JAMB Announces Official Cut-Off Marks for 2025/2026 Admissions

 The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), in conjunction with key stakeholders in the Nigerian education sector, has officially announced the minimum cut-off marks required for admission into tertiary institutions for the 2025/2026 academic session.

According to the resolution reached at the 2025 Policy Meeting on Admissions, the minimum scores required for consideration into the various tiers of institutions are as follows:

Universities: 150

Polytechnics: 100

Colleges of Education: 100

Colleges of Nursing Sciences: 140

The decision was reached collectively by heads of tertiary institutions across the country, in partnership with JAMB. This annual policy meeting, which brings together vice chancellors, rectors, provosts, and regulatory bodies, aims to establish guidelines that will shape the nation’s admission process for the academic year.

JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, who presided over the meeting, emphasized that these cut-off marks serve as minimum thresholds. Institutions are, however, free to set higher benchmarks based on their individual admission policies and programme demands.

> “The announced cut-off marks are not the sole determinants of admission. Institutions are at liberty to raise their requirements above the minimum depending on the competitiveness of their programmes,” Prof. Oloyede stated.

This decision is intended to bring uniformity and transparency to the admission process while ensuring that candidates are offered fair opportunities across all levels of tertiary education. The policy also takes into account the need to maintain quality and merit in the Nigerian educational system, especially as institutions continue to expand their intakes and course offerings.

Candidates who sat for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) are encouraged to check with their institutions of choice for specific departmental requirements, as these may differ from the general cut-off marks.

The announcement is seen as a strategic move to balance access to tertiary education with the standards expected in higher learning. It also highlights the role of collaboration between JAMB and tertiary institutions in shaping Nigeria’s academic future.