The Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has released the cut-off mark for entrance into tertiary institutions, Colleges of Education and Polytechnics in Nigeria. The resolutions came after the 2025 policy meeting held on the 8th of July 2025 at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference, Abuja.
The meeting which was attracted the presence of Vice-Chancellors, Rectors, Provosts, Registrars and Admission Officers from all the Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria resolved as follows:
1. That any admission conducted outside the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS), will be illegal and will not be accepted;
2. That the official age of entry into tertiary institutions in Nigeria is sixteen (16) years
3. The meeting condemned the proliferation of the establishment of Universities and other tertiary institutions in the country and cautioned against compromising standards and quality
4. That sandwich and other part-time candidates must use their NIN in registration for admission, for proper identification
5. That tertiary institutions are at liberty to conduct Post-UTME or use any other platform for the screening of their candidates
6. That change of name or alteration of date of birth will not be accepted after admission of candidates
7. That JAMB result slips from the 2025/2026 academic session will henceforth be ranked, according to the scores of the candidates
The meeting also resolved and approved the following National minimum cut-off marks for admission in the 2025/2026 academic session:
a. Public Universities – 150 (as was proposed by Abia State University)
b. Private Universities – 100
c. Polytechnics – 100
d. Colleges of Education – 100
e. Colleges of Nursing – 140
f. Colleges of Agriculture – 100
However, institutions are to adopt cut-off marks for specific programmes, as they deem fit, but not below the approved National cut-off marks;
9. That the 2025/2026 admissions exercise into Public Universities should be concluded not later than 31st October, 2025.
For Private Universities and other tertiary institutions, the exercise should be completed not later than November/December 2025
10. Candidates offered admission should be given four (4) weeks to accept or reject the offer, otherwise, the admission will be forfeited
11. Candidates should not change the SIM numbers used for registration for admission, as they will be used for checking and processing of admissions
12. Institutions that fail to submit their admission brochure for any particular year, will henceforth not be allowed to proceed with the admissions exercise in the next academic session
13. That the Government should consider the award of scholarships and stipends for students offering technology courses in our tertiary institutions
14. That students should avail themselves of the NELFund student loan scheme and register, as appropriate, to benefit
15. The meeting further resolved to fight corruption and examination malpractices, as defaulters will be penalised.
