The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board 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 reached on Monday during the 2026 annual policy meeting on admissions into tertiary institutions held in Abuja.

The approved scores, officially known as the National Minimum Tolerable UTME Scores, mean that no tertiary institution is permitted to admit candidates who score below the agreed benchmarks.

However, institutions are free to set higher cut-off marks for applicants seeking admission. Last year, universities adopted 150 as the minimum benchmark, while polytechnics and colleges of education retained 100.

The benchmarks were adopted after extensive deliberations and voting by heads of tertiary institutions, including vice-chancellors.

Education, agriculture candidates now exempted from UTME, says JAMB

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has announced that candidates seeking admission into Education programmes and Agriculture-related non-engineering courses in College of Education and Polytechnics will no longer be required to sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.

The board disclosed this in a post shared on its official X handle on Monday during its ongoing policy meeting on admissions. “Candidates seeking admissions into Education Programmes and Agriculture non-Engineering Courses are now exempted from UTME,” the board stated.

At the 2026 Policy Meeting on Admissions to Tertiary Institutions held in Abuja, Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, announced that candidates seeking admission into National Certificate in Education programmes would no longer be required to sit the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination if they possess the required qualifications.

He, however, stressed that such candidates must still register with the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board. “However, it is imperative to emphasise 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 said the exemption would also apply to candidates seeking admission into National Diploma programmes in non-technology agricultural and agriculture-related courses.

Alausa noted, “This exemption shall extend to candidates seeking admission into National Diploma programmes in non-technology agricultural and agriculture-related courses.”

According to him, the policy is aimed at expanding access to tertiary education while maintaining admission 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 programmes, both of which are critical to national development,” he added

The development marks a significant shift in Nigeria’s tertiary admission process, as the UTME has traditionally served as the standard entrance examination for admission into universities, polytechnics and colleges of education across the country.

The annual policy meeting organised by JAMB is usually convened to determine admission guidelines, including cut-off marks and other procedures for tertiary institutions.

UPDATED: JAMB sets October deadline for university admissions

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has directed public universities to conclude their admission processes for the 2026/2027 academic session by the end of October.

According to JAMB, public universities must complete all admissions by October 31, while private universities have until November 30. Other institutions such as polytechnics and colleges of education are expected to wrap up by December 31.

The directive, which aims to ensure timely commencement of the academic calendar, was issued following JAMB’s admission policy meeting.

Institutions have been urged to strictly adhere to the deadlines and finalize all processes on the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) within the stipulated timelines.

JAMB warned that admissions conducted outside the approved guidelines and after the deadlines would not be recognized.