By Ummie Sulieman
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced the minimum cut-off marks for admission into Nigeria’s tertiary institutions for the 2026 academic session, setting new national benchmarks for universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.
The decision was reached during the 2026 JAMB Policy Meeting involving key education stakeholders in Abuja, where admission guidelines were reviewed ahead of the new academic cycle.
According to the announcement, candidates seeking admission into universities are required to score at least 150 in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). Polytechnics and colleges of education are expected to admit candidates with a minimum score of 100.
The board explained that the cut-off marks serve as the national baseline, while individual institutions retain the authority to set higher departmental requirements depending on course competitiveness and available spaces.
Officials noted that the new policy is aimed at standardising the admission process, improving access to higher education, and ensuring fairness across institutions.
However, JAMB also stressed that meeting the minimum cut-off mark does not guarantee admission, as universities will continue to apply additional screening criteria for competitive courses such as Medicine, Law, and Engineering.
The announcement has already triggered discussions among candidates and education stakeholders, especially as millions of students await admission decisions following the 2026 UTME exercise.
Admission processes for the 2026/2027 academic session are expected to commence after institutions conclude their screening and post-UTME arrangements.
