JAMB has retained 150 as the cut-off mark for admission into universities for the 2026/27 academic session, setting the benchmark at a policy meeting in Abuja on Monday after a vote by vice-chancellors present.
The same meeting fixed the cut-off for colleges of nursing at 150 and for polytechnics at 100 out of 400 obtainable marks. That means no tertiary institution is allowed to admit a candidate who scores below the agreed thresholds, although schools may still set higher cut-offs for their own applicants.
The decision gives universities, nursing colleges and polytechnics a common floor for the next admission cycle. It also means that candidates who fall short of 150 for universities or nursing schools, or 100 for polytechnics, will not clear the minimum mark for consideration under the agreed standard.
The education minister, Tunji Alausa, also said candidates seeking admission into education programmes and agriculture non-engineering courses are exempted from UTME. He said the federal government has exempted candidates seeking admission into colleges of education from writing the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, and that those with four credit passes in relevant subjects may apply without sitting for the test.
Alausa said candidates seeking admission into the NCE programme who have a minimum of four credit passes will no longer be required to sit for UTME. He added that such candidates must still register with JAMB, and their credentials will be screened, verified and certified before admission letters are issued through CAPS, which he said keeps the process within existing regulations.
The minister also said candidates seeking National Diploma programmes in non-technology agricultural and agriculture-related courses have been exempted from UTME. He said the minimum age for admission into tertiary institutions remains 16 years, and that admissions outside JAMB's Central Admissions Processing System are illegal and will not be recognised.
The policy lines up with the wider push by tertiary institution heads, who unanimously agreed that universities should admit from 150, colleges of nursing from 150 and polytechnics from 100. The government has also broadened access in education and agriculture-linked courses while keeping the admissions process anchored to JAMB's system, including efforts aimed at persons living with disabilities through waivers and other interventions.
For applicants, the key point is clear: the JAMB 2026 university cut off mark stays at 150, the age floor remains 16, and any admission that bypasses CAPS will not stand.
