The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has retained 150 as the cut-off mark for admission into universities for the 2026/27 academic session.
The federal government also set 150 as minimum admission cut off mark for colleges of nursing across the country.
The committee placed the cut-off mark for polytechnics at 100, noting that any institution that admits below the agreed benchmark would be sanctioned.
JAMB announced this during its policy meeting in Abuja on Monday, where it said the decision followed a vote of vice-chancellors available at the meeting.
At the meeting, the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, said the minimum age for admission into tertiary institutions remains 16 years.
“Following extensive consultations and policy reviews, the government has maintained sixteen (16) years as the minimum age for admission into tertiary institutions.
“This position reflects a careful balance between inclusivity and academic readiness. While we recognise the existence of exceptionally gifted individuals, such cases must be treated within clearly defined and rigorously enforced guidelines to preserve the integrity of the system as a whole,” he said.
Meanwhile, candidates seeking admission into colleges of education for Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) programmes, will no longer be required to sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, who announced this on Monday during JAMB’s 2026 policy meeting in Abuja, explained that under the new guidelines, prospective students will only need a minimum of four O-level credits in school certificate to qualify for admission.
According to the minister, the move is designed to ease the administrative burden on the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and to “harness the positive orientation towards the teaching profession”.
“Accordingly, candidates seeking admission into the NCE programme, who possess a minimum of four (4) credit passes, will no longer be required to sit for the UTME,” the minister told the gathering.
“However, it is imperative to emphasise that such candidates shall mandatorily register with JAMB, and their credentials shall be duly screened, verified, and certified for the issuance of admission letters through CAPS, in accordance with extant regulations.”
“In the same vein, this exemption shall extend to candidates seeking admission into national diploma programmes in non-technology agricultural and agriculture-related courses,” the minister said.
“This approach strikes a necessary balance between widening access and preserving the integrity of our admission system. It will not only ease the pressure associated with UTME but also encourage greater participation in teacher education and agricultural programmes, both of which are critical to national development.”