The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has unveiled the minimum UTME scores approved by Nigerian universities for the 2026 admission exercise, with Pan Atlantic University emerging as the institution with the highest benchmark at 220.
The cut off marks were presented during the 2026 JAMB Policy Meeting on Admissions held in Abuja, where heads of tertiary institutions across the country agreed on admission guidelines for the new academic session.
A review of the approved scores shows that several leading universities, including the University of Lagos, University of Ibadan, Obafemi Awolowo University, University of Benin, University of Nigeria and Covenant University, fixed their minimum benchmark at 200.
Lagos State University and Lagos State University of Science and Technology adopted 195, while Lagos State University of Education settled for 185.
Other institutions such as Ahmadu Bello University, University of Abuja, University of Ilorin and the Nigeria Police Academy approved 180 as their minimum admissible score.
JAMB clarified that the announced figures only represent the lowest benchmark for admission consideration, stressing that universities still reserve the right to raise requirements for highly competitive courses like Medicine, Pharmacy, Law and Engineering.
The 2026 policy meeting also reflected the growing competition for limited admission spaces, especially among candidates seeking placement into top federal and state universities.
Below are some of the approved minimum UTME scores announced at the meeting:
Universities With Highest Cut Off Marks
- Pan Atlantic University — 220
- Air Force Institute of Technology — 200
- Covenant University — 200
- Obafemi Awolowo University — 200
- University of Benin — 200
- University of Ibadan — 200
- University of Lagos — 200
- University of Nigeria — 200
Lagos Institutions
- Lagos State University — 195
- Lagos State University of Science and Technology — 195
- Lagos State University of Education — 185
Universities With 180 Benchmark
- Ahmadu Bello University — 180
- University of Abuja — 180
- University of Ilorin — 180
- Nigeria Police Academy — 180
- Federal University of Health Sciences — 180
Universities With 170 Benchmark
- University of Jos — 170
- Babcock University — 170
- Nasarawa State University — 170
- Ladoke Akintola University of Technology — 170
Universities With 160 Benchmark
- Bayero University Kano — 160
- Nnamdi Azikiwe University — 160
- Olabisi Onabanjo University — 160
- Osun State University — 160
- Kwara State University — 160
- Imo State University — 160
- Lead City University — 160
- Tai Solarin University of Education — 160
Universities With 150 Benchmark
- Adamawa State University — 150
- Adeleke University — 150
- African School of Economics — 150
- AbdulRasaq Abubakar Toyin University — 150
The cut off marks are expected to guide institutions as they commence post UTME screenings and admission processes for the 2026 academic session.
