The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) released the final figures for the 2025 admission cycle: out of 2,007,312 UTME candidates, a total of 1,009,044 were eventually admitted into universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education across Nigeria. That is a 50.3% overall admission rate — the highest on record.
But aggregate numbers hide the story that matters to individual students. This article breaks down who actually got in, which score ranges had the best chances, and what the data tells candidates who sat for the UTME in 2026.
The Score Band Breakdown
JAMB released admission data segmented by score bands. Here is the complete picture:
| Score range | Candidates | Admitted | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 300 and above | ~18,000 | ~13,500 | 75% |
| 200 – 299 | ~648,000 | ~485,000 | ~75% |
| 160 – 199 | 997,000+ | ~390,000 | ~39% |
| 140 – 159 | 331,927 | 113,049 | 34% |
| 120 – 139 | 39,204 | 7,821 | 20% |
| 100 – 119 | 2,597 | 305 | 12% |
Key finding
The 160–199 range, the largest single band with nearly 1 million candidates had only a 39% admission rate. This is where competition is fiercest. Scoring 200 roughly doubles your odds of admission.
The 150 Cutoff Stays, Here Is What That Means
At JAMB's 2026/27 policy meeting held on May, 2026, vice-chancellors voted unanimously to retain 150 as the national minimum cutoff mark for university admission. The same 150 minimum applies to nursing colleges. Polytechnics retain 100.
This is important context: the 150 mark is a floor, not a target. Most competitive programmes like Medicine, Law, & Engineering have institutional cutoffs far higher. A candidate scoring 150 qualifies for consideration. Whether they receive an offer depends on:
- The specific institution's own cutoff for the programme
- Post-UTME screening performance
- Available admission quota for the programme
- O'Level results (minimum five credits including English and Maths for most programmes)
New policy note
As of 2026, candidates applying for Education programmes and Agriculture non-Engineering courses are now exempted from UTME requirements. Minimum admission age remains 16 years nationwide.
Why LASU Had 79,000 First-Choice Applications
Lagos State University (LASU) was the single most-applied-to institution in 2025 UTME, receiving over 70,000 first-choice applications. This reflects two realities simultaneously:
- Lagos concentration: Nigeria's most populous state has the highest density of candidates and the expectation of remaining close to home.
- State university cost advantage: LASU fees, while variable, are generally lower for Lagos State indigenes than equivalent federal universities in the state.
Use YASA's map filtered to Lagos to compare all institutions in the state by ownership, fees, and subject combo. You may find that less-popular institutions with lower cutoffs offer the same programme with better admission chances.
What Should 2026 Candidates Who Were Not Admitted Do?
If you sat the 2026 UTME and did not receive an admission offer, here is the practical path forward:
Option 1: Participate in JAMB's Supplementary Admission Process
JAMB's CAPS (Central Admission Processing System) often runs supplementary rounds where institutions with unfilled quotas reopen. Check jamb.gov.ng/CAPS regularly between now and August.
Option 2: Consider Polytechnics and Colleges of Education
With a 100-mark minimum for polytechnics, candidates with scores of 120–150 have strong prospects in polytechnic programmes. Filter YASA by institution type to see all polytechnics near you.
Option 3: Apply for Direct Entry (DE)
Candidates with National Diploma (ND) or A'Level qualifications can apply for Direct Entry into the second year of a degree programme without sitting UTME again. JAMB's DE registration typically opens between January and March annually.
Option 4: Prepare for 2027 UTME
If you scored below 150, the data shows clearly that reaching 200+ roughly doubles your admission probability. The additional year of preparation is worth it. Use YASA to identify the right institution-programme combination before you register for 2027.
Find institutions that match your score
Enter your 2026 UTME score and subjects into YASA's free map. See every eligible institution, their fees, and how close they are to you.
Open YASA Map →What the 2025 Data Tells Us About 2026 Strategy
Three lessons from the 2025 numbers every 2026 candidate should internalize:
1. The 200 threshold is the real target, not 150. The gap in admission rates between 160–199 (39%) and 200+ (approximately 75%) is dramatic. Every additional point below 200 materially reduces admission probability across the full range of institutions.
2. Subject combinations determine programme access, not score alone. A candidate scoring 250 with the wrong subject combination will be rejected from their target programme regardless of score. Verify your subject combination against programme requirements before registration using YASA's subject selector.
3. Institution choice is a risk management decision. Applying to only one institution, particularly an over-subscribed one like LASU, UNILAG, or UNIBEN is high-variance strategy. YASA's data shows that candidates who consider geographically accessible but less popular institutions with the same programme consistently improve their admission probability.
YASA maps over 1,000 JAMB-eligible institutions, courses, and subject requirements. Start your search at yasa.ng →
Admission figures for upper bands are estimated from published JAMB aggregate statistics. YASA does not guarantee admission outcomes. Always verify directly with JAMB and target institutions.