JAMB Cut Off Marks for all Courses 2026: What Every Nigerian Student Must Know Now!

The official JAMB cut-off mark for the 2026/2027 admission session has been announced during the 2026 JAMB Policy Meeting attended by the Minister of Education, vice-chancellors, rectors, registrars, and other stakeholders.

Here are the approved minimum JAMB cut-off marks for 2026:

Universities — 150
Colleges of Nursing — 150
Polytechnics — 100
Colleges of Education/Agriculture — No UTME score required

This means:

Any candidate applying to a university in Nigeria must score at least 150 in UTME before being considered for admission.
Candidates seeking admission into Colleges of Nursing also need a minimum score of 150.
Polytechnic applicants need at least 100.
Candidates applying for NCE Education programmes and non-engineering Agriculture courses are now exempted from writing UTME.

However, candidates should understand that these are only the minimum scores approved by JAMB. Individual institutions can still set higher cut-off marks for their courses and departments.

For example:

A university may choose 180, 200, or even 250 for competitive courses like Medicine, Law, Nursing, or Engineering.
But no institution is allowed to admit candidates below the official JAMB minimum approved for their category.

Following this announcement, universities, polytechnics, nursing schools, and colleges are expected to begin releasing their Post-UTME forms and screening schedules soon. Candidates are advised to start preparing early for their Post-UTME examinations and screenings.

For competitive courses like Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Law, Computer Science, Engineering, and Mass Communication, many universities demand far higher scores — sometimes 220 to 300+.

This article explains the likely JAMB cut off marks for all courses in 2026, the scores required for each department, how universities calculate admission, and what you should realistically expect with your score.

What Is JAMB Cut Off Mark?

The JAMB cut off mark is the minimum UTME score required before a candidate can be considered for admission into a university, polytechnic, college of education, or nursing institution in Nigeria.

Without meeting the approved cut-off mark, your admission chances become extremely low.

For example:

If a school sets Nursing at 240, a student with 180 may not even qualify for screening.
If Engineering is fixed at 220, candidates below that score may need to change course.
Some less competitive courses may still accept 140–160.

This is why understanding the JAMB cut off mark for all courses 2026 is important before applying for admission.

Why JAMB Cut Off Marks Matter So Much

Many students focus only on passing JAMB without understanding how admission actually works in Nigeria.

Your score affects almost everything:

1. Your Admission Eligibility

If you score below your school’s cut-off mark, you may not qualify for Post-UTME or departmental screening.

2. Your Course Selection

Courses like Medicine, Law, Pharmacy, Nursing, Computer Science, and Engineering usually require much higher scores because thousands of students apply every year.

3. Your Admission Ranking

Most universities combine:

JAMB score
Post-UTME score
O’Level grades

Students with stronger scores rank higher during admission selection.

Official JAMB Cut Off Marks for Institutions 2026

Below are the expected national benchmarks for 2026 admission.

Institution Type	Expected Cut-Off Mark
Federal Universities	150+
State Universities	150+
Private Universities	150+
Polytechnics	100+
Agriculture/Colleges of Education	No JAMB required
Colleges of Nursing	150+

Remember:

These are only minimum benchmarks approved by JAMB. Schools can still increase theirs.

JAMB Cut Off Mark for Medical Courses 2026

Medical and health science courses are the most competitive in Nigeria. Although the JAMB cut off mark for 2026 is 150 for universities, if you want admission into any medical-related course, you should score at least 260+ which is far above the minimum cut-off mark.

Medicine and Surgery

Expected Cut-Off: 260–320

Popular universities like:

University of Ibadan
University of Lagos
Obafemi Awolowo University
Ahmadu Bello University

usually admit students with extremely high scores.

Realistically, candidates targeting Medicine should aim for 280+.

Nursing Science

Expected Cut-Off: 220–280

Nursing is now one of the hottest courses in Nigeria because of international job opportunities and demand abroad.

Some universities close Nursing admission around 250+.

Pharmacy

Expected Cut-Off: 230–290

Pharmacy remains highly competitive in federal universities.

Dentistry

Expected Cut-Off: 240–290

Dentistry has limited admission slots, making competition intense.

Medical Laboratory Science

Expected Cut-Off: 200–250

Physiotherapy

Expected Cut-Off: 200–260

Radiography

Expected Cut-Off: 210–250

Public Health

Expected Cut-Off: 180–220

No More JAMB for Education and Agric Courses in 2026

The Federal Government and Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board have announced that candidates seeking admission into NCE, Education, and Agriculture-related courses may no longer need to write JAMB UTME from 2026, as part of a new policy aimed at increasing enrollment in teaching and agricultural programmes. Get the full information on the new JAMB policy here.

JAMB Cut Off Mark for Engineering Courses 2026

Engineering courses remain among the most respected and competitive fields in Nigeria.

Computer Engineering

Expected Cut-Off: 220–270

Electrical/Electronics Engineering

Expected Cut-Off: 210–260

Mechanical Engineering

Expected Cut-Off: 200–250

Civil Engineering

Expected Cut-Off: 200–250

Chemical Engineering

Expected Cut-Off: 210–260

Petroleum Engineering

Expected Cut-Off: 230–280

Agricultural Engineering

Expected Cut-Off: 180–220

Systems Engineering

Expected Cut-Off: 190–230

Automobile Engineering

Expected Cut-Off: 180–220

JAMB Cut Off Mark for Law and Social Science Courses 2026

Law

Expected Cut-Off: 250–300

Law is one of the toughest courses to gain admission into.

Most top universities admit only candidates with outstanding scores.

Accounting

Expected Cut-Off: 180–240

Economics

Expected Cut-Off: 200–250

Business Administration

Expected Cut-Off: 180–220

Mass Communication

Expected Cut-Off: 200–250

Mass Communication is highly competitive because of media and broadcasting opportunities.

Political Science

Expected Cut-Off: 180–220

Sociology

Expected Cut-Off: 160–200

International Relations

Expected Cut-Off: 190–230

Criminology and Security Studies

Expected Cut-Off: 170–210

JAMB Cut Off Mark for Science Courses 2026

Computer Science

Expected Cut-Off: 220–280

Computer Science is now one of the most applied-for courses in Nigeria because of tech opportunities.

Some schools now treat it almost like Medicine because of demand.

Biochemistry

Expected Cut-Off: 180–220

Microbiology

Expected Cut-Off: 170–210

Industrial Chemistry

Expected Cut-Off: 170–210

Physics

Expected Cut-Off: 160–200

Chemistry

Expected Cut-Off: 160–200

Mathematics

Expected Cut-Off: 150–190

Statistics

Expected Cut-Off: 160–200

Geology

Expected Cut-Off: 160–200

JAMB Cut Off Mark for Arts Courses 2026

English Language

Expected Cut-Off: 160–220

Theatre Arts

Expected Cut-Off: 160–200

Linguistics

Expected Cut-Off: 150–190

History and International Studies

Expected Cut-Off: 150–190

Fine and Applied Arts

Expected Cut-Off: 140–180

French

Expected Cut-Off: 140–180

Religious Studies

Expected Cut-Off: 140–170

Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba

Expected Cut-Off: 140–170

JAMB Cut Off Mark for Environmental Courses 2026

Architecture — 200–250
Quantity Surveying — 180–220
Estate Management — 160–200
Urban and Regional Planning — 160–200
Building Technology — 170–210
Surveying and Geoinformatics — 170–210

JAMB Cut Off Mark for Management Science Courses 2026

Banking and Finance — 170–210
Marketing — 160–200
Entrepreneurship — 160–200
Human Resource Management — 170–210
Insurance — 160–200

Courses You Can Study WITHOUT JAMB in Nigeria 2026

Following the new admission policy introduced by the Federal Government and Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, some Education, NCE, and Agriculture-related courses in Nigeria may no longer require JAMB UTME from 2026.

The policy is designed to increase student enrollment in teaching and agricultural programmes, especially in colleges of education and selected tertiary institutions across the country.

Education Courses WITHOUT JAMB 2026

Following the new policy introduced by the Federal Government and Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, candidates applying for many Education-related courses in 2026 may no longer be required to write JAMB UTME. The policy is aimed at encouraging more students to study teaching and education programmes in Nigeria.

The following Education courses may fall under the new no-JAMB admission policy:

Education and English
Education and Biology
Education and Mathematics
Guidance and Counselling
Physical and Health Education
Education and Economics
Social Studies Education
Educational Foundations
Education and Religious Studies
Education and Political Science
Education and Chemistry
Education and Physics
Early Childhood Education
Adult Education
Special Education

Agricultural Courses WITHOUT JAMB 2026

The new policy may also affect some Agriculture-related programmes, especially non-engineering agricultural courses, as part of efforts to boost interest in food production and agricultural development in Nigeria.

Agricultural courses that may no longer require JAMB include:

Agricultural Economics
Animal Science
Crop Science
Fisheries
Forestry and Wildlife
Soil Science
Agronomy
Agricultural Extension
Horticulture
Plant Science
Agricultural Education
Food Science and Technology
Home Economics
Aquaculture

Students are still advised to confirm admission requirements from their preferred institution, as universities and colleges may implement the policy differently.

What Can You Study With Your JAMB Score in 2026?

This is one of the biggest questions students ask every year.

Here is a realistic breakdown.

Courses You Can Study With 140–160

Education courses – no JAMB required
Agricultural courses – no JAMB required
Religious studies
Local language courses
Some arts courses
Polytechnic programmes

Courses You Can Study With 170–190

Sociology
Political Science
Marketing
Accounting in some schools
Microbiology
Biochemistry
Environmental courses

Courses You Can Study With 200–220

Computer Science
Nursing in some schools
Engineering courses
Economics
Mass Communication
Medical Laboratory Science

Courses You Can Study With 230–260

Pharmacy
Law
Computer Engineering
Petroleum Engineering
Nursing in top schools

Courses You Can Study With 270+

Medicine and Surgery
Dentistry
Highly competitive Law programmes
Top federal university medical courses

Popular Universities and Their Expected JAMB Cut-Off Marks 2026

University of Lagos

General Cut-Off: 200+

Competitive courses like Medicine, Law, Nursing, and Computer Science often require much higher scores.

University of Ibadan

General Cut-Off: 200+

UI remains one of Nigeria’s most competitive universities.

Obafemi Awolowo University

General Cut-Off: 180+

University of Nigeria

General Cut-Off: 180+

Ahmadu Bello University

General Cut-Off: 180+

Covenant University

General Cut-Off: 180+

University of Uyo

General Cut-Off: 180+

What Happens If You Do Not Meet the Cut-Off Mark?

Many students panic immediately after seeing their JAMB score.

But honestly, low scores do not always mean the end.

Here are realistic options available to you.

1. Change Course

If Medicine is impossible with your score, you can switch to:

Anatomy
Physiology
Biochemistry
Public Health

and still remain in the medical field.

2. Change Institution

Some schools have lower competition than others.

3. Apply for Polytechnic

Many polytechnics accept lower scores and still offer quality education.

4. Consider Colleges of Education

Education courses are easier to access and still provide strong career opportunities.

5. Try IJMB or JUPEB

These programmes allow you to gain admission through Direct Entry later.

How Universities Calculate Admission in Nigeria

Many students think admission depends only on JAMB.

That is false.

Most schools combine:

JAMB score
Post-UTME score
O’Level performance

For example:

A candidate with:

JAMB: 280
Strong WAEC grades
Excellent Post-UTME

will rank above a candidate with weak combined performance.

How to Score Above the JAMB Cut-Off Mark in 2026

Start Early

Most students fail because they begin preparation too late.

Practice Past Questions

Past questions reveal repeated patterns.

Study JAMB Syllabus

Focus on likely examination areas.

Use CBT Practice Software

Computer familiarity improves speed during exams.

Take Mock Exams

Students who practice under timed conditions often perform better in the real exam.

Focus on Core Subjects

English remains compulsory for everybody.

Frequently Asked Questions About JAMB Cut Off Marks 2026

What is the official JAMB cut off mark for 2026?

The expected minimum benchmark is:

Universities — 140 to 150+
Polytechnics — 100+
Colleges of Education — No JAMB required

But schools can set higher departmental cut-off marks.

Can I gain admission with 150 in JAMB?

Yes.

You may still gain admission into:

Some state universities
Polytechnics
Colleges of education
Less competitive courses

Which course has the highest cut-off mark in Nigeria?

Medicine and Surgery usually has the highest cut-off mark, followed by:

Law
Pharmacy
Dentistry
Nursing
Computer Science

Can I study Nursing with 200 in JAMB?

In some schools yes, but top universities may require 230–260+.

Is 180 a good JAMB score?

Yes, especially for many courses in state universities and polytechnics.

Can I gain admission without Post-UTME?

Some schools no longer conduct Post-UTME exams and use screening instead.

The biggest mistake many students make is choosing courses without understanding competition levels.

Before selecting any course, ask yourself:

How competitive is this course?
What was the previous departmental cut-off?
How many students apply yearly?
What score do admitted students usually have?

Do not rely only on the minimum benchmark announced by JAMB.

If your dream course is Medicine, Law, Nursing, Pharmacy, Computer Science, or Engineering, aim much higher than the minimum requirement.

A safe target for competitive courses in 2026 is usually 250 and above.

For moderate courses, 180–220 can still give you strong admission chances depending on the school.

The earlier you prepare, the better your chances of securing admission in 2026.

For more admission updates, departmental cut-off marks, Post-UTME guides, and realistic admission advice for Nigerian students, visit CutoffMark.ng.