JAMB Cut Off Mark for All Schools in Nigeria 2026/2027

If you are preparing for admission into any university, polytechnic, or college of education in Nigeria, one of the first things you must understand is theJAMB cut off mark for the 2026/2027 academic session.

Every year, theJoint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) meets with university vice-chancellors, rectors, and provosts during the nationalJAMB Policy Meeting to determine theminimum benchmark for admission.

This benchmark is thelowest UTME score institutions are allowed to accept, although schools can decide to usehigher cut off marks for their own admission process.

In this guide, you will see:

• Thelatest JAMB cut off mark for 2026/2027
• Minimum scores foruniversities, polytechnics, and colleges
• Why many old articles showing180 as the national cut off mark are outdated
• What score you should realistically aim for to get admission in Nigeria.

What is the JAMB Cut Off Mark for 2026/2027?

As of now,JAMB has not officially announced the 2026/2027 admission benchmark.

However, thelatest national minimum scores released by JAMB during the most recent policy meeting are:

This meansno university in Nigeria is allowed to admit a candidate below 150, whilepolytechnics and colleges cannot go below 100.

Once the2026/2027 policy meeting holds, JAMB may either maintain or adjust these numbers.

Important: JAMB Cut Off Mark Is Not the Same as School Cut Off Mark

Many candidates misunderstand how admission works.

TheJAMB benchmark is only the minimum allowed score.

Each institution still has the power to setits own admission cut off mark, depending on:

• number of applicants
• competitiveness of the course
• available admission quota
• departmental requirements.

For example:

• A university may accept150 as the minimum, but still require200+ for competitive courses.
• Courses likeMedicine, Law, Nursing, Pharmacy, Engineering, and Computer Science usually requirehigher scores.

So even if the national benchmark is150, candidates should aim for200 or more to increase their chances.

Why the Old “180 JAMB Cut Off Mark” Information Is Outdated

Many websites still claim that180 is the general cut off mark for Nigerian universities.

That information was correctmany years ago, but the system has changed.

JAMB now allows institutions todecide their own admission benchmarks, as long as they do not go below the national minimum agreed at the policy meeting.

That is why modern admission updates focus on:

• JAMB national benchmark
• individual school cut off marks
• departmental cut off marks

instead of using one fixed number for all schools.

Examples of Typical University Cut Off Marks in Nigeria

Although the national benchmark is150, many popular universities usually set higher scores.

Examples include:

Note that these numbersmay change every admission year depending on the institution.

Recommended UTME Score for Safe Admission

To increase your chances of admission, aim for:

The higher your UTME score, the better your chances duringPost-UTME screening and admission ranking.

What Happens After You Meet the JAMB Cut Off Mark?

Meeting the JAMB benchmark doesnot guarantee admission.

Candidates must still:

1. Choose the institution asfirst choice in JAMB
2. Meet theO’Level subject requirements
3. Participate in theschool’s screening or Post-UTME
4. Upload results onJAMB CAPS
5. Accept admission on theJAMB portal

Only candidates who pass all these stages will eventually be offered admission.

JAMB Admission Age Requirement

JAMB has also introduced aminimum age requirement for admission.

Candidates must beat least 16 years old before they can be admitted into any Nigerian tertiary institution.

Students below this age may need to wait until they reach the approved age before admission can be finalized.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the official JAMB cut off mark for 2026/2027?

JAMB hasnot yet released the official 2026/2027 benchmark. The latest available national minimum score is150 for universities, 140 for colleges of nursing, and 100 for polytechnics and colleges of education.

Can I gain admission with 150 in JAMB?

Yes, it is possible in some universities and courses, especiallyeducation programmes and less competitive schools. However, higher scores significantly improve your chances.

Is 180 still the cut off mark for universities?

No. The old nationwide180 cut off mark is outdated. JAMB now allows institutions to set their own cut off marks above the national benchmark.

Can a university set cut off mark above 200?

Yes. Many universities set200 or higher for competitive courses.

Final Update on JAMB Cut Off Mark for 2026/2027

To summarise, the2026/2027 JAMB cut off mark has not yet been officially announced.

But based on the latest national benchmark released by JAMB:

• Universities: 150
• Colleges of Nursing: 140
• Polytechnics: 100
• Colleges of Education: 100

Candidates should aimwell above the minimum score to improve their chances of getting admission.