The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has confirmed that the minimum cut-off mark for admission into Nigerian universities remains 150 for the 2026/2027 academic session.
The decision was announced during its policy meeting in Abuja, where it was agreed—following consultations with vice-chancellors—that the benchmark would remain unchanged.
According to JAMB, the approved minimum scores are as follows: universities (150), colleges of nursing (150), and polytechnics (100 out of 400). These are referred to as the National Minimum Tolerable UTME Scores, meaning institutions are not permitted to admit candidates below these thresholds, although schools may choose to set higher standards.
The board also noted that candidates applying for Education programmes and certain Agriculture-related non-engineering courses are now exempted from writing the UTME.
In addition, the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, reaffirmed that the minimum age for admission into tertiary institutions remains 16 years. He emphasized that while exceptional cases may exist, all admissions must follow strict guidelines to maintain academic integrity.
He also reiterated that any admission outside the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) is illegal and will not be recognized.
