The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced the minimum admissible scores for admissions into Nigerian tertiary institutions for the 2025/2026 academic session. According to the board, the minimum cut-off marks are:

– Universities: 150

– Polytechnics: 100

– Colleges of Education: 100

– Colleges of Nursing Sciences: 140

These cut-off marks were agreed upon by stakeholders, including heads of tertiary institutions, during the 2025 JAMB Policy Meeting held in Abuja. While institutions can set their own cut-off marks above the national minimum, they cannot admit candidates with scores below these thresholds.

The establishment of minimum cut-off marks aims to strike a balance between maintaining academic standards and widening access to tertiary education. This move is part of JAMB’s effort to guide institutions in their admission decisions and ensure uniformity in the system.

Implications for Candidates

Meeting the minimum cut-off mark does not guarantee automatic admission. Candidates must still meet other requirements, such as;

– Subject Combinations:  Meeting specific subject requirements for their chosen course

– Post-UTME Performance:  Performing well in post-UTME screenings, where applicable

– O’Level Results: Meeting specific O’Level result requirements

– School-Specific Criteria: Meeting specific criteria set by their chosen institution

Candidates are advised to check the individual cut-off marks of their preferred institutions, as some may set higher standards than the national minimum.