The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has clarified the meaning of the minimum entry score for admission into Nigerian tertiary institutions, warning candidates against assuming that meeting the required benchmark automatically guarantees admission.
JAMB Registrar, Professor Segun Aina, made the clarification during an appearance on the Good Morning Nigeria programme on the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), explaining that the minimum entry score should not be mistaken for an automatic admission cut-off mark.
According to the Registrar, candidates’ scores must be considered in relation to the performance of other applicants, as well as the admission capacity and requirements of their chosen institutions.
The clarification means that a candidate who meets the minimum score may still fail to secure admission if other applicants have stronger scores or if the institution has limited spaces available for the chosen course.
What JAMB’s Minimum Entry Score Really Means
For the 2026/2027 admission exercise, the approved minimum admissible UTME scores are:
- Universities: 150
- Colleges of Nursing Sciences: 150
- Polytechnics and Monotechnics: 100
- Colleges of Agriculture: 100
- Colleges of Education: 100
- Innovation Enterprise Institutions: 100
These are national minimum benchmarks, not guarantees of admission into every institution or course. Individual institutions may prescribe higher scores, depending on their admission requirements.
JAMB’s official guidelines also make clear that institutions must consider available spaces, candidates’ preferences and other applicable admission criteria.
Why Candidates May Not Gain Admission Despite Meeting the Benchmark
A candidate who scores 150 in the UTME may satisfy the national minimum for university admission but still be unable to secure a place in a highly competitive course.
For instance, if a university receives applications from many candidates seeking admission to Medicine, Law or another competitive programme, applicants may be assessed according to the institution’s requirements and the number of available places.
Other factors, including O’level results and post-UTME screening where applicable, may also influence the final admission decision.
This is why candidates should not rely on their UTME scores alone when assessing their admission prospects.
New Candidate-Friendly Measures
The Registrar’s clarification comes amid efforts by JAMB to improve candidates’ experience and reduce uncertainty during the admission process.
In a separate engagement reported on October 21, 2026, JAMB announced service improvements intended to provide candidates with more detailed information about their admission status and make legitimate corrections to personal information easier, while warning against identity fraud.
The Board said candidates would be able to obtain clearer information about the progress of their applications rather than relying solely on generic messages such as “not admitted” or “admission in progress.” <Cite refs={[“turn415391search0”]}/>
The measures form part of the Board’s stated effort to improve transparency, strengthen public confidence and reduce avoidable difficulties faced by candidates.
What Candidates Should Do
Candidates seeking admission for the 2026/2027 academic session should take the following steps:
- Check their chosen institution’s requirements: Do not assume that the national minimum score is sufficient for every course.
- Confirm their O’level requirements: Ensure that the required subjects and grades are available and correctly uploaded where necessary.
- Monitor their admission status: Check JAMB’s Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) and their institution’s official portal for updates.
- Consider alternative options: Candidates whose scores fall below their preferred institution’s requirements may explore other eligible institutions or courses, subject to the applicable rules.
- Avoid admission scams: Use official JAMB and institutional channels and do not pay unauthorised individuals promising admission.
The Bottom Line
Professor Aina’s clarification reinforces an important message for prospective undergraduates: meeting the minimum UTME score makes a candidate eligible for consideration, but it does not automatically secure admission.
Candidates are therefore advised to understand their chosen institutions’ requirements, monitor their admission status and ensure that they meet all relevant conditions before concluding that their UTME score guarantees a place.