The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has officially established the minimum benchmarks for admission into Nigerian tertiary institutions for the 2026/2027 academic session.
The decision was finalized during the 2026 Policy Meeting on Admissions held at the Body of Benchers Auditorium in Abuja on Monday, May 11, 2026. The session was chaired by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, with JAMB Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, and various heads of tertiary institutions in attendance.
The 2026 Cut-Off Marks
Following a voting process and extensive consultations with Vice-Chancellors, Rectors, and Provosts, the stakeholders agreed to retain the previous year’s minimum standards:
- Universities: 150
- Polytechnics: 100
- Colleges of Education: 100
- Colleges of Nursing : 150
Important Note: These figures represent the national minimum “floor.” Individual institutions—especially highly competitive ones like the University of Nigeria (UNN), Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka (UNIZIK), University of Lagos (UNILAG) or the University of Ibadan (UI)—reserve the right to set their internal cut-off marks higher (e.g., 200 or 210), but they are strictly prohibited from admitting any candidate who scores below the national benchmark of 150.
Key Policy Updates from the Meeting
1. Institutional Autonomy
While the board sets the baseline, Prof. Oloyede emphasized that institutions maintain the discretion to determine their specific departmental cut-off marks based on the performance of candidates and the capacity of their programs.
2. Adherence to CAPS
The board reiterated that all admissions must be processed and verified through the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS). Any admission offered outside this platform remains illegal and will not be recognized for mobilization by the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
3. Emphasis on Merit
The meeting also featured the National Tertiary Admissions Performance-Merit Awards (NATAP-M), which recognizes institutions that have demonstrated the highest levels of compliance with admission guidelines and transparency.
At a Glance: 2026 Admission Benchmarks
| Institution Type | Minimum Cut-Off Mark |
| All Universities (Public & Private) | 150 |
| Polytechnics / Monotechnics | 100 |
| Colleges of Nursing | 150 |
| Innovative Enterprise Institutes (IEIs) | 100 |
Strategic Impact
The decision to maintain the 150 benchmark for universities is seen as a move to balance accessibility with academic quality. By keeping the floor at 150, the board aims to ensure that a larger pool of candidates can compete for placements while still requiring a baseline level of academic proficiency.
Candidates are advised to monitor the official websites of their chosen institutions for specific departmental requirements and post-UTME screening dates.