BREAKING: JAMB Announces 2025 Cut-off Marks for Universities, Polytechnics, and Colleges

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has officially released the 2025/2026 cut-off marks for admissions into Nigerian tertiary institutions. This was disclosed during the annual Policy Meeting held in Abuja on Tuesday.

According to the consensus reached at the meeting:

• Universities will adopt 150 as the minimum cut-off score, which is 10 points higher than the 140 benchmark set in 2024.
• Polytechnics and Colleges of Education agreed on 100 as their minimum admissible score.
• Colleges of Nursing will require a minimum score of 140 for admission.

The Registrar of JAMB, Professor Ish-aq Oloyede, announced the figures, emphasizing that the cut-off marks reflect agreements reached by vice-chancellors, rectors, and provosts across the tertiary education sector.

LASU, UNILAG, UNILORIN Most Preferred by Candidates

During the same event, JAMB also revealed the top three most preferred institutions by candidates in the 2025 UTME cycle:

• Lagos State University (LASU)
• University of Lagos (UNILAG)
• University of Ilorin (UNILORIN)

Meet the Top 3 2025 UTME Scorers

JAMB also unveiled the top-performing candidates in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME):

1. Okeke Chinedu Christian from Anambra State – 375 (Applied to UNILAG, Mechanical Engineering)
2. Ayuba Simon-Peter John from Gombe State – 374 (Applied to Afe Babalola University, Mechanical Engineering)
3. Jimoh Abdulmalik Olayinka from Kwara State – 373 (Applied to UNILAG, Mechanical Engineering)

FG Sets Minimum Admission Age to 16

In a major policy update, the Federal Government has officially fixed the minimum age for admission into any Nigerian tertiary institution at 16 years. This announcement was made by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, during the opening of the JAMB Policy Meeting.

“The issue of age at entry has generated much debate, but our position is clear. The entry age for admission is now officially pegged at 16 years,” Alausa said.

He stressed that only exceptional cases—such as gifted children or those with accelerated learning—may be considered, but such cases must be well documented.

The Minister warned institutions against manipulating age records, stressing that sanctions will be applied to any institution found violating this rule.

Policy Meeting: Harmonizing Nigeria’s Admission Standards

The 2025 JAMB Policy Meeting provided a platform for education stakeholders to assess the progress of admission processes, set national standards, and ensure the continued integrity and fairness of the tertiary education system.

With new benchmarks in place, including higher cut-off marks and a clear stance on minimum age, JAMB and the Federal Government are taking steps to standardize the admissions process across Nigeria’s tertiary institutions. These policies are expected to foster better educational outcomes and streamline the selection process for deserving candidates.

Sources

• Guardian Nigeria: JAMB sets 2025 varsity admission cut-off at 150, polytechnics 100
• Premium Times
• Federal Ministry of Education