The decision on the JAMB cut-off mark was reached during the 2026 annual policy meeting on admissions into tertiary institutions held in Abuja on Monday.
Stakeholders in the education sector, including vice-chancellors and heads of tertiary institutions, participated in the meeting where the benchmark was agreed upon after extensive deliberations.
According to the approved guidelines, no university in Nigeria is allowed to admit candidates who score below 150 in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
However, institutions still retain the right to set higher cut-off marks depending on their admission standards and competitiveness.
The JAMB cut-off mark for universities remains the same as the benchmark adopted last year, when universities also fixed 150 as the minimum admission score.
Polytechnics and colleges of education previously maintained a minimum benchmark of 100. The officially approved scores are referred to as the National Minimum Tolerable UTME Scores and are designed to guide institutions during the admission process for the new academic session.
Education stakeholders at the meeting reportedly stressed the importance of maintaining admission standards while also ensuring wider access to higher education opportunities for qualified candidates across the country.
The annual policy meeting organised by JAMB serves as a platform where admission guidelines, timelines, and benchmarks for universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education are discussed and approved ahead of each admission cycle.
The latest JAMB cut-off mark announcement is expected to provide clarity for candidates preparing for the 2026 admission process, as many institutions are expected to begin releasing their individual admission requirements and screening details in the coming weeks.
More details from the policy meeting are expected to emerge as JAMB releases additional information regarding the 2026 admission exercise.
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