The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and stakeholders in the tertiary education sector have approved 150 as the minimum admission benchmark for universities for the 2026 admission exercise.
The decision was made on Monday during the 2026 annual policy conference on tertiary institution admissions in Abuja.
The approved benchmark, officially known as the National Minimum Tolerable UTME Scores, ensures that no postsecondary institution can admit students who score below the agreed-upon norms.
Institutions, on the other hand, have the freedom to set higher cut-off grades for applicants seeking admission.
The benchmark was chosen following significant deliberation and a vote among tertiary institution heads, including vice-chancellors.
Last year, universities adopted 150 as the minimum benchmark, while polytechnics and colleges of education retained 100.
However, JAMB has announced that candidates seeking admission into education programs and agriculture-related non-engineering courses in colleges of education and polytechnics will no longer be required to sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.
JAMB revealed this in a post shared on its official X handle on Monday during its ongoing policy meeting on admissions.
“Candidates seeking admissions into education programs and agriculture non-engineering courses are now exempted from UTME,” the board stated.
At the 2026 Policy Meeting on Admissions to Tertiary Institutions in Abuja, Minister of Education Tunji Alausa announced that candidates seeking admission into National Certificate in Education programs would no longer be required to take the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination if they met the qualifications.
Alausa declared, “Candidates seeking admission into the NCE program, who possess a minimum of four credit passes, will no longer be required to sit for the UTME.”
He, however, emphasized that such candidates must still register with the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board.
“However, it is imperative to emphasize that such candidates shall mandatorily register with JAMB, and their credentials shall be duly screened, verified, and certified for the issuance of admission letters through CAPS, in accordance with extant regulations,” the minister stated.
Alausa stated that the exemption would also apply to candidates applying for National Diploma programs in non-technology, agricultural, and agriculture-related disciplines.
Alausa noted, “This exemption shall extend to candidates seeking admission into National Diploma programs in non-technology, agricultural, and agriculture-related courses.”
According to him, the initiative aims to increase access to postsecondary education while maintaining admissions standards.
“This approach strikes a necessary balance between widening access and preserving the integrity of our admission system.
“It will not only ease the pressure associated with UTME but also encourage greater participation in teacher education and agricultural programs, both of which are critical to national development,” he added.
The change represents a significant shift in Nigeria’s tertiary admission procedure, as the UTME has traditionally been the official entrance examination for admission to universities, polytechnics, and institutions of education across the country.
JAMB’s annual policy meeting is normally held to establish admission rules, including cut-off marks and other procedures for tertiary institutions.
Like recent years, courses like education and agriculture have generally had lower cut-off marks than highly competitive programs like medicine, law, and engineering.
