JAMB Announces New 2026 Cut-Off Marks for All Universities:- The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has officially released the minimum cut-off marks for admission into Nigerian universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education for the 2026/2027 academic session. This announcement was made after the board’s annual policy meeting held in Abuja, where education stakeholders from across the country gathered to review last year’s admission statistics and agree on fresh benchmarks for the new session.
According to JAMB Registrar Professor Ishaq Oloyede, the new cut-off marks are intended to ensure fairness, transparency, and quality control in the nation’s tertiary education admission system.
Key Highlights of the 2027 Policy Meeting
The meeting, chaired by the Minister of Education, brought together representatives of all federal and state universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education. They reviewed student performance in the 2025 UTME, discussed institutional autonomy, and finally approved the general admission cut-off marks.
After thorough deliberation, JAMB fixed the minimum cut-off mark for universities at 140, while polytechnics will start from 100 and colleges of education from 100. However, institutions are free to raise their own cut-off points above these minimums depending on competition and available admission spaces.
Oloyede emphasized that “no school is allowed to admit below these benchmarks,” but they may set higher requirements in line with their internal policies.
Breakdown of JAMB 2026 Cut-Off Marks
Below is the breakdown of JAMB 2026 Cut-Off Marks
| Institution Type | Minimum Cut-Off Mark (2026/2027) |
|---|---|
| Federal Universities | 140 and above |
| State Universities | 140 and above |
| Private Universities | 140 and above |
| Polytechnics | 100 and above |
| Colleges of Education | 100 and above |
These figures serve as the national minimum. For example, UNILAG, UI, OAU, and UNN may choose 200 or more as their internal standard, while federal polytechnics like YABATECH or Federal Poly Nekede may settle for 120 or 130 depending on departmental demand.
Why JAMB Adjusted the Cut-Off Marks
The board said the decision followed an analysis of candidates’ performance in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). Data showed that over 1.7 million candidates sat for the exam, but only about 30% scored above 200.
By reducing the national benchmark slightly, JAMB aims to allow more candidates to be eligible for screening while still maintaining merit-based selection through institutional post-UTME and screening processes.
According to Oloyede, “Cut-off marks are not automatic admission guarantees; they are just the starting point. Each university will conduct further screening to pick the best candidates.”
Institutional Autonomy and Admission Process
One key highlight of the meeting was JAMB’s reinforcement of institutional autonomy. This means each tertiary institution has the power to set its own cut-off mark above the national minimum and determine how to conduct its internal screening. For example:
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University of Ibadan (UI) may fix 200 and above for Medicine and Law.
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University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) could set 180 for Engineering and 160 for Social Sciences.
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Federal Polytechnic Ilaro might use 120 as its general entry point.
Candidates are therefore advised to always check their preferred school’s official portal for the updated departmental cut-off marks before applying.
How to Check the 2025 JAMB Cut-Off Marks Online
To view the full list of approved cut-off marks for all schools:
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Visit the official JAMB portal www.jamb.gov.ng
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Click on “2025 Admission Policy Meeting Decisions.”
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Select your institution type (university, polytechnic, or college of education).
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Download or view the PDF list of approved cut-off marks.
Candidates can also check updates directly from their school’s admission page. Legit Camp News will publish individual articles for each institution’s confirmed cut-off once officially released.
Departmental Cut-Off Marks: What to Expect
After JAMB’s national announcement, each institution will release its departmental cut-off marks based on performance, available slots, and competition. Typically:
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Medicine, Law, Nursing, and Engineering always have higher benchmarks (200–250).
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Social Science and Education courses fall around 160–180.
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Less competitive courses may go as low as 140–150.
These departmental marks will determine who gets invited for Post-UTME screening or direct admission.
How Schools Use Cut-Off Marks
Here’s how it works behind the scenes:
- JAMB sends each institution the full list of candidates who chose them.
- The school sets its departmental cut-off.
- Candidates meeting the requirement are invited for Post-UTME or online screening.
- Those who pass are recommended to JAMB for final approval and admission on CAPS.
This process ensures fairness, transparency, and uniformity across all institutions.
JAMB’s Warning to Candidates
The board cautioned candidates not to fall for admission fraudsters. No one can “upgrade” your score or “influence” your admission. Only schools and JAMB can process legitimate admissions through the Central Admission Processing System (CAPS). Candidates are advised to:
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Log in regularly to efacility.jamb.gov.ng.
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Click “Check Admission Status.”
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Accept or reject offers immediately when they appear.
Any candidate who fails to accept an offer within the stated time automatically forfeits it.
Impact of the 2025 Policy on Students
With this new benchmark, more students will qualify for screening, especially those from rural or underprivileged backgrounds who struggled with limited access to quality preparatory materials.
However, it also means competition will shift to Post-UTME, where each institution filters thousands of eligible applicants through aptitude tests and screening exercises.
Candidates aiming for top courses like Medicine, Pharmacy, and Law should not relax just because the national mark is 140. They must still aim high 230+ is the real zone for elite programs.
Advice for Candidates (From Admission Experts)
Education analysts at the meeting gave this practical advice to 2025 UTME candidates:
- Recheck your course and school choice. If your JAMB score is low, change to a less competitive institution before the next admission round.
- Keep your O’Level results ready. WAEC/NECO grades will still determine your final eligibility.
- Stay active on JAMB CAPS. Monitor every change admission status, transfer approval, etc.
- Watch for Post-UTME forms. Many schools will start releasing forms within 3–4 weeks of the JAMB policy meeting.
Universities Likely to Maintain Higher Benchmarks
Some universities traditionally keep their marks high regardless of JAMB’s national minimum.
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University of Lagos (UNILAG) – 200+
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University of Ibadan (UI) – 200+
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Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) – 200+
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University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) – 180–200
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Covenant University – 180–200
Meanwhile, schools like Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), LASU, and UNILORIN may vary between 160–180 depending on department.
JAMB’s Call for Transparency
Professor Oloyede stressed that all tertiary institutions must upload their admission criteria and cut-off marks to the JAMB CAPS portal before any admission can begin. Any school that fails to comply risks having its admission exercise suspended.
He said, “Our goal is to make sure no student is cheated. Every admission must pass through CAPS for monitoring and fairness.”
Future of Admission in Nigeria
JAMB also announced plans to strengthen its Central Admission Processing System (CAPS) by integrating WAEC and NECO result verification directly into the admission workflow. This move will reduce fraud and speed up confirmation of candidates’ results.
In coming sessions, JAMB hinted that admissions might become fully automated, where schools simply upload their merit lists and the system filters and approves automatically.
Conclusion
The new JAMB 2025 cut-off marks provide a fresh opportunity for many candidates who feared their UTME scores weren’t enough. But it’s not a free pass. Every school still applies its own internal merit system.
If you scored below 200, don’t panic focus on your Post-UTME preparation and choose schools within your range. Those who plan smartly, not just score highly, are the ones who secure admission.
Keep checking Legit Camp News daily for official departmental cut-off updates from each university, polytechnic, and college of education as they are released.
Quick Links for Candidates
- Check 2025 JAMB Result Online
- JAMB CAPS Admission Portal
- List of Schools Releasing Post-UTME Forms 2025
- Latest Admission News in Nigeria
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