<p data-path-to-node="1">The wait is finally over for millions of candidates across Nigeria. During the <strong data-path-to-node="1" data-index-in-node="79">JAMB Policy Meeting</strong> held today, <strong data-path-to-node="1" data-index-in-node="111">May 11, 2026</strong>, the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa (CON), alongside Vice-Chancellors, Rectors, and Registrars, officially set the "Minimum Admissible Scores" for the upcoming academic session.</p>
<p data-path-to-node="2">It is important to remember that while JAMB sets these floors, <strong data-path-to-node="2" data-index-in-node="63">individual institutions are allowed to set their own benchmarks higher</strong>—but never lower.</p>
<h3 data-path-to-node="4"> Official Minimum Cut-Off Marks 2026/2027</h3>
<table data-path-to-node="5">
<thead>
<tr>
<td><strong>Institution Type</strong></td>
<td><strong>Minimum UTME Score Required</strong></td>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><span data-path-to-node="5,1,0,0"><strong data-path-to-node="5,1,0,0" data-index-in-node="0">Universities</strong></span></td>
<td><span data-path-to-node="5,1,1,0"><strong data-path-to-node="5,1,1,0" data-index-in-node="0">150</strong></span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span data-path-to-node="5,2,0,0"><strong data-path-to-node="5,2,0,0" data-index-in-node="0">Colleges of Nursing</strong></span></td>
<td><span data-path-to-node="5,2,1,0"><strong data-path-to-node="5,2,1,0" data-index-in-node="0">150</strong></span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span data-path-to-node="5,3,0,0"><strong data-path-to-node="5,3,0,0" data-index-in-node="0">Polytechnics</strong></span></td>
<td><span data-path-to-node="5,3,1,0"><strong data-path-to-node="5,3,1,0" data-index-in-node="0">100</strong></span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span data-path-to-node="5,4,0,0"><strong data-path-to-node="5,4,0,0" data-index-in-node="0">Colleges of Education/Agriculture</strong></span></td>
<td><span data-path-to-node="5,4,1,0"><strong data-path-to-node="5,4,1,0" data-index-in-node="0">No UTME Score Required</strong></span></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3 data-path-to-node="7"> Major Policy Shift: NCE & Agriculture Exemptions</h3>
<p data-path-to-node="8">Perhaps the biggest bombshell from today's meeting is the exemption for <strong data-path-to-node="8" data-index-in-node="72">Colleges of Education (NCE)</strong> and <strong data-path-to-node="8" data-index-in-node="104">Agriculture (non-Engineering courses)</strong>.</p>
<p data-path-to-node="9">If you are seeking admission into these specific programmes, you are no longer required to provide a UTME score. This move is largely seen as an effort to boost enrollment in these vital sectors of the economy. If you were worried about a low score but have a passion for teaching or farming, the doors are now wide open!</p>
<h3 data-path-to-node="11"> What This Means for You</h3>
<p data-path-to-node="12">Now that the national minimums are public, the "Post-UTME Season" has officially begun. Here is what you should do next:</p>
<ol start="1" data-path-to-node="13">
<li>
<p data-path-to-node="13,0,0"><strong data-path-to-node="13,0,0" data-index-in-node="0">Check Your Choice Institution:</strong> Watch out for specific announcements from your school of choice. For example, while JAMB says 150 for Universities, competitive schools like <strong data-path-to-node="13,0,0" data-index-in-node="172">UNILAG</strong> or <strong data-path-to-node="13,0,0" data-index-in-node="182">UI</strong> will likely set their internal cut-offs at 200 or higher.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p data-path-to-node="13,1,0"><strong data-path-to-node="13,1,0" data-index-in-node="0">Prepare for Post-UTME:</strong> Most public universities will still conduct their own internal screenings or exams.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p data-path-to-node="13,2,0"><strong data-path-to-node="13,2,0" data-index-in-node="0">Consider a "Change of Institution":</strong> If your score is below 150 but above 100, now is the time to switch your choice to a Polytechnic to ensure you don't lose the academic year.</p>
</li>
</ol>
<blockquote data-path-to-node="14">
<p data-path-to-node="14,0"><strong data-path-to-node="14,0" data-index-in-node="0">Note:</strong> These scores are the "floor," not the "ceiling." High-demand courses like Medicine, Law, and Engineering will still require significantly higher scores for merit-list consideration.</p>
</blockquote>