Federal Govt Sets 150, 100 Cut-off Marks For Varsities, Polys, Excludes Colleges Of Education From UTME

The federal government has abolished the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) requirement for admission into Colleges of Education as part of new policy changes for the 2026 academic session.

Under the new admission framework, the heads of tertiary institutions in Nigeria and the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) also agreed that universities and Colleges of Nursing Sciences will admit candidates with a minimum score of 150, while polytechnics will operate a cut-off mark of 100.

The measures were agreed upon by vice chancellors and relevant education stakeholders as part of the efforts to harmonise entry requirements across institutions during the 2026 Policy Meeting on Admissions into Tertiary Institutions and the 6th edition of the National Tertiary Admissions Performance-Merit (NATAP-M) Awards in Abuja yesterday.

The decision on the cut-off marks followed open deliberations, during which vice-chancellors and other stakeholders arrived at the minimum scores.

The government also reaffirmed that the minimum age for entry into tertiary institutions remains 16 years.

The minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, who presided over the meeting, said the updated guidelines were designed to ensure uniformity, fairness and improved quality in admissions nationwide.

Meanwhile, candidates seeking admission into Education programmes and Agriculture-related non-engineering courses in Colleges of Education will no longer be required to sit for UTME, according to the minister.

Alausa said candidates with four credit passes in relevant subjects would be allowed to apply to the colleges of education for direct admission.

The minister noted that such students must register with JAMB with their credentials screened and verified.

According to him, there is compelling evidence, including empirical data from  JAMB, that Colleges of Education possess significant capacity to admit willing candidates, particularly from their immediate localities.

“Harnessing this latent capacity is critical, not only for expanding access but also for addressing the persistent challenge of out-of-school adolescents and fostering, from an early stage, a positive orientation towards the teaching profession.

“In recognition of this reality, the Federal Ministry of Education, in consultation with relevant stakeholders, has taken a deliberate policy position.

“Accordingly, candidates seeking admission into the NCE programmes, who possess a minimum of four credit passes, will no longer be required to sit for the UTME.

“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 (Central Admission Processing System), in accordance with extant regulations,” the minister stated.

The government also extended exemptions to candidates seeking admission into National Diploma programmes in non-technology agricultural and agriculture-related courses.

Alausa added that the new approach strikes a 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,” he said.

He commended JAMB for its deliberate efforts to promote inclusive participation by Persons Living with Disabilities (PWLDs) through the waiver of application fees and other targeted interventions.

Other resolutions adopted at the meeting mandated all public universities to conclude their admission processes on or before October 31, 2026, while private universities have been given until November 30, 2026, to complete admissions.

Also, polytechnics, monotechnics and colleges of education are to round off their admission exercises not later than December 31, 2026.

Earlier, the registrar of JAMB, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, said CAPS had been used as the vehicle for all admissions since its introduction during the 2017/2018 admissions exercise, following a series of engagements with stakeholders.

According to him, the 2026/2027 admission exercise will also not be an exception.

Regarding the age limit, he said the 16-year minimum age for entry into tertiary institutions in Nigeria is not a new development.

“The policy thrust of pegging the minimum entry age into tertiary institutions in Nigeria is cognate with the Nigerian seminal National Policy on Education (1981). Section 7, subsection 2 thereof provides that: ‘the minimum entry age for admission into universities, polytechnics and colleges,” the Registrar said.