The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), alongside major stakeholders in Nigeria’s tertiary education sector, has approved 150 as the minimum benchmark score for admission into universities for the 2026 admission exercise.
The decision was reached during the 2026 JAMB Policy Meeting on Admissions held in Abuja, where heads of tertiary institutions across the country gathered to deliberate on admission guidelines for the new academic session.
The annual policy meeting usually serves as the platform where admission benchmarks, admission procedures, and institutional guidelines are discussed and officially adopted for universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and other tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
SEE ALSO:Â WAEC Opens Registration for 2026 WASSCE Private Candidates (GCE Second Series)
What the New JAMB Benchmark Means
The approved score of 150 will serve as the official minimum benchmark for candidates seeking admission into Nigerian universities for the 2026 admission cycle.
This means that:
1. Candidates who score below 150 may not be eligible for university admission consideration.
2. Universities are not allowed to admit candidates below the approved benchmark.
3. Institutions still have the right to set higher departmental or institutional cut-off marks depending on competition and course requirements.
For highly competitive courses such as Medicine, Law, Pharmacy, Nursing, and Engineering, candidates should expect significantly higher cut-off marks from most universities.
Benchmarks for Other Tertiary Institutions
Although the full details from the policy meeting are still expected, the previous admission benchmarks adopted by institutions included:
1. Universities — 150
2. Polytechnics — 100
3. Colleges of Education — 100
Stakeholders noted that these benchmarks were reached after extensive discussions and voting by vice-chancellors, rectors, provosts, and other education administrators present at the meeting.
SEE ALSO: Full list of Nigerian universities’ UTME cut-off marks nationwide
Why JAMB Cut-Off Marks Matter
The minimum benchmark approved by JAMB is officially referred to as the National Minimum Tolerable UTME Score.
This score acts as the lowest acceptable UTME result institutions can use for admission processing. However, candidates should understand that scoring the minimum benchmark does not automatically guarantee admission.
Admission into most institutions still depends on several factors, including:
- Course competitiveness
- Institution-specific cut-off marks
- O’Level results
- Post-UTME performance
- Catchment area considerations
- Admission quota
Candidates are therefore advised to aim far above the minimum benchmark to improve their admission chances.
Important Advice for 2026 UTME Candidates
Students preparing for the 2026 admission exercise should begin monitoring updates from their preferred institutions immediately after the release of official cut-off marks. Candidates should also:
- Upload their O’Level results on the JAMB CAPS portal
- Ensure correct subject combinations
- Regularly check admission portals
- Prepare for Post-UTME screening where applicable
Most universities are expected to release their individual admission requirements and departmental cut-off marks in the coming weeks.
SEE ALSO:
- Rev. Tony Akinyemi Scholarship (rTSF) 2026 for Secondary and Undergraduate Students
- Toriola Stephen Undergraduate Scholarship 2026 (Offering Financial Support + Mentorship)
Final Note
The approval of 150 as the minimum university benchmark confirms that the 2026 admission process will follow a similar structure to previous years.
While institutions can still fix higher cut-off marks based on their standards and competitiveness, candidates are advised to remain focused and position themselves strongly for the admission process ahead.
More updates from the 2026 JAMB policy meeting are expected to be released soon. For more latest updates on JAMB, visit Dailylight JAMB Latest Updates Category.
