Weeks after the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) conducted the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME) for over 2 million candidates seeking entry into institutions nationwide, the board has again set several modalities going forward.
At Monday’s 2026 Policy Meeting on Admissions to Tertiary Institutions, held in Abuja, the committee took some decisions believed to drive Nigeria’s education standards for the next couple of months. The annual meeting is usually convened to determine admission guidelines and other procedures for tertiary institutions.
Of all the decisions made, the exemption of candidates seeking admission into National Certificate in Education programs from sitting for the UTME generated several mixed reactions from Nigerians. The policy represents an attempt by JAMB to reform parts of its admission process.
The board also approved cut-off marks for the 2026 admissions into various tertiary institutions and also set a deadline for the conclusion of the admission process for the year.
Below is a highlight of key decisions reached at the 2026 JAMB’s policy meeting.
1. NCE, others exempted from UTME
The first major shock revealed by the board was the removal of candidates seeking admission into National Certificate in Education (NCE) and National Diploma programmes in agriculture and selected non-technology-related fields from sitting for UTME.
According to the Minister of Education, Tijani Alausa, candidates seeking admission to the programmes only need to be qualified for admission by possessing a minimum of four credit passes.
However, candidates are still expected to register with JAMB, where their credentials will be screened, verified and certified for the issuance of admission letters through the Central Admission Processing System (CAPS) portal.
While many argued that the decision is another two steps backwards for the quality of education in Nigeria, JAMB noted that the approach is an attempt to strike a balance between widening education access to more Nigerians and preserving the admission system’s integrity.
The latest shift has now created an alternative path for candidates through institutional screening and other necessary qualifications. However, the fact that Education and Agriculture courses have always attracted low cut-off marks across institutions forms another debate on how JAMB is delimiting the status of these programmes.
2. Cut-off mark: 150 for Uni, 100 for Poly
The board retained 150 as the minimum cut-off mark for admission into universities for the 2026/27 admission session. Likewise, the board did not adjust the cut-off for colleges of nursing, set at 150, while polytechnics are capped at 100 out of 400 obtainable scores.
The retention of the score follows significant backlash raised in 2025 concerning the status of the score as being low. Critics described the cut-off mark as too low for maintaining academic standards in Nigeria.
While the score is simply a National Minimum Tolerable UTME score, indicating that no tertiary institutions are allowed to offer admission outside the score benchmark, institutions are expected to further set their own benchmark above the minimum cut-off marks.
For instance, some federal universities set their cut-off mark to 200 while others settle for 180. Also, Polytechnics set their threshold between 130 and 170.
3. No admission outside CAPS
The board warned tertiary institutions against conducting the 2025 admission process outside its Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) portal. It noted that admissions given without the board’s approval are illegal and constitute unethical conduct.
For JAMB, the reiteration of this point is important as some tertiary institutions are fond of persuading or pressuring candidates for a change of course on their own admission portal.
JAMB noted that such an act is an attempt by institutions to manipulate the admission process for preferred candidates. It’s also a manipulation of the merit-based process for fairness and transparency’s sake.
Also Read: How JAMB plans to conduct admission process for 2026 underage UTME candidates.
4. Minimum entry
The board retained 16 years as the minimum age for admission into tertiary institutions in Nigeria. The announcement builds on a previous benchmark, as the JAMB seeks to strike a balance between inclusivity and academic readiness.
Recall that the board has made provision for exceptional underage candidates (students who are under age 16 as of September 30 2026) to be captured in the system.
While they are categorised under the exceptional category, only those who demonstrate exceptional ability are considered for admission under a strict screening process.
5. LASU, UNILAG, OAU top candidates’ choice
Statistics on the highest number of first-choice applications in 2026 UTME revealed that the Lagos State University (LASU) received 84,426 applications from candidates, topping the chart in a category that has always had the University of Ilorin (UniIlorin) in the top spot.
University of Lagos (UNILAG) followed closely with 78,240 applications, while Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) ranked third with 60,370 first-choice candidates. Also, the University of Ibadan (UI) is in fourth position with 58,895 applications, while the University of Benin (UNIBEN) is fifth, recording 55,425 applications.
Others on the bottom half of the top ten are:
- Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) – 54,085 applications
- University of Ilorin (UniIlorin) – 52,514 applications.
- University of Nigeria (UNN) – 51,669 applications.
- Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) – 48,272 applications.
- University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) – 48,199 applications.
6. Deadline for 2026 Admissions
At the policy meeting, the board set deadlines for the conclusion of the admission process for the 2026/2027 admission exercise. At the set date, it’s expected that all institutions must have concluded their admissions.
According to the resolution made on Monday, all public universities are expected to complete their admission processes on or before October 31, 2026, while private universities were given until November 30, 2026.
In the same light, polytechnics, monotechniques and colleges of education are to complete their exercise on or before December 31, 2026.
7. Four-week admission window
In a critical decision that can make or mar a candidate, JAMB announced a four-week grace period for candidates to accept or reject admissions on the CAPS portal.
As such, candidates who fail to accept admissions within the grace period risk losing the offer. Also, the admission might get deleted from the candidate’s dashboard based on a request from the institutions.
On the penalty, the board said such candidates will be placed under the ‘refusal to accept category’, which is punishable by ineligibility to be admitted again.
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