JAMB reveals cut-off marks for admission into universities, polytechnics, others

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), in collaboration with heads of tertiary institutions and other key stakeholders, has fixed the minimum cut-off scores for admission into Nigeria’s higher institutions for the 2024/2025 academic session.

During the 2025 JAMB Policy Meeting held on Tuesday in Abuja, it was agreed that the minimum cut-off mark for universities will be 150, while polytechnics and colleges of education will admit candidates with scores starting from 100. For colleges of nursing sciences, the minimum score was set at 140.

The meeting, chaired by the Minister of Education, Prof. Maruf Alausa, was attended by Vice Chancellors, Rectors, Provosts, and heads of regulatory agencies in the education sector.

JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, highlighted that the agreed scores are the minimum thresholds and no institution is permitted to go below them.

However, he said that institutions retain the autonomy to set higher benchmarks depending on the competitiveness of their individual programmes.

“This policy reflects the reality of our education system and the need to align admission processes with merit, equity, and capacity,” Oloyede said.

According to him, the decision aims to promote fairness, quality, and access across the education system, while still upholding national standards. Institutions are expected to complete their admission processes within the approved timelines and report to JAMB for central processing.

JAMB reiterated in a statement: “The minimum admissible scores for admissions for the next academic session have been fixed at 150 for universities, 100 for polytechnics, 100 for colleges of education, and 140 for colleges of nursing sciences by the stakeholders.”