The full list of Nigerian universities’ UTME cut-off marks now out nationwide. The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has officially released the minimum UTME cut-off marks approved by universities across Nigeria for the 2026 admission exercise.
The list was unveiled during the 2026 Policy Meeting on Admissions into Tertiary Institutions held in Abuja, where institutions submitted their minimum admissible scores for candidates seeking admission into various programmes.
Among all institutions listed, Pan-Atlantic University announced the highest minimum benchmark with a cut-off mark of 220, while several federal, state, and private universities fixed their minimum scores between 150 and 200.
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JAMB explained that these scores only represent the minimum benchmark for admission consideration, meaning institutions still have the authority to set higher departmental cut-off marks for competitive courses such as Medicine, Law, Pharmacy, Nursing, and Engineering.
What Candidates Should Understand About the Approved UTME Cut-Off Marks
The released scores are the minimum admission thresholds accepted by institutions for the 2026 admission process.
However, candidates should note that:
- Meeting the minimum cut-off mark does not automatically guarantee admission.
- Departments may require higher scores depending on competition.
- Some universities may conduct Post-UTME screening exercises.
- O’Level performance and subject combinations will still play important roles during admission processing.
Candidates are therefore advised to target scores higher than the minimum benchmark, especially for highly competitive courses and institutions.
Universities with the Highest UTME Cut-Off Marks for 2026
A few institutions adopted relatively higher admission benchmarks compared to others due to competitiveness and institutional standards.
Here are some of the top institutions and their approved cut-off marks:
Pan-Atlantic University — 220
Air Force Institute of Technology — 200
Covenant University — 200
Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) — 200
University of Benin (UNIBEN) — 200
University of Ibadan (UI) — 200
University of Lagos (UNILAG) — 200
University of Nigeria (UNN) — 200
These institutions are expected to maintain highly competitive admission processes for the 2026 academic session.
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Lagos State Institutions and Their Approved Cut-Off Marks
Several Lagos-based institutions also released their approved benchmarks for the 2026 admission cycle.
The institutions include:
Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH) — 195
Lagos State University (LASU) — 195
Lagos State University of Education (LASUED) — 185
Candidates interested in these institutions are encouraged to monitor official admission updates and departmental requirements closely.
Universities That Adopted 180 Cut-Off Mark
A number of universities fixed their minimum benchmark at 180 for the 2026 admission exercise.
Some of them include:
Afe Babalola University — 180
Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) — 180
Federal University of Health Sciences — 180
Nigeria Police Academy — 180
Nigerian University of Technology and Management — 180
Shanahan University — 180
University of Abuja — 180
University of Ilorin — 180
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Universities That Fixed 170 and 160 Cut-Off Marks
Several institutions also adopted 170 and 160 as their admission thresholds.
Universities with 170 Cut-Off Mark
University of Jos
Babcock University
Federal University of Applied Sciences
Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH)
Nasarawa State University
Augustine University
Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University
Universities with 160 Cut-Off Mark
Bayero University Kano
Bells University of Technology
Imo State University
Kwara State University
Nnamdi Azikiwe University
Olabisi Onabanjo University
Osun State University
Redeemer’s University
Tai Solarin University of Education
University of Ilesa
Lead City University
Caleb University
Landmark University
Many other federal, state, and private institutions also adopted 160 as their minimum admissible score.
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Institutions That Fixed 150 Cut-Off Mark
Some universities adopted the general national benchmark of 150 approved by JAMB.
They include:
AbdulRasaq Abubakar Toyin University — 150
Adamawa State University — 150
Adeleke University — 150
African School of Economics — 150
Candidates who scored around this range may still have admission opportunities, especially in less competitive programmes.
Important Advice for 2026 Admission Seekers
Candidates are advised to:
Regularly monitor their institution’s admission portal
Upload O’Level results on JAMB CAPS
Prepare for Post-UTME where applicable
Confirm departmental cut-off marks before applying for course changes
Avoid misinformation from unofficial sources
Admission decisions will still depend on institutional quotas, programme competitiveness, and candidate performance.
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Final Note on Nigerian universities’ 2026 UTME cut-off marks
The release of institution-specific cut-off marks has now provided clearer direction for candidates preparing for the 2026 admission process.
While some universities maintained high benchmarks, many institutions adopted moderate cut-off marks to allow broader admission consideration for qualified candidates nationwide.
More admission guidelines and departmental requirements are expected to be released by institutions in the coming weeks. For more latest updates on JAMB, visit Dailylight JAMB Latest Updates Category.
