New admission benchmark approved for 2025/2026 academic session as institutions prepare for admissions nationwide
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has approved 150 as the minimum cut-off mark for admission into Nigerian universities for the 2025/2026 academic session.
The decision was reached during the annual JAMB Policy Meeting on Admissions held in Abuja, where stakeholders in the tertiary education sector agreed on the new admission benchmarks.
According to the approved guidelines, colleges of nursing sciences will admit candidates with a minimum score of 140, while polytechnics, colleges of education, and colleges of agriculture will accept candidates who score at least 100 in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, explained that the approved scores represent the minimum admissible benchmarks and that no institution is permitted to admit candidates below the stipulated marks.
The board noted that while institutions are free to set higher cut-off marks depending on the competitiveness of their courses, they must not go below the national minimum approved by stakeholders.
The policy meeting, attended by vice-chancellors, rectors, provosts, and heads of tertiary institutions, also discussed admission timelines and measures aimed at ensuring transparency and fairness in the admission process.
