The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), in collaboration with stakeholders in the tertiary education sector, has approved the minimum cut-off marks for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) admissions cycle. The new benchmark was adopted during the annual policy meeting held in Abuja on Tuesday.
For the 2025/2026 academic year, the minimum score for admission into universities is set at 150, while polytechnics and colleges of education will accept a minimum of 100. Colleges of nursing are to admit candidates who score at least 140.
The meeting reaffirmed that no institution is permitted to admit candidates below the agreed minimum, though schools are free to set higher internal benchmarks.
In contrast to the 2024 cut-off, which stood at 140 for universities, the latest decision reflects an upward shift, particularly for university admissions. The policy was determined by a vote from institutional leaders — vice-chancellors for universities, rectors for polytechnics, and provosts for colleges of education.
JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, and the Minister of State for Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, advocated for a higher university threshold of 160, but this proposal failed to gain majority support.
Several proposals were tabled, with the Vice-Chancellor of Michael Lawrence University, Prof. Ernest Izevbigie, suggesting 140, and Lighthouse University proposing 130. Ultimately, a consensus of 150 was reached.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has reinforced the policy that 16 years remains the minimum admissible age for candidates seeking entry into tertiary institutions across Nigeria.
Declaring the meeting open, Dr. Alausa stressed that institutions must strictly adhere to the age policy, warning that any admission outside the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) would be deemed invalid.
“Sixteen years of age for admission is now officially non-negotiable,” he said. “This decision ensures a balance between academic readiness and cognitive maturity.”
While emphasizing compliance, Alausa acknowledged that exceptions might apply in rare and justifiable cases, particularly for gifted or accelerated learners, provided proper documentation is submitted.
The minister also cautioned institutions against falsifying candidates’ ages to bypass the regulation.
