JAMB Cut Off Mark 2026 for All Universities in Nigeria
The JAMB cut off mark is the minimum UTME score a university will accept before even considering your application. Think of it as the entrance fee to the competition — you have to clear it just to get in the room. But here’s what most candidates don’t fully understand: meeting the cut off doesn’t mean you’ll get admission. It means you’re eligible to compete for it. Departments that are highly subscribed often have effective admission scores far above the published minimum.
The National Minimum vs. Institutional Cut Off
JAMB sets a national minimum threshold each year — in recent cycles, this has been 140. This is the absolute floor across the entire system: no university should admit a candidate who scored below 140 on UTME. However, the national minimum is not the admission score. Each institution sets its own cut off, which is always higher than the national minimum. And within each institution, different departments set their own benchmarks — sometimes much higher than the school’s general cut off.
JAMB Cut Off Marks 2026: Federal Universities
Federal universities tend to set higher cut offs, reflecting their larger applicant pools and greater selectivity. Here are the general cut offs for major federal institutions:
University of Lagos (UNILAG): 200 (Medicine: 270+, Law: 250+, Engineering: 230+)
University of Ibadan (UI): 180 general; Medicine 280+, Law 240+ competitive
Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU): 200 general; Medicine 280+, Law 250+ competitive
Ahmadu Bello University (ABU): 180 general
University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN): 180 general
University of Ilorin (UNILORIN): 180 general (UNILORIN uses direct screening — JAMB score weighs heavily)
University of Benin (UNIBEN): 180 general
University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT): 180 general
Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO): 180 general
University of Abuja (UNIABUJA): 160 general
Bayero University Kano (BUK): 160 general
University of Agriculture Abeokuta (FUNAAB): 160 general
University of Calabar (UNICAL): 160 general
Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK): 160 general
JAMB Cut Off Marks 2026: State Universities
State universities generally set lower minimum cut offs than federal institutions, though competition for slots in popular courses can still be fierce:
Lagos State University (LASU): 160 general
Ladoke Akintola University (LAUTECH): 160–180 general
Ekiti State University (EKSU): 160 general
Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU): 160 general
Ebonyi State University (EBSU): 140 general
Rivers State University (RSU): 160 general
Ekiti State University (EKSU): 160 general
Imo State University (IMSU): 140 general
Delta State University (DELSU): 140 general
JAMB Cut Off Marks 2026: Private Universities
Private universities vary widely — some set high bars to position themselves as selective, others are more accessible:
Covenant University: 200 (selective admissions process)
Babcock University: 160
Pan-Atlantic University: 160
American University of Nigeria (AUN): 160
Redeemer’s University: 160
Lead City University: 140
What the Cut Off Mark Doesn’t Tell You
Here’s the honest picture: cut off marks are the starting point, not the finish line. A candidate who scores exactly at the cut off is unlikely to get admission to any competitive programme. The effective admission score — the score of the last candidate actually admitted in a given cycle — is almost always higher than the published minimum. For Medicine at UI or UNILAG, candidates with JAMB scores below 260 rarely get in regardless of what the published minimum says.
Your JAMB score also doesn’t operate in isolation. Universities combine it with Post UTME scores (where applicable) and use O’Level grades as a filter. Passing all three — meeting the cut off, performing well in Post UTME, and having the right O’Level credits — is what actually produces an admission offer.
How to Use This Information
Be realistic about where your JAMB score is competitive. A score of 220 is competitive at most state universities and gets you in the running at most federal universities outside the top programmes. A score of 260+ makes you competitive for most federal university programmes including Law and Engineering. A score below 180 limits your realistic options largely to less competitive state universities and private institutions with lower cut offs.
Pick your institutions strategically — first choice should be where you have a real shot, not just where you dream of going. Your second choice should be somewhere you’re very likely to get in, as insurance.
Important: Cut Offs Change Year to Year
The figures above reflect historical patterns. Official 2026 cut off marks are set by each institution at the start of each admission cycle and are published on JAMB’s website and the respective university portals. Always confirm with the specific institution rather than relying solely on figures you find online — including this article. Cut offs can shift based on UTME score distribution each year.