JAMB Sets 2025 Admission Cut-Offs, FG Enforces 16-Year Minimum Age Policy For Tertiary Entry

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), in collaboration with key stakeholders in the education sector, has announced the national minimum cut-off marks for admission into tertiary institutions for the 2025/2026 academic session.

This announcement was made at the 2025 Policy Meeting on Admissions into Tertiary Institutions, held on Tuesday in Abuja, where the Federal Government also reaffirmed the 16-year minimum age requirement for admission into Nigeria’s universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and nursing institutions.

Approved Cut-Off Marks

Universities: 150

Polytechnics and Colleges of Education: 100

Colleges of Nursing: 140

The approved benchmarks mean that no institution is allowed to admit candidates who score below the minimum cut-off, although schools may set higher thresholds depending on their internal policies.

In contrast, the 2024 session saw a cut-off of 140 for universities, with 100 for both polytechnics and colleges of education. The decision to adjust the university benchmark upward followed extensive voting by vice-chancellors, rectors, and provosts during the meeting.

While JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, and Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, advocated for a higher threshold of at least 160, the majority of institution heads opted for a more moderate increase.

“Every institution must now align with the agreed minimum score,” Prof. Oloyede stated. “Proposals for lower scores will no longer be entertained.”

Minimum Age Requirement Now Official

In his opening remarks, Dr. Alausa declared that the entry age for tertiary admission is now officially 16 years, a policy described as non-negotiable and immediately binding on all institutions.

“The issue of age at entry into tertiary institutions has generated much debate, but our position is clear,” Alausa said. “Sixteen years of age is now the minimum and must be strictly adhered to.”

Originally proposed as 18 years, the minimum age was revised downward after further consideration, striking what the minister described as a balance between academic readiness and cognitive maturity.

Dr. Alausa stressed that any admission processed outside the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) would be considered illegal, warning institutions against manipulating age records to subvert the policy.

However, he noted that exceptions may be considered for gifted or accelerated learners, provided such cases are clearly documented and justified.