The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has officially set 150 as the minimum cut-off mark for admission into Nigerian universities for the 2026/2027 academic session.
The decision was reached during the 2026 Policy Meeting on Admissions held in Abuja on Monday, following a vote by vice-chancellors and other heads of tertiary institutions. The meeting, which was attended by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, also established a minimum score of 150 for Colleges of Nursing and 100 for Polytechnics and Monotechnics.
Beyond the scores, the session defined a strict timeline for the 2026 admission cycle. Public universities have been given until October 31 to conclude their admission processes, while private universities must finish by November 30. Polytechnics and Colleges of Education have until the end of the year to finalize their lists.
In a landmark policy shift, Dr. Alausa announced that candidates seeking admission into Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) programs and National Diploma programs in non-technology agricultural courses will no longer be required to sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). This waiver applies to candidates who possess a minimum of four credit passes in their secondary school results.
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The Minister explained that the move is a deliberate effort to reduce the pressure associated with the UTME while encouraging more students to enter teacher education and agricultural sectors, both of which are vital for national development. He clarified, however, that these candidates must still register with JAMB for screening and certification through the Central Admission Processing System (CAPS).
The meeting also highlighted the continued dominance of Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, which has retained its spot as the most sought-after university in the country. According to data released by the Board, LASU recorded a staggering 84,326 first-choice applications, outperforming the University of Lagos (78,240) and Obafemi Awolowo University (60,370), which took second and third place respectively.
This marks a meteoric rise for the Lagos-owned institution, which ranked outside the top ten just four years ago. The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, expressed gratitude to the state government, noting that the university’s focus on academic stability and digital innovation has won the confidence of students and parents alike.
As the session drew to a close, JAMB Registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, delivered a final charge to heads of institutions. Presiding over his last policy meeting before his tenure expires in August 2026, Oloyede warned against the dangers of irregular admissions and urged administrators to uphold the integrity of the system through transparency and merit.
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