JAMB Announces 2026 Cut-off Marks and Admission Rules

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has officially released the cut-off marks and new admission guidelines for the 2026 academic session during a meeting held in Abuja. The minimum admission scores have been set at 150 for universities, 150 for colleges of nursing, and 100 for polytechnics.

These scores are not guarantees for admission, as institutions are free to adopt higher cut-off marks based on course competitiveness. The Minister of Education emphasized that the new policies aim to ensure that candidates possess the necessary psychological and academic maturity for higher education.

Students who do not meet the required admission scores may find their admission processes deferred. This policy shift is part of a broader strategy to boost enrollment in the education sector and address teacher shortages and food security issues.

The changes also affect candidates seeking admission into agricultural courses, who will no longer require a Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) score for direct admission.