JAMB Cut-Off Marks for All Federal Universities 2026

JAMB set the 2026 national cut-off mark for university admissions at 140, and individual federal universities then set their institutional cut-offs at or above that figure. UI, UNILAG, OAU, UNIBEN, UNILORIN, UNN, and UNICAL all sit at 200 institutional. ABU and a few northern federal universities sit at 180 to 200. The course-level working cut-offs are higher for the headline programmes; this guide covers institutional and course-level cut-offs across the federal university system.

Last updated: May 2026 Nigeria has more than 50 federal universities, split between conventional universities, specialised technology and agricultural universities, and the newer Federal Universities of Health Sciences. Each sets its own institutional and departmental cut-offs each year after the JAMB Policy Meeting. The most competitive cut-offs sit at the older first-generation federal universities; newer federal universities admit at lower cut-offs because the applicant pool is smaller and the programmes are still building reputation.

The list below covers the major federal universities, grouped by tier and with the institutional cut-off and working cut-off for the most-applied courses.

Tier 1: First-generation and flagship federal universities

The first-generation federal universities have the highest working cut-offs for headline programmes. These are the schools most competed for, with applicant pools well in excess of intake capacity.

University	Institutional cut-off	Medicine working	Law working
University of Ibadan (UI)	200	280	260
University of Lagos (UNILAG)	200	280	250
Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU)	200	270	250
University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN)	200	270	250
Ahmadu Bello University (ABU)	180-200	270	250
University of Benin (UNIBEN)	200	270	250
University of Ilorin (UNILORIN)	180-200	270	240
University of Calabar (UNICAL)	200	260	240
University of Jos	180-200	250	230
University of Maiduguri	180	250	220
Bayero University Kano (BUK)	180	250	230
University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT)	200	260	240
Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto	180	250	220

Tier 2: Federal universities of technology

Nigeria has three Federal Universities of Technology (FUTs), specialising in engineering, computing, and applied sciences. They do not run Medicine or Law in the conventional sense; the cut-offs reflect the technology focus.

University	Institutional cut-off	Engineering working	Computer Science working
Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA)	180-200	210-240	240
Federal University of Technology, Minna (FUTMINNA)	180	200-230	220
Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO)	180-200	210-240	230

Tier 2: Federal universities of agriculture

Nigeria has three Federal Universities of Agriculture, focused on crop, soil, animal, food, and forestry sciences. They run a small number of related programmes (Engineering with agricultural focus, Computing, Sciences) alongside the core agriculture portfolio.

University	Institutional cut-off	Agriculture working	Animal Science working
Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB)	180-200	180-200	180-200
Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike	180	180	180
Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi	180	180	180

Tier 3: Newer federal universities

The newer federal universities (established 2011 onwards) admit at lower institutional cut-offs because the applicant pools are smaller and the programmes are still building national reputation. They offer the broadest range of conventional university courses but at lower competitive intensity than the first-generation schools.

University	Institutional cut-off	Medicine working (where offered)
Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE)	160-180	240
Federal University Otuoke	140-160	230 (if applicable)
Federal University Lafia	140-160	230
Federal University Lokoja	140-160	not offered yet
Federal University Dutse	140-160	230 (if applicable)
Federal University Dutsin-Ma	140-160	not offered
Federal University Kashere	140	not offered
Federal University Wukari	140-160	not offered yet
Federal University Birnin Kebbi	140-160	not offered yet
Federal University Gusau	140	not offered
Federal University Gashua	140	not offered
Federal University Ndufu-Alike Ikwo	140-160	230 (if applicable)

Federal universities of health sciences

The Federal Universities of Health Sciences are newer specialist institutions focused on medicine, nursing, and allied health professions. The two flagship FUHS schools are at Otukpo (Benue) and Azare (Bauchi), with more in the pipeline.

University	Institutional cut-off	Medicine working
Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo	180-200	240
Federal University of Health Sciences, Azare	180-200	230

How to interpret the federal university cut-off list

Three layers matter when reading federal university cut-offs. The first is the JAMB national cut-off, set at 140 for the 2026 cycle. No federal university can admit below this floor. The second is the school’s institutional cut-off, set by each university; this is the school-wide floor for admission. The third is the departmental cut-off, set by each department within a school; this is the course-specific floor, often substantially higher than the institutional minimum.

A candidate scoring 200 JAMB meets the institutional floor at UI, UNILAG, OAU and most first-generation schools. They are well above the floor at newer federal schools where institutional cut-off may be 140 to 160. But meeting the institutional floor does not mean automatic admission; the candidate must also clear the departmental cut-off for their chosen course.

The newer federal universities are the realistic option for candidates with scores between 140 and 180 who want a degree at a federal school. The trade-off is location (many newer universities are in smaller towns) and programme reputation (still building). For some candidates this trade-off is well worth it; for others, a state university or private university is the better fit.

The catchment quota varies by school. Most federal universities draw catchment from their host state plus surrounding states; the JAMB-mandated 45-35-20 split applies. ELDS candidates have an admission advantage across all federal schools.

Course-level cut-offs across federal universities

Working cut-offs for the headline competitive courses are reasonably consistent across the top tier of federal universities and progressively lower as you move down the tiers.

• Medicine and Surgery: Tier 1 270-280 working; Tier 2 (FUHS) 230-240; newer federal schools rarely offer the programme yet.
• Pharmacy: Tier 1 250-260; newer federal schools 220-240 where offered.
• Law: Tier 1 240-260; newer federal schools 200-220 where offered.
• Engineering: Tier 1 220-240; FUT schools 200-240; newer 180-220.
• Computer Science: Tier 1 230-240; FUT 220-240; newer 180-210.
• Accounting: Tier 1 220-235; newer 180-210.
• Mass Communication: Tier 1 225-240; newer 200-220.
• Arts, Education, Social Sciences: Tier 1 200-220; newer 140-180.
• Agriculture: Tier 1 180-210; agriculture-focused federal universities 180-200.

Frequently asked questions

What is the JAMB national cut-off for federal universities in 2026?

140. JAMB set the national cut-off mark at 140 for universities at the 2026 Policy Meeting, holding the figure steady from 2025. No federal university can admit a candidate below 140 JAMB; the institutional and departmental cut-offs are set above the national figure. JAMB has discussed raising the national cut-off to 160 or 170 in recent years but has not implemented the change.

Which federal university has the lowest institutional cut-off?

The newer federal universities (established 2011 onwards) typically have institutional cut-offs at 140 to 160, the same as or just above the national floor. Federal University Kashere, Federal University Gusau, Federal University Gashua and a few others sit at 140 to 150. For a candidate with a JAMB score around 150, these schools are real options. The trade-off is location and programme reputation; the schools are in smaller towns and the academic programmes are still building reputation.

If I scored 180 JAMB, which federal universities can I get into?

180 meets the institutional floor at ABU, UNILORIN, FUTA, FUTO, FUNAAB, the federal universities of agriculture, and the newer federal schools. It does not meet the institutional floor at UI, UNILAG, OAU, UNN, UNIBEN, UNICAL (all 200). For courses, 180 puts you in real contention for Education, most Arts, most Agricultural Sciences, and pure Sciences at the schools where you meet the institutional floor. Medicine, Pharmacy, Law, top Engineering are out of reach at this score even at newer federal schools.

Are newer federal universities worth attending?

Yes, with caveats. Newer federal universities give you a federal degree at a lower JAMB threshold, which matters for candidates who narrowly missed the first-generation schools. The degree is fully accredited; graduates write the same professional licensing exams. The caveats: the programmes are still building reputation, the campus infrastructure is sometimes incomplete, and the location may be a small town with fewer internship opportunities. Weigh these against the alternative of waiting a year to retake JAMB or paying private university tuition.

How does the merit-catchment-ELDS quota work across federal schools?

The JAMB-mandated 45-35-20 quota split applies at every federal university. 45% of admission slots go to merit (highest aggregates nationally), 35% to catchment (the host state plus surrounding states), and 20% to ELDS (educationally-less-developed states designated by JAMB). The catchment definition varies by school; UNILAG catchment is South-West, UNN catchment is South-East, ABU catchment is the northern states, and so on. Check each school’s catchment in their admission notice.

Where do I confirm the official 2026 cut-offs?

Each federal university publishes its institutional and departmental cut-offs on its admission portal after the JAMB Policy Meeting in June or July. JAMB also publishes the national cut-off and the policy framework on jamb.gov.ng. The figures in this guide are working bands from the 2026 admission cycle; confirm specific course cut-offs on each school’s admission portal before paying Post-UTME.

What to do with the federal universities list

Use the tier-1 list as your reference for the most competitive cut-offs. If your JAMB score is below the tier-1 institutional floor (200) or below the working cut-offs for your target course at tier-1 schools, move down to tier-2 or tier-3 federal universities where your score works. The newer federal universities at tier-3 are real options, not consolation prizes; they grant fully accredited degrees and accept candidates with mid-range JAMB scores.

The Federal Universities of Technology (FUTA, FUTMinna, FUTO) are the natural home for engineering, computing, and applied science candidates. They specialise in these fields with stronger laboratory and equipment infrastructure than generalist universities of similar tier.

The Federal Universities of Agriculture (FUNAAB, Umudike, Makurdi) are the dedicated home for agriculture, food science, animal science, forestry, fisheries, and agricultural engineering. Working cut-offs are mostly 180 to 200 across their programmes.

Related guides

• JAMB 2026 Cut-Off Mark Policy Explained
• JAMB Cut-Off Marks for All State Universities 2026
• JAMB Cut-Off Marks for All Private Universities 2026
• Lowest JAMB Score to Get into University in 2026

Sources

JAMB official portal at jamb.gov.ng; JAMB 2026 Policy Meeting communique; federal university admission portals; National Universities Commission.