The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced the official cut-off marks for admissions into tertiary institutions across Nigeria for the 2025/2026 academic session.
In a statement released Tuesday via the Board’s official X (formerly Twitter) page and reported by Nairametrics and Premium Times, JAMB revealed that the minimum score for universities will remain at 150, while polytechnics and colleges of education are set at 100. Colleges of nursing sciences will adopt a slightly higher benchmark of 140.
“The minimum admissible scores for admissions for the next academic session have been fixed at 150 for universities, 100 for polytechnics, 100 for colleges of education, and 140 for colleges of nursing sciences by the stakeholders,” the statement read.
The decision was reached during the 2025 JAMB Policy Meeting on Admissions held in Abuja, where key stakeholders including vice-chancellors, rectors, provosts, and heads of regulatory agencies deliberated on maintaining academic standards while ensuring wider access to tertiary education.
Balancing Standards and Access
Establishing national minimum scores — known as the National Minimum Tolerable UTME Score (NTMUS) — is central to JAMB’s goal of balancing inclusivity with quality. While these minimums provide a national guide, individual institutions are free to set higher cut-off marks in line with their admission policies and capacity.
For instance, a university may opt for a cut-off mark of 180 or higher to maintain selectivity, but no institution is allowed to admit students below the national floor of 150. This flexibility allows each school to align its admission criteria with its academic vision and resource capabilities while maintaining national consistency.
Record-High Performances and New Trends
This year’s UTME results showed notable improvements, marking one of the best performances in over a decade. According to Nairametrics, 17,025 candidates (0.88%) scored 300 and above, a significant rise from 0.46% in 2024 and 0.35% in 2023.
Moreover, 117,373 candidates (6.08%) achieved scores of 250 and above — an encouraging leap from 4.18% in 2024 and 3.73% in 2023. The number of candidates who scored above 200 also increased markedly to 29.3% (565,988 candidates), compared to 24% in the previous year.
Despite the record performances, JAMB faced its share of challenges this cycle, including allegations of technical glitches and examination malpractice. This led to a rare national resit, but the board confirmed that only about 21.5% of candidates eventually scored above 200.
Historical Context
JAMB’s approach to cut-off marks has evolved significantly over the years. Between 2016 and 2022, university cut-off marks fluctuated between 160 and 180 as the board grappled with balancing high standards and equitable access. In 2024, the benchmark was officially lowered to 140 for universities to broaden entry opportunities, while polytechnics and colleges maintained 100.
The reversion to 150 this year reflects a cautious recalibration in response to improvements in candidate performance and calls to strengthen academic readiness among tertiary-level entrants.
Looking Ahead
The announcement serves as a guide for aspiring university, polytechnic, and college students to set realistic expectations and prepare accordingly. It also signals the continued emphasis on merit and quality while providing room for inclusivity in Nigeria’s dynamic educational landscape.
Candidates are advised to stay updated through official JAMB channels to avoid misinformation and to understand each institution’s specific admission policies, which may set higher thresholds than the national minimum.
