut off mark on the list, making it the most selective private university by minimum JAMB score requirement for the 2026/2027 session.
— Pan-Atlantic University: 220 minimum — the highest institutional minimum of any university in Nigeria for 2026.
— Covenant University (CU), Ota: 200 minimum. Competitive courses like Engineering and Law may require higher scores.
— Afe Babalola University (ABUAD): 180 minimum.
— Babcock University: 170 minimum. Professional courses may have higher departmental cut offs.
— Augustine University: 170 minimum.
— Shanahan University: 180 minimum.
— Nigerian University of Technology and Management: 180 minimum.
— BITS University: 170 minimum.
— Federal University of Applied Sciences: 170 minimum.
— American University of Nigeria (AUN), Yola: 150 minimum.
Private universities that set their institutional minimum at 150 — the JAMB national floor — are not necessarily less rigorous academically. Many of them conduct their own entrance assessments, interviews, or aptitude tests as part of their screening process, and the JAMB score is just one element of their admission decision. Always research the full admission process of your target private university rather than relying solely on the JAMB cut off figure.
Cut Off Marks by Course — What Score Do You Actually Need?
Understanding the institutional minimum is important, but for most students the more pressing question is what JAMB score they actually need for their specific course. Individual school cut offs fluctuate each year based on the number and quality of applicants. The figures below represent realistic score ranges based on admission patterns from recent cycles and 2026 institutional announcements — they are not official departmental cut offs from every institution, but they give you a clear and honest picture of what is competitive for each course category.
Medicine and Surgery
Medicine and Surgery is the most competitive course in Nigeria. Most federal universities require a minimum JAMB score of 280 to 300 and above for Medicine. Some schools that offer Medicine — like UNILAG, UI, OAU, and UNIBEN — may require candidates to score in the top percentile of all UTME candidates nationwide before even being considered. Realistically, candidates targeting Medicine should aim for 280 and above. A score below 260 for Medicine at a federal university is unlikely to be competitive regardless of Post-UTME performance.
Pharmacy and Dentistry
Pharmacy sits just below Medicine in terms of JAMB score competitiveness and follows a similar pattern across federal universities. Most candidates admitted to Pharmacy at UNILAG, UI, OAU, and UNIBEN score between 260 and 300 in UTME. Dentistry, where offered, falls in a similar range. Private universities offering Pharmacy tend to admit at lower JAMB scores — typically 220 to 260 — making them more accessible for students who did not achieve scores in the 280 to 300 range.
Law
Law is among the most competitive non-medical courses in Nigeria, particularly at federal universities. Most federal university Law departments admit candidates with JAMB scores between 230 and 280, with the most competitive institutions like UNILAG and UI typically seeing successful Law candidates at 250 and above. State universities offering Law tend to admit at slightly lower scores, typically 200 to 240.
Engineering (all disciplines)
Engineering courses — Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical, and Computer Engineering — are consistently among the most competitive science programmes in Nigerian universities. For competitive courses like Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Law, Computer Science, Engineering, and Mass Communication, many universities demand far higher scores — sometimes 220 to 300 and above. The realistic JAMB score range for Engineering at federal universities is 220 to 280, with Computer Engineering at institutions like UNILAG and FUTA typically requiring 240 and above to be competitive.
Computer Science
Computer Science has seen a dramatic increase in competitiveness over the last several years driven by the growth of Nigeria’s technology sector. At UNILAG specifically, Computer Science has a merit aggregate cut off of 83.425 — making it the second most competitive programme in the university after Medicine. The practical JAMB score range for Computer Science at federal universities is 240 to 300, with 260 and above being the realistic minimum for UNILAG, UI, and FUTA.
Nursing
Nursing is now one of the hottest courses in Nigeria because of international job opportunities and demand abroad. Some universities close Nursing admission around 250 and above. Lagos State College of Nursing and LUTH School of Nursing both require 200. Nigerian Army College of Nursing and most others require 180. Aim for 180 or above to have solid options for Nursing.
Accounting, Business Administration, Economics
Business and social science courses are generally less competitive than health and engineering programmes in terms of JAMB score requirements. The realistic JAMB score range for Accounting, Business Administration, and Economics at federal universities is 180 to 240, with state universities and private institutions admitting candidates in the 150 to 200 range. That said, Accounting at UNILAG and UI remains competitive, and candidates targeting these specifically should aim for 200 and above.
Education Courses
Education programmes are among the most accessible in terms of JAMB score requirements, and the 2026 UTME exemption for NCE candidates further expands access at that level. For degree-level Education programmes at federal and state universities, a JAMB score of 150 to 180 is generally sufficient for consideration at most institutions, though highly competitive universities set higher bars for Education courses in specialist subjects like Mathematics Education and Physics Education.
What to Do If Your Score Is Below the Cut Off for Your Preferred School or Course
A score below the cut off for your first-choice institution or course is not the end of your admission journey — but it does require a clear-eyed, strategic response rather than simply waiting and hoping. Here are the most practical options available to you.
If your score is between 150 and 170, there are still many federal and state universities that will accept you. Use the cut off tables to identify schools where your score qualifies. You can change your institution choice on JAMB CAPS before the admission window closes. Within the same school, different departments have different cut offs. A course change can keep you in your preferred university while bringing you within reach of an accessible department.
If your score is below 150, the university route is not available to you in the 2026/2027 cycle. If your score is below 140 and therefore below the university minimum, polytechnics and colleges of education are excellent alternatives. The Polytechnic cut off mark of 100 means a candidate with a score between 100 and 149 can still access a credible tertiary education through an ND programme at a federal or state polytechnic — and the ND qualification opens the door to a Direct Entry application to university in a subsequent cycle.
Changing your course or institution through JAMB CAPS is the most immediate action available to students who scored above 150 but below the cut off for their original choices. The JAMB portal allows Change of Course and Change of Institution for a fee of ₦2,500 per change, and this can be done during the designated window after UTME results are released. Using this window strategically — identifying institutions and courses where your score genuinely qualifies — is far more productive than waiting passively for an unlikely offer from a school whose cut off you did not meet.
How Institutional Cut Off Marks Are Actually Used During Admission
Understanding how the cut off mark fits into the full admission process helps you approach the entire exercise more strategically. Your JAMB score alone does not determine admission at any Nigerian university — it is one of three components that most universities combine to rank candidates and fill their available spaces.
The typical admission calculation combines your JAMB UTME score, your Post-UTME score, and your O’Level result into an aggregate that is used to rank all qualified candidates for each course. The specific weighting of each component varies by institution — UNILAG uses a formula where JAMB accounts for 50% and Post-UTME and O’Level together account for 50% — but the principle is consistent: a student with a moderate JAMB score and an exceptional Post-UTME performance can sometimes outrank a student with a higher JAMB score but a weaker Post-UTME result. This means that once you clear the cut off mark threshold, the Post-UTME becomes the most important next priority.
The cut off mark is therefore best understood as the entry ticket to the Post-UTME screening — not as the final determinant of your admission. Meeting the cut off gets you into the room. Your performance in Post-UTME and the strength of your O’Level grades determine whether you walk out with an admission offer. Students who treat the JAMB cut off as their primary goal and then underperform in Post-UTME consistently fail to convert their UTME scores into actual admission offers.
Admission Deadlines for 2026 — What Every Student Must Know
The JAMB Policy Meeting on May 11, 2026 also announced firm deadlines for the completion of the entire admission exercise across all institution types. Public universities are expected to complete admissions by October 31, private universities by November 30, while polytechnics, monotechnics and colleges of education have until December 31, 2026. These deadlines mean that if you have not received and accepted an admission offer by the time your institution type’s deadline passes, the 2026/2027 admission window has effectively closed for you and you will need to plan for the next cycle.
Monitor your JAMB CAPS portal regularly throughout the admission period. Admission offers appear on CAPS, and you must accept your offer within the stipulated time — failure to accept means the offer can be reallocated. Check your CAPS dashboard at least every two to three days during the active admission season, and make sure the contact details on your JAMB profile are current so that any notifications reach you promptly.
Conclusion — Know Your Numbers, Make Your Move
The official cut off mark for universities in Nigeria for the 2026/2027 academic session is 150 — announced at the JAMB Policy Meeting in Abuja on May 11, 2026.
That is the national minimum. Individual universities have set their own institutional minimums ranging from 150 at many state and private institutions all the way up to 220 at Pan-Atlantic University. Federal universities like UNILAG, UI, OAU, UNIBEN, and UNN have all set their minimums at 200.
And for competitive courses like Medicine, Law, Pharmacy, Engineering, and Computer Science, the realistic JAMB scores needed for admission are significantly higher than any institutional minimum — ranging from 220 for Engineering at less competitive universities all the way to 300 and above for Medicine at the most selective federal institutions.
Use the information in this guide to assess your JAMB score honestly against the cut offs for your specific target school and course. If your score meets the cut off, focus immediately on preparing for Post-UTME and ensuring your O’Level result is complete and uploaded to JAMB CAPS. If your score falls short, use the JAMB Change of Course or Change of Institution window strategically to identify the best realistic option for your situation. And if your score is below 150, explore the polytechnic route — it is a credible pathway that keeps your tertiary education on track while you build toward a stronger university application in a future cycle.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cut off mark for universities in Nigeria in 2026?
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has retained 150 as the cut off mark for admission into universities for the 2026 to 2027 academic session. The decision was announced at the JAMB Policy Meeting in Abuja on May 11, 2026, following a vote by vice-chancellors in attendance. This is the national minimum — individual universities can and do set higher institutional cut offs.
What is the cut off mark for polytechnics in 2026?
The Heads of Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria unanimously agreed that the Minimum Admissible Score for admissions into Polytechnics should be 100 for the 2026/2027 academic session. Candidates with JAMB scores between 100 and 149 who do not qualify for university admission can access polytechnic programmes through this lower minimum cut off.
Is 150 enough to gain admission into a federal university?
150 meets the national JAMB minimum for university admission but is not sufficient for admission into most federal universities in practice. Most federal universities require a minimum of 180 to 200 for general admission, with science and professional courses demanding even higher scores. A score of 150 is more competitive at state universities with lower institutional minimums and at private universities that set their cut off at the JAMB national floor.
What JAMB score do I need for Medicine in Nigeria?
Medicine and Surgery is the most competitive course in Nigeria. Most federal universities require a minimum JAMB score of 280 to 300 and above for Medicine. Candidates targeting Medicine at UNILAG, UI, OAU, or UNIBEN should realistically aim for 280 and above. Private universities offering Medicine tend to admit at somewhat lower scores, but 260 and above is still the realistic competitive range.
Can I change my institution or course if my score is below the cut off?
Yes. JAMB allows candidates to apply for a Change of Course or Change of Institution through the JAMB portal for a fee of ₦2,500 per change during the designated window after UTME results are released. This is the most practical option for candidates whose scores meet the national minimum of 150 but fall short of their original first-choice institution or course. Use this window to identify realistic alternatives rather than waiting passively for an offer that may not come.
When must universities complete admissions in 2026?
Public universities are expected to complete admissions by October 31, private universities by November 30, while polytechnics, monotechnics and colleges of education have until December 31, 2026. These are firm deadlines set at the JAMB Policy Meeting, and students should monitor their JAMB CAPS portal regularly throughout the admission period to ensure they do not miss an offer.
Are NCE programmes still requiring JAMB in 2026?
In a major reform, the Minister of Education announced that candidates seeking admission into NCE programmes with a minimum of four credit passes will no longer be required to sit for UTME. This policy takes effect from the 2026/2027 admission cycle and also covers candidates applying for National Diploma programmes in non-technology agricultural courses. Eligible candidates will still be mandated to register with JAMB for screening, verification and certification through CAPS before admission letters are issued.
All cut off mark figures in this article are sourced from the official JAMB Policy Meeting announcement of May 11, 2026, the Vanguard, Daily Post, and Punch Newspaper reports on that meeting, and verified Nigerian education platforms. Always confirm current institutional cut off marks directly on the JAMB portal at jamb.gov.ng and your specific institution’s official admissions page before making any admission decisions.
