The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) held its 2026 policy meeting on 11 May 2026 in Abuja, chaired by the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa. Vice-chancellors, rectors, provosts and heads of regulatory agencies agreed on the minimum admissible UTME scores for the 2026/2027 admission session.
2026/2027 minimum cut-off marks
| Institution type | Minimum UTME score | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Universities | 150 | Unchanged from 2025 |
| Colleges of Nursing Sciences | 150 | Up from 140 |
| Polytechnics and monotechnics | 100 | Unchanged |
| Colleges of education (NCE) | UTME no longer required for NCE candidates with at least four credits | New exemption |
For context, the university minimum was 140 in 2023.
These are minimums, not guarantees
The JAMB cut-off is the lowest score any institution may accept. Each school sets its own marks, usually higher. For example:
- OAU required at least 200 to apply for its 2026/2027 Post-UTME.
- UNIOSUN set a general minimum of 160.
- Plateau State University required at least 160.
- Competitive courses such as Medicine, Law and Nursing need far higher aggregates.
2026/2027 admission deadlines
| Institution type | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Public universities | 31 October 2026 |
| Private universities | 30 November 2026 |
| Polytechnics, monotechnics and colleges of education | 31 December 2026 |
Other key resolutions
- Institutions must not admit beyond their approved quota for each programme.
- Admitted candidates have four weeks to accept their offers on CAPS, or the offer may be withdrawn or reassigned.
- The change of course and institution window opens only after the mop-up examination.
- Institutions must keep uploading O’Level results within approved timelines.
- Candidates for ND in non-technology agricultural courses are also exempted from the UTME.
Top scorers in the 2026 UTME
JAMB named the highest scorers out of 400: Owoeye Daniella Jesudunsin (372), Enwere Kingsley Ikenna (370) and Bamisile Ayomide Emmanuel (369).
Frequently asked questions
I scored 150. Can I get into a university?
You are eligible for universities that accept 150, but competitive schools and courses will need more. Consider less competitive courses or institutions.
What is the cut-off for colleges of education?
From 2026/2027, NCE candidates with at least four credit passes don’t need to sit the UTME at all. See our exemption explainer.