The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), in collaboration with tertiary institution leaders, has finalized the National Minimum Tolerable UTME Scores (cut-off marks) for admission into various Nigerian tertiary institutions for the 2025/2026 academic session. The announcements were made today, July 8, 2025, during the annual policy meeting held in Abuja.
Designated Minimum Scores
- 150 – Minimum cut-off for universities
- 100 – Minimum cut-off for polytechnics, colleges of education, and colleges of agriculture
- 140 – Minimum cut-off for colleges of nursing sciences
Institutions are discouraged from admitting candidates below these thresholds, though they retain the discretion to set higher standards based on their internal criteria.
Decision-Making Insight
During the meeting, a range of proposals emerged:
- The Minister of Education and JAMB Registrar advocated for a 160 cut-off for universities.
- Most vice-chancellors, rectors, and provosts favored the 150 benchmark, accepting higher thresholds for certain institutions but preserving broader accessibility.
The final decision, ratified through votes from institutional heads, endorsed 150 for universities as the national minimum.
Strategic Goals Behind the Change
JAMB Registrar Prof. Is‑haq Oloyede emphasised that these cut-off marks are a regulatory baseline and underscored their intent to:
- Promote fairness, equity, and quality in admissions.
- Ensure structural integrity and consistency across the education system.
Education Minister Tunji Alausa added that institutions failing to honor the new age policy—now set at minimum 16 years for tertiary admission—risk having their operational licenses revoked.
Admissions Timeline & Other Directives
Additional policy highlights from the meeting include:
- Admission deadlines:
- Public universities – October 31, 2025
- Private universities – November 30, 2025
- Polytechnics & colleges – December 31, 2025
- Mandatory use of CAPS: All admissions must be conducted through the Central Admissions Processing System. Non-compliance will trigger severe sanctions.
- Age requirement: Entrants must now be at least 16 years old, with violators facing penalties including license withdrawal .
What You Should Do
- If you’re a prospective student, ensure your UTME score meets or exceeds the minimum threshold for your intended institution.
- Be prepared for further post-UTME screening that individual institutions might conduct.
- Follow the offered timelines closely to secure admission via the CAPS system.
- Be aware of the newly applied age requirement.
This policy update marks a pivotal effort toward balancing educational accessibility with the pursuit of academic excellence across Nigerian tertiary institutions.
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