JAMB fixes 150 as minimum cut-off mark for university admissions in 2026

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has officially approved 150 as the minimum cut-off mark for admission into Nigerian universities for the 2026 academic session.

The decision was reached on Monday during the ongoing 2026 Policy Meeting on Admissions held in Abuja, where key stakeholders in the education sector gathered to deliberate on admission guidelines for tertiary institutions across the country.

The meeting was attended by the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, alongside vice-chancellors, rectors, provosts, and heads of various higher institutions.

The annual policy meeting serves as a crucial platform where JAMB and education stakeholders determine the admission framework for universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and other tertiary institutions in Nigeria.

Apart from approving minimum cut-off marks, the meeting also addresses admission procedures, requirements, and policies expected to guide institutions during the admission process.

With the newly approved benchmark, candidates seeking admission into universities are expected to score at least 150 in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) to qualify for consideration.

However, individual universities still retain the authority to set higher cut-off marks for specific courses depending on competitiveness and available admission spaces.