JAMB Sets 2025 Cut-Off at 150 for Universities, 100 for Polytechnics Admissions, Others
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has officially announced the minimum cut-off marks required for admission into tertiary institutions in Nigeria for the 2025/2026 academic session.
The announcement was made following the conclusion of the 2025 Policy Meeting on Admissions to Tertiary Institutions, which brought together vice chancellors, rectors, provosts, regulatory agencies, and key stakeholders in the education sector.
According to JAMB, the minimum Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) score for admission into universities is 150, while polytechnics and colleges of education will admit candidates with a minimum of 100.
For colleges of nursing sciences, the cut-off has been pegged at 140.
The Registrar of JAMB, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, who presided over the meeting, emphasized that institutions are allowed to set higher benchmarks based on their capacity, competitiveness, and admission policies but no institution is permitted to go below the national minimum.
“This policy is not to enforce uniformity but to uphold minimum standards while respecting institutional autonomy,” Oloyede stated. “Institutions retain the freedom to determine their own admission criteria, including higher cut-off marks, but must not admit below the thresholds agreed upon today.”
The cut-off marks serve as a guide for universities and other tertiary institutions as they begin the process of screening candidates for the new academic session. The policy meeting also reviewed institutional performance, compliance with regulatory guidelines, and emerging challenges in the admission process.
The 2025 UTME saw over 1.9 million candidates sit for the exam, with a significant number expected to seek placement into various federal, state, and private institutions across the country.
The announcement of the admission benchmarks comes amid ongoing reforms by JAMB to streamline admissions, promote merit, and ensure transparency through its Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS).
Educational stakeholders have welcomed the clarity provided by JAMB, though some have called for continued review of entry standards to reflect evolving academic expectations and the peculiarities of different fields of study.
Admissions for the 2025/2026 session are expected to commence shortly, with institutions advised to conclude the process in line with timelines set by the Board.
