Fresh policy sets minimum UTME score as admission rules for 2025/2026 session take effect nationwide
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has officially fixed 150 as the minimum cut-off mark for admission into Nigerian universities for the 2025/2026 academic session.
The announcement, which has been described as a major policy update in the education sector, sets a nationwide benchmark that will guide admission decisions across all tertiary institutions.
According to the new directive, candidates who score 150 and above in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) are eligible for consideration into universities, although individual institutions still retain the power to set higher cut-off marks for competitive courses.
Education stakeholders say the decision is aimed at standardising admission requirements while still allowing universities flexibility based on course demand and capacity.
The development is already generating mixed reactions among students and parents, with many expressing concerns over competition intensity, while others see it as a fair balance between access and academic standards.
Further details from the policy meeting indicate that other institutions, including polytechnics and colleges of education, will maintain lower minimum thresholds to ensure wider access to tertiary education.