JAMB Cut Off Mark for Nursing 2026/2027 in Nigeria.
If you want to study Nursing in Nigeria, one of the first questions you will ask is this: what is the JAMB cut off mark for Nursing for the 2026/2027 academic session? The honest answer is that there is no single figure that fits every institution.
JAMB sets a national minimum benchmark, but universities and colleges of nursing sciences still decide what score they will accept for screening and what score will actually stand a realistic chance of admission. That is why one school may mention 160 or 180, while another may demand 210, 220, or far more in a competitive cycle.
That difference matters a lot for Nursing because it is one of the most competitive health-related courses in Nigeria. The course attracts a large number of applicants every year, while available slots remain limited and schools also have to meet professional accreditation standards. The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria lists approved training institutions and notes that the list is subject to periodic review, which is another reason candidates should focus on current, institution-specific information.
So, for 2026/2027, the smartest way to understand the JAMB cut off mark for Nursing is to separate the process into three layers.
- There is the general JAMB minimum Cut Off Mark.
- There is the school’s own minimum score for Nursing or for admission screening.
- There is the practical score you should target if you want to be competitive enough to secure a slot, especially in high-demand universities.
Once you understand these three layers, the confusion disappears.
What Is the Official JAMB Cut Off Mark for Nursing 2026/2027?
The latest officially published minimum tolerable admission scores on JAMB’s website are 150 for universities and 140 for colleges of nursing, as approved at the 2025 policy meeting for the 2025/2026 session. That means 150 is the general floor for university admission consideration, while 140 is the floor for colleges of nursing sciences.
However, those figures are not a guarantee that you can study Nursing with those scores in every institution. They simply mean you are not automatically disqualified at the national policy level. Schools are still free to set higher thresholds for competitive programmes like Nursing.
This is exactly where many students get misled. They hear that “JAMB cut off mark is 150” or “Nursing cut off mark is 150” and assume that is enough everywhere. It is not.
A candidate who scores 150 may be eligible in a broad policy sense, but may still be nowhere near the realistic admission range for Nursing in a competitive university.
For Nursing, the real question is not only “What is the minimum?” but “What score is strong enough for the institution I want?
READ ALSO: JAMB Cut Off Mark for Medicine and Surgery 2026/2027
Why Nursing Usually Has a Higher JAMB Cut Off Mark
Nursing is not like many low-pressure programmes where the school’s general cut off can be enough. It sits in the health sciences ecosystem, where demand is high, professional training standards are strict, and many institutions screen heavily before releasing admission lists. Even when a university publishes a general institutional minimum, Nursing often sits above that level.
Ebonyi State University, for example, kept its general cut off at 150 for 2025/2026, but fixed Nursing Science at 210. That single example shows why using only a general school cut off can be misleading for Nursing applicants.
Another strong example is Akwa Ibom State University. When AKSU announced the commencement of its Nursing degree for the 2025/2026 session, it stated that only UTME candidates with a minimum score of 290 were eligible for Nursing, while other listed health programmes required 265.
That is a dramatic reminder that Nursing can become extremely competitive depending on the school, the volume of applicants, and the stage of programme development.
The University of Lagos gives a different but equally important signal. UNILAG’s 2025/2026 merit cut-off release shows Nursing at 79.8 on aggregate, not as a raw JAMB score. That matters because many top universities do not make admission decisions from JAMB alone.
They combine JAMB, post-UTME, screening performance, catchment considerations, and other institutional policies. In other words, even a high UTME score may still need a strong post-UTME or screening performance to convert into admission.
List of Nursing Institutions And Their JAMB Cut Off Mark 2026/2027
The table below shows the Nursing cut-off marks published by different institutions in Nigeria;
| S/N | Institution | Nursing Cut-Off Mark |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Akwa Ibom State University (AKSU) | 290 |
| 2 | Federal University Otuoke (FUOTUOKE) | 260 |
| 3 | Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike (AE-FUNAI) | 240 |
| 4 | University of Jos (UNIJOS) | 220 |
| 5 | Plateau State University (PLASU) | 215 |
| 6 | Ebonyi State University (EBSU) | 210 |
| 7 | Bingham University | 210 |
| 8 | Veritas University | 210 |
| 9 | Federal University of Health Sciences, Ila-Orangun (FUHSI) | 210 |
| 10 | Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwe University (KOMU) | 205 |
| 11 | Trinity University, Yaba | 200 |
| 12 | Osun State University (UNIOSUN) | 200 |
| 13 | Benson Idahosa University (BIU) | 200 |
| 14 | University of Africa, Toru-Orua (UAT) | 200 |
| 15 | Godfrey Okoye University | 180 |
| 16 | Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology (OAUSTECH) | 180 |
| 17 | Venite University | 180 |
| 18 | Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) | 180 |
| 19 | Edo State University Iyamho | 170 |
| 20 | Federal University Gusau (FUGUS) | 210 |
| 21 | Jimoh Babalola University (JBU) | 160 |
| 22 | Margaret Lawrence University | 160 |
| 23 | Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) | 78.55 (aggregate) |
| 24 | University of Ilesa (UNILESA) | 160 (general jamb score) |
| 25 | Achievers University | 150 (general jamb score) |
| 26 | University on the Niger | 150 (general jamb score) |
| 27 | King David Umahi University of Medical Sciences (KDUMS) | 150 (general jamb score) |
| 28 | Gerar University of Medical Sciences (GUMED) | 150 (general jamb score) |
| 29 | Mercy Medical University | 150 (application score) |
| 30 | University of Medical Sciences, Ondo (UNIMED) | 150 (general jamb score) |
| 31 | University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) | 150 (general jamb score) |
| 32 | CAI College of Nursing Sciences, Oluyoro | 150 |
| 33 | Makurdi College of Nursing Sciences (MCONS) | 150 |
| 34 | Sure Foundation College of Nursing Sciences | 150 |
| 35 | Kaduna State College of Nursing Sciences | 150 |
| 36 | Cross River State College of Nursing and Midwifery Sciences, Itigidi | 150 |
| 37 | Ogun State College of Nursing Sciences | 180 |
| 38 | Nigerian Air Force College of Nursing Sciences (NAFCONS) | 180 |
| 39 | College of Nursing Sciences, UBTH | 180 |
| 40 | College of Nursing Sciences, Mbano | 180 |
| 41 | Nasarawa State College of Nursing Sciences, Lafia | 165 |
| 42 | Akwa Ibom State College of Nursing Sciences (AKSCONS) | 140 |
| 43 | Dako College of Nursing Sciences, Suleja | 140 |
| 44 | University of Lagos (UNILAG) | 79.8 (merit aggregate) |
| 45 | University of Ibadan (UI) | 71.375 (merit aggregate) |
| 46 | Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) | 276 |
As shown above, Nursing cut-off marks vary widely by institution, with some schools accepting scores around 150 to 165, while others require 200, 210, 220, 240, 260, or even 290 depending on demand and admission competitiveness.
Approved Institutions Offering Nursing in Nigeria
Another major factor is whether the school is approved for Nursing training. The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria says it approves schools of nursing, midwifery, post-basic nursing, and departments of nursing, and its published list as at July 2025 includes categories such as schools of nursing, schools of midwifery, post-basic nursing institutions, community nursing programmes, and departments of nursing sciences.
The same NMCN page lists examples of departments and faculties of nursing in institutions such as the University of Uyo, Federal University Otuoke, Federal University Lokoja, Caleb University, University of Abuja, University of Ilesa, and several others across the federation.
That approval issue is not a small detail. A school may advertise Nursing, but candidates should still verify current approval and accreditation status before committing time and money. NMCN also states clearly that its approved list is subject to periodic review.
So when you are comparing cut off marks, always make sure the school’s Nursing programme is on the current approved list and not just promoted on social media or third-party blogs.
JAMB Subject Combination for Nursing
To study Nursing successfully, scoring high in JAMB is only part of the equation. You must also register the correct subject combination. Across official university pages, the expected UTME subjects for Nursing consistently include;
- English Language
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Physics
If you write the wrong subject combination, even a strong score may not save your application. That is why candidates who want Nursing should settle this part early, not after the exam. Many admission problems begin long before post-UTME, simply because the candidate registered the wrong subjects or assumed that any science combination would work. For Nursing, the standard pathway is very clear.
O’Level Requirements for Nursing
The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria states that the approved entry requirement is five O’Level credit passes in;
- Mathematics
- English Language
- Physics
- Chemistry
- Biology
Obtained in not more than two sittings, from bodies such as WAEC, NECO, and NABTEB.
This means your JAMB score alone is never enough. A candidate with 250 but weak or incomplete O’Level science credits can still lose out.
In practice, competitive Nursing applicants usually need a complete academic profile: strong UTME, correct subject combination, complete O’Level credits, and a good screening or post-UTME outcome where required.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I study Nursing with 150 in JAMB?
You may meet the general university floor published by JAMB, but in practice 150 is weak for most university Nursing programmes because many institutions publish higher Nursing thresholds.
Can I study Nursing with 180 in JAMB?
Yes, in some institutions this can keep you in contention, especially where the published minimum is around 160 to 180. But it may still be too low for highly competitive schools.
What is the best score to target for Nursing?
A practical target is 220 and above, while 250+ gives a stronger edge for more competitive schools.
What subjects do I need in JAMB for Nursing?
Use of English, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics.
What O’Level subjects are compulsory for Nursing?
English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, usually in not more than two sittings.
How do I know if a school is approved for Nursing?
Check the latest approved institutions list from the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria and confirm the school’s current admission notice.