The minimum acceptable UTME score for admission to Nigerian universities for the 2026–2027 academic year remains still 150, according to the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), heads of postsecondary institutions, and other stakeholders.
Dr. Tunji Alausa, the Minister of Education, presided over yesterday’s 2026 JAMB policy meeting in Abuja, where the decision was made.
ENigeria Newspaper had earlier reported that admission to polytechnics and monotechnics required a minimum score of 100, whereas colleges of nursing sciences set a minimum score of 150.
The forum was also chaired by JAMB Registrar Professor Ishaq Oloyede, who welcomes vice-chancellors, provosts and rectors of several higher institutions across Nigeria.
In the same forum, the minister announced that the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) would no longer be necessary for applicants seeking admission to the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) program with a minimum of four credit passes.
He stated that applicants seeking admission to National Diploma programs in non-technology agricultural and agriculture-related courses will also be subject to the policy, which goes into force with the 2026–2027 admissions process.
Nigerian reacts to minimum UTME score directive
However, many Nigerians have taken to the social media of the board to voice their displeasure over what they think is a big downgrade to the educational system of the country. They believe that the acceptance of such low score is only an invite to mediocrity.
@sarautumaryam tweeted that, “Even at the previous 180, we still had graduates who don’t know the full meaning of the accronym “JAMB” or “NYSC”, yet the govt wants to further drop the bar? What’s the point of the JAMB examination then if you’ll need just 150 to gain admission. The board should be scrapped.”
@oaf_sage wrote that, “It’s time to wrap it up. Which exams body sets the passing grade to 37.5% for any course at all, let alone nursing? Keep it at that cut off and more students will fail because nobody put in the work once the bar is low; people don’t stretch themselves to be myopic or average.”
@SoEdunOkanESita noted that the gap between the overall and minimum scores is way too wide. “UTME scores are over 400. Why do you put the admissions scores to universities at 150 out of 400? This is far below the average scores! Is this normal? What are you guys reducing education to in Nigeria? Are you producing graduates for Nigeria only? How do you expect these students to cope and compete with their counterparts abroad? Everything has fallen apart in Nigeria. You are destroying the future of this country with these ill thought decisions. The academics should be the ones dishing out nation-building policies. Not destructive policies like these“, he tweeted.
@BEazeBuy wrote, “JAMB don set university cut-off at 150/400. 150! We dey celebrate mediocrity like trophy now. Government wey no fit fund schools, no fit pay teachers, no fit provide labs, now dey lower the bar so their failure no go show too much. Tomorrow na 80 we go dey admit? Na so we wan compete with India and China? Shame. Pure shame.“
@peterperchival also noted that the standard for admission in Nigeria has fallen drastically. “150 for university admission in 2026 is actually wild. That’s the score people used to get and still write another JAMB. Now it’s the official minimum. The standard has fallen so low it’s underground“, he tweeted.
@olalubiolayinka opined that, “What’s school turning to? During my days the cut off mark for universities was 200 upwards even with 200 your chance of getting admission into a university is slim. No wonder majority of graduates can’t defend themselves when necessary.”
In the midst of these reactions, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, the JAMB Registrar, advised leaders of postsecondary institutions to maintain openness, justice, and merit in the admissions process. As his second tenure expires in August 2026, Oloyede, who is overseeing the annual exercise for the final time, cautioned against irregular admissions and asked universities to accept only eligible applicants.
Owoeye Daniella Jesudunsin emerged as the best scorer nationwide with 372 out of 400 marks, according to the testing authority, which also revealed the top applicants in the 2026 UTME.
