Federal Government Approves 150 as Minimum University Cut-Off Mark for 2026 Admission

The Federal Government has approved 150 as the new minimum admissible cut-off mark for admission into both public and private universities across Nigeria for the 2026 academic session, contrary to earlier reports that suggested a lower benchmark of 140.

The decision was announced on Monday by the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, during the 2026 Admission Policy Meeting organised by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board in Abuja. The annual policy meeting brings together vice-chancellors, rectors, provosts, heads of regulatory agencies and other critical stakeholders in the education sector to determine admission guidelines for tertiary institutions nationwide.

During deliberations, Alausa explained that the benchmark was adopted following extensive consultations with stakeholders and a unanimous voice vote by heads of tertiary institutions present at the meeting.

“After careful evaluation of this year’s UTME outcomes and broad consultations with vice-chancellors and other stakeholders, the government has approved 150 as the national minimum tolerable score for university admissions for the 2026 cycle,” Alausa stated before the gathering of education leaders at the conference hall.

The minister emphasised that the approved benchmark represents the minimum score required for candidates seeking admission into universities, stressing that no institution would be permitted to admit candidates scoring below this threshold. However, he clarified that individual institutions maintain the right to set higher cut-off marks based on their admission capacity and the competitiveness of their programmes.

“Institutions are not compelled to admit at 150. Any university with high demand for its courses may choose to set its cut-off at 180, 200 or higher. What we have approved is the floor, not the ceiling,” Alausa added.

The minister also announced that the 150 benchmark would apply to Colleges of Nursing Sciences nationwide as part of efforts to standardise admission processes and maintain quality in tertiary education . The minimum cut-off mark for polytechnics and monotechnics was set at 100, the same benchmark approved for the 2025 session.

In a significant policy shift, Alausa declared that candidates seeking admission into National Certificate in Education programmes who possess a minimum of four credit passes would no longer be required to sit for the UTME.

“Candidates seeking admission into the NCE programme, who possess a minimum of four credit passes, will no longer be required to sit for the UTME,” Alausa disclosed. He, however, stressed that such candidates must still register with JAMB for screening and admission processing through the Central Admissions Processing System.

The minister noted that the exemption would also apply to candidates seeking admission into National Diploma programmes in non-technology agricultural and agriculture-related courses.

The Registrar of JAMB, Professor Is-haq Oloyede, who chaired the session, explained that institutions were earlier contacted to submit their proposed minimum admissible scores. He confirmed that all institutions, public and private, submitted their individual scores before the collective decision was reached.

Through a voice vote, the heads of institutions unanimously endorsed 150 for universities and Colleges of Nursing Sciences, while 100 was unanimously endorsed as the minimum admissible score for admission into polytechnics.

Prof. Oloyede maintained that the decision was not exclusively JAMB’s, but a collective one that was unanimously endorsed by all the relevant stakeholders, especially the heads of tertiary institutions.

Meanwhile, several universities have already announced their individual cut-off marks above the national minimum. According to a list released by JAMB following the policy meeting, Pan-Atlantic University set the highest benchmark at 220, while Obafemi Awoniyi University, University of Benin, University of Ibadan, University of Lagos, University of Nigeria, and Covenant University all set their minimum scores at 200. Ahmadu Bello University and the University of Ilorin adopted 180, while Bayero University Kano and Nnamdi Azikiwe University fixed theirs at 160. Several other institutions, including Adamawa State University and Adeleke University, adopted the national minimum of 150.

Alausa also reaffirmed the government’s position on the minimum admission age, stating that 16 years remains the mandatory entry age for all tertiary institutions.

“No candidate below the age of 16 will be admitted into any university, polytechnic, college of education or college of nursing in Nigeria. This position reflects a careful balance between inclusivity and academic readiness,” he stated.

The minister further warned that admissions conducted outside JAMB’s Central Admissions Processing System remain illegal and would not be recognised by the government. He added that institutions found violating admission procedures risk sanctions, including the suspension of operating licences where applicable.

“Let me be clear. Any institution that admits candidates without going through CAPS does so at its own risk. Such admissions will not be recognised, and affected students will not be mobilised for National Youth Service Corps or issued any certificates the government can validate,” Alausa warned.

The announcement is expected to provide clarity for the over 1.8 million candidates who sat for the 2026 UTME and are awaiting the commencement of admission exercises across the country. JAMB has indicated that the admission process for the 2026 cycle will commence on June 1 and run through November 30, 2026.