JAMB Announces 2025 UTME Cut-Off Marks: 150 for Universities, 100 for Polytechnics

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has officially announced the minimum cut-off marks for admission into Nigerian tertiary institutions for the 2025 academic session. The announcement was made during the 2025 admissions policy meeting held on July 8, 2025, at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja.

2025 JAMB Cut-Off Marks

Professor Ishaq Oloyede, JAMB Registrar, disclosed the following minimum admission standards:

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

Important Note: These are MINIMUM scores. Individual institutions may set higher cut-off marks for specific programs based on competition and available spaces.

What This Means for JAMB Candidates

If You Scored 150 or Above

You are eligible to apply for admission into universities. However:

• Popular universities and competitive courses (Medicine, Law, Engineering) typically require scores of 200-250+
• Check your chosen university's specific departmental cut-off marks
• Having 150 doesn't guarantee admission - it only makes you eligible to participate in Post-UTME screening

If You Scored 140-149

You can apply to:

• Colleges of Nursing Sciences (minimum 140)
• Some federal and state polytechnics that accept scores in this range
• Consider upgrading through resit if you originally targeted universities

If You Scored 100-139

You qualify for:

• Polytechnics (ND programs)
• Colleges of Education (NCE programs)
• Many institutions in this category have less competitive requirements

If You Scored Below 100

Unfortunately, you do not meet the minimum national standard for any tertiary institution. Your options:

• Register for the next JAMB UTME examination
• Consider alternative education pathways (vocational training, professional certifications)
• Improve your preparation and try again

About the 2025 Admission Policy Meeting

Meeting Details

• Date: July 8, 2025
• Venue: Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, Abuja
• Chairperson: Adamu Adamu, Minister of Education
• Attendees: Heads of all Nigerian tertiary institutions (Vice-Chancellors, Rectors, Provosts)

Meeting Agenda

The annual admissions policy meeting addressed several critical areas:

1. Setting policy directions for Nigeria's tertiary education system
2. Establishing admission guidelines for the 2025/2026 academic session
3. Reviewing 2024 UTME application statistics and performance data
4. Determining minimum acceptable admission standards
5. Evaluating the effectiveness of the 2024 admission exercise

Next Steps for Candidates

1. Check Individual Institution Cut-Offs

The JAMB cut-off is just the baseline. Each institution will announce its own specific requirements. Monitor:

• Your chosen university's official website
• JAMB's website (jamb.gov.ng)
• Ulearngo for updates on university-specific cut-off marks

2. Prepare for Post-UTME Screening

If you meet the cut-off:

• Watch for Post-UTME registration announcements from your chosen institutions
• Prepare for screening exercises (some schools conduct exams, others use only UTME scores)
• Ensure you have all required documents (O'Level results, JAMB result slip, birth certificate)

3. Consider Change of Institution

If your score is below your original choice's typical requirements:

• Use JAMB's Change of Institution portal
• Select institutions with cut-offs closer to your score
• Research less competitive programs or institutions

4. Apply for Direct Entry (if applicable)

If you hold ND, NCE, A-Levels, or relevant qualifications, Direct Entry admission may offer better chances than UTME.

Understanding the Cut-Off Mark System

National Minimum vs Institutional Cut-Off

• National Minimum: The baseline set by JAMB (150 for universities)
• Institutional Cut-Off: Each school's specific requirement (often higher than national minimum)
• Departmental Cut-Off: Individual course requirements within a school (varies by program popularity)

Example Scenario

University of Lagos (UNILAG) might set:

• General university cut-off: 200
• Medicine: 250
• Law: 240
• Mass Communication: 220
• History: 180

So even though JAMB's national minimum for universities is 150, UNILAG (like most federal universities) requires significantly higher scores.

Important Reminders

1. Verify from Official Sources: Always confirm admission information from JAMB's official website or your chosen institution's website. Beware of fake news and scammers.

2. No "Special Admission": Anyone claiming they can secure admission for you with money is a scammer. All admissions go through JAMB's official process.

3. Merit-Based Selection: Institutions admit candidates based on JAMB scores, Post-UTME performance, O'Level grades, and available spaces - not payments or connections.

4. Monitor JAMB Platforms: Follow JAMB on social media and check jamb.gov.ng regularly for updates on the admission process.

For Parents and Guardians

• Discuss realistic institution options based on your child's score
• Encourage students to apply to institutions within their score range
• Budget for Post-UTME fees (typically ₦2,000 - ₦5,000 per institution)
• Avoid "admission agents" promising guaranteed slots
• Support students emotionally through this competitive process

Source: Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) 2025 Admission Policy Meeting via MySchool.ng