Private universities in Nigeria and their cut-off mark 2026/2027 – updated
This page has been updated for the 2026/2027 admission cycle. At the JAMB Policy Meeting on Admissions into Tertiary Institutions, held in Abuja on 11 May 2026 and chaired by the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, stakeholders agreed the national minimum admissible UTME scores for the new session. Anything you read on other sites quoting a 2022 or 2023 benchmark is out of date.
National minimum cut-off marks for 2026/2027
| Institution type | National minimum UTME score (out of 400) |
|---|---|
| Universities (federal, state and private) | 150 |
| Colleges of Nursing Sciences | 150 |
| Polytechnics and monotechnics | 100 |
| Colleges of education | 100 |
Private universities in Nigeria and their is a university, so the national floor that applies to it is 150. That number is the absolute minimum JAMB will allow — it is not the score that gets you admitted.
General cut-off mark vs departmental cut-off mark — the difference that costs people admission
There are two separate numbers, and confusing them is the single most common reason candidates lose a place.
- The general (institutional) cut-off mark is the minimum score Private universities in Nigeria and their will accept before it will even look at your application or invite you for screening. It can never be lower than the national minimum of 150, but the institution is free to set it higher.
- The departmental (course) cut-off mark is the score you actually need for the specific course you chose. Competitive courses — Medicine and Surgery, Nursing, Law, Pharmacy, Computer Science, Accounting, Mass Communication and Engineering — routinely sit far above the general cut-off, often in the 230–280 range at popular institutions, and sometimes higher.
JAMB stated plainly at the 2026 policy meeting that the approved scores are national minimum benchmarks only and do not guarantee admission. Institutions may adopt higher cut-off marks based on how competitive a course is, but they cannot admit anyone below the national floor.
How Private universities in Nigeria and their actually decides who gets admitted
Meeting the cut-off mark puts you in the pool. Selection is then made on a combination of:
- Your UTME score — usually weighted 50%.
- Your Post-UTME or screening score — usually the other 50%, where screening is conducted.
- Your O’Level result — five credit passes including English Language and Mathematics for most courses, plus the subject combination your course requires. Some institutions convert your O’Level grades into points and add them to the aggregate.
- Catchment area and educationally less developed states quotas, which apply to federal and state institutions.
- Whether Private universities in Nigeria and their was your first choice on the JAMB form. First-choice candidates are considered before second-choice candidates in almost every case.
How to check the Private universities in Nigeria and their departmental cut-off mark for your course
Do not rely on figures copied between blogs. Check the source:
- Log in to the JAMB eFacility portal at efacility.jamb.gov.ng with the email and password you used to register.
- Open CAPS (Central Admission Processing System) and check your admission status there. CAPS is the only official record of whether you have been offered a place.
- Visit the official Private universities in Nigeria and their website and look under Admissions, Post-UTME or Screening for the current session’s advertised requirements.
- Call or email the Private universities in Nigeria and their admissions office directly if the site has not been updated. Departmental figures are frequently released only after screening closes.
One important caveat: many departmental cut-off marks are set after the fact. The institution ranks everyone who applied for the course, admits down the list until the places are filled, and the score of the last person admitted becomes that year’s departmental cut-off. That is why last year’s figure is a guide, not a promise.
2026/2027 admission deadlines you must not miss
- Public universities: admissions must be concluded on or before 31 October 2026.
- Private universities: 30 November 2026.
- Polytechnics, monotechnics and colleges of education: 31 December 2026.
- Accepting your offer: once an offer appears on CAPS you have four weeks to accept it. Offers not accepted within that window are withdrawn.
As a university, Private universities in Nigeria and their works to the 31 October 2026 deadline. Check CAPS regularly from the moment results are released — candidates lose admission every year simply because nobody told them an offer was sitting there.
New for 2026/2027: NCE and agricultural ND candidates no longer need UTME
A significant change was announced at the 2026 policy meeting. Candidates seeking admission into the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) programme with a minimum of four credit passes are no longer required to sit the UTME. The same applies to candidates seeking National Diploma admission in non-technology agricultural and agriculture-related courses.
These candidates must still register with JAMB, and their credentials are screened, verified and certified before admission letters are issued through CAPS. The stated aim is to widen access to teacher education and agriculture while easing pressure on the UTME system.
What to do if your score is below the Private universities in Nigeria and their cut-off mark
A low score is a setback, not the end of the process. Realistic options:
- Change of course. Switch to a less competitive course in the same institution. A score that will not carry Medicine may comfortably carry a related science course.
- Change of institution. Use the JAMB change of institution/course service on your eFacility profile. State institutions and newer federal institutions typically have lower departmental cut-offs than the older, well-known ones.
- Polytechnic route. With a national minimum of 100, polytechnics are open to far more candidates. Do ND, then HND, then a top-up — many employers do not distinguish.
- NCE route. From 2026/2027 you can enter NCE with four O’Level credits and no UTME at all, then progress to a degree.
- IJMB, JUPEB or a pre-degree programme. These give direct entry into 200 level and bypass the UTME cut-off entirely, though they cost money and take a year.
- Part-time, sandwich or distance learning programmes at NUC-accredited institutions.
- Sit the UTME again. If your target course is genuinely worth it, one more attempt with proper preparation beats four years in a course you will not finish.
Mistakes that cost candidates admission every year
- Choosing Private universities in Nigeria and their as second choice, then expecting first-choice treatment.
- Missing the Post-UTME or screening registration window entirely.
- An O’Level subject combination that does not match the course requirement — a common one is applying for a science course without Physics or Further Mathematics.
- Never logging in to CAPS, so an offer expires unaccepted.
- Paying “admission agents” who promise a place. Private universities in Nigeria and their does not sell admission, and JAMB has repeatedly warned that CAPS is the only legitimate channel. If someone asks you for money to secure admission, it is a scam.
- Uploading O’Level results late. Results not uploaded to your JAMB profile are treated as if they do not exist.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Private universities in Nigeria and their cut-off mark for 2026/2027?
The national minimum applicable to Private universities in Nigeria and their is 150. The institution may set a higher general cut-off, and individual departments almost always require more. Confirm the current figure on the official Private universities in Nigeria and their admissions page before applying.
Does scoring above the cut-off mark guarantee admission?
No. JAMB stated at the 2026 policy meeting that the approved scores are minimum benchmarks and not automatic admission. Places are limited and awarded by ranking.
Can Private universities in Nigeria and their admit someone below 150?
No. Institutions may go above the national minimum but are not permitted to admit below it.
Where can I see the official departmental cut-off marks?
On the official Private universities in Nigeria and their website under Admissions or Post-UTME, and through your JAMB CAPS profile. Blog figures are historical estimates.
When will Private universities in Nigeria and their conclude admissions for 2026/2027?
By 31 October 2026, in line with the deadlines set at the 2026 JAMB policy meeting.
How long do I have to accept an offer?
Four weeks from the date the offer appears on CAPS. After that it is withdrawn and the place goes to another candidate.
Do I still need the UTME for NCE?
Not from 2026/2027 if you hold at least four O’Level credit passes. You must still register with JAMB so your credentials can be verified through CAPS.
Related guides
Cut-off marks are set afresh each admission cycle and departmental figures change year to year. Always confirm the current requirement on the official Private universities in Nigeria and their website or through JAMB CAPS before you apply or pay for anything.
Private universities in Nigeria and their cut off mark
Here is the private universities and the cut-off marks embedded in the links, all you need to do is click on any of the school and read the full details about their cut-off mark and their post utme.
List of private universities, tap on each to read the full cut-off mark
- Caleb University, Lagos
- American University of Nigeria, Yola, Adamawa state
- Augustine University, Ilara, Epe, Lagos State
- Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo
- Baze University, Abuja
- The Bells University of Technology, Ota, Ogun State
- Benson Idahosa University, Benin City, Edo
- Bingham University, New Karu, Nasarawa State
- Bowen University, Iwo, Osun State
- Achievers University, Owo, Ondo State
- Adeleke University, Ede, Osun State
- Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti – Ekiti State
- African University of Science & Technology, Abuja
- Ajayi Crowther University, Ibadan, Oyo State
- Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, Kwara State
- Al-Qalam University, Katsina
- Caritas University, Enugu
- Chrisland University, Abeokua, Ogun State
- Covenant University Ota, Ogun State
- Crawford University Igbesa, Ogun State
- Crescent University, Abeokuta, Ogun State
- Edwin Clark University, Kiagbodo, Delta State
- Elizade University, Ilara-Moki, Ondo State
- Evangel University, Akaeze, Ebonyi State
- Fountain University, Oshogbo, Osun State
- Hezekiah University, Umudi, Nkwerre, Imo State
- Godfrey Okoye University, Ugwuomu-Nike – Enugu State
- Gregory University, Uturu, Abia State
- Hallmark University, Ijebu Itele, Ogun
- Igbinedion University, Okada Wonderland, Edo State
- Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Ikeji-Arakeji
- Kings University, Ode Omu
- Kwararafa University, Wukari
- Landmark University, Omu-Aran.
- Lead City University, Ibadan
- Madonna University, Okija
- Mcpherson University, Seriki Sotayo, Ajebo
- Micheal & Cecilia Ibru University, Agbarha-Otor, Ughelli North, Delta State
- Mountain Top University, Makogi Oba, Ogun State
- Nile University of Nigeria, Abuja
- Novena University, Ogume, Delta State
- Obong University, Obong Ntak
- Oduduwa University, Ipetumodu – Osun State
- Pan-Atlantic University, Lagos
- Paul University, Awka – Anambra State
- Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State
- Renaissance University, Enugu
- Rhema University, Obeama-Asa – Rivers State
- Ritman University, Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom
- Salem University, Lokoja
- Samuel Adegboyega University, Ogwa.
- Southwestern University, Oku Owa
- Summit University, Off, Kwara state
- Tansian University, Umunya
- University of Mkar, Mkar
- Veritas University, Abuja
- Wellspring University, Evbuobanosa – Edo State
- Legacy University, Okija Anambra State
- Arthur Javis University Akpabuyo Cross River State
- Crown Hill University Eiyenkorin, Kwara State
- Coal City University Enugu State
- Clifford University Owerrinta Abia State
- Admiralty University, Ibusa Delta State
- Wesley University. of Science & Technology, Ondo
- Western Delta University, Oghara Delta State
- Christopher University Mowe
- Kola Daisi University Ibadan, Oyo State
- Anchor University Ayobo Lagos State
- Dominican University Ibadan Oyo State
- Spiritan University, Nneochi Abia State
- Precious Cornerstone University, Oyo
- PAMO University of Medical Sciences, Port Harcourt
- Atiba University Oyo
- Greenfield University, Kaduna
- Dominion University Ibadan, Oyo State
- Trinity University Ogun State
- Westland University Iwo, Osun State
- Eko University of Medical and Health Sciences Ijanikin, Lagos
- Skyline University, Kano