The Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) is the body generally in charge of admission into all the tertiary institutions in Nigeria.  Every year, the body conducts nationwide exams for all the candidates who registered for the exams in order to assess them before finally admitting them into the tertiary institution.

Before now, most school of Nursing in Nigeria accepts students for admission into their school even without them writing JAMB. But this has changed over the years since the JAMB has fully enforced the policy that all tertiary institutions in Nigeria will only admit students who have UTME results.

Why JAMB is Compulsory for Nursing Admission in 2026

The transition of Nursing Education in Nigeria from “Hospital-Based” certificates to the ND/HND Nursing Sciences model has made the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) the primary gateway for admission. If you are applying for the 2026/2027 academic session, here is why you cannot bypass the UTME:

1. Academic Accreditation (NBTE & NMCN Reforms)

Most Schools of Nursing have been upgraded to Colleges of Nursing Sciences. Under the new guidelines from the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN), these colleges are now recognized as tertiary institutions. Just like Polytechnics and Universities, they must use JAMB to standardize their intake. So, for this, all the upgraded Schools of Nursing in the College of Nursing now require prospective students to write JAMB before they can be offered admission.

2. Eligibility for NYSC Mobilization

One of the biggest advantages of the new 4-year ND/HND Nursing path is that graduates are now eligible for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). Now, before any student can be mobilized for the NYSC scheme, they must have a regularized and accepted admission offer on the JAMB CAPS. In other for graduate and participate in NYSC, they must write JAMB.

3. The Mandatory “Indexing” Process

Before you can begin clinical postings, you must be “Indexed” by the NMCN.  To prevent schools from admitting more students than their accredited quota, the Council now verifies every student’s data against the JAMB admission list. If your name isn’t on the official JAMB list for that school, the Council may refuse to index you, meaning you cannot sit for the Professional Licensing Exams to become a Registered Nurse (RN).

Now that we have seen why JAMB is now compulsory for most Colleges of Nursing, we are going to list the schools that currently require students to write JAMB before they can be admitted.

Note: Some schools of Nursing that have not upgraded in 2026 are still accepting students without JAMB.

Lists of Schools of Nursing that require JAMB

Here is the current list of colleges and departments of Nursing that require students to write JAMB before they can be admitted into the school. The list is not limited to the schools mentioned here because most schools are updating their admission policy, so be sure to confirm with your prospective school before applying for admission.

However, here is the updated list of all the School of Nursing in Nigeria that requires JAMB for admission:

1. Federal Universities (BNSc Degree – 5 Years)

These are the most competitive schools in the country. Admission is strictly through the JAMB UTME and a subsequent Post-UTME screening.

• University of Ibadan (UI), Oyo State

• University of Lagos (UNILAG), Lagos State

• University of Benin (UNIBEN), Edo State

• Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State

• Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Kaduna State

• University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Enugu State

• University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), Kwara State

• University of Jos (UNIJOS), Plateau State

• University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), Rivers State

• University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID), Borno State

• University of Calabar (UNICAL), Cross River State

• University of Uyo (UNIUYO), Akwa Ibom State

• Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, Anambra State

• Bayero University Kano (BUK), Kano State

• Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUSOK)

• Federal University, Birnin Kebbi (FUBK)

• Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo (FUHSO), Benue State

• Federal University of Health Sciences, Azare (FUHSA), Bauchi State

• Federal University of Health Sciences, Ila-Orangun, Osun State

• University of Abuja (UNIABUJA), FCT

2. State Universities (BNSc Degree – 5 Years)

These schools prioritize candidates from their specific states but are open to all JAMB applicants.

• Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo

• Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH), Ikorodu

• Osun State University (UNIOSUN), Osogbo

• Ekiti State University (EKSU), Ado-Ekiti

• Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State

• Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso

• Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), Ondo State

• University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED), Ondo City

• Rivers State University (RSU), Port Harcourt

• Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka

• Edo State University, Uzairue

• Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT)

• Abia State University (ABSU), Uturu

• Imo State University (IMSU), Owerri

• Benue State University (BSU), Makurdi

• Taraba State University (TASU), Jalingo

• Gombe State University (GSU)

• Kaduna State University (KASU)

• Yobe State University (YSU), Damaturu

• Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete

3. Colleges of Nursing Sciences (ND/HND – 4 Years)

These were formerly “Schools of Nursing” but have now transitioned to the JAMB-mandated National Diploma (ND) model.

• Lagos State College of Nursing (LASCON), Igando

• Oyo State College of Nursing Sciences (OYSCONME), Eleyele/Saki

• Aliko Dangote College of Nursing Sciences, Bauchi

• College of Nursing Sciences, JUTH, Jos

• College of Nursing Sciences, UBTH, Benin City

• College of Nursing Sciences, UUTH, Uyo

• Akwa Ibom State College of Nursing Sciences (Ikot Ekpene, Eket, Anua)

• Kwara State College of Nursing, Oke-Ode

• Kaduna State College of Nursing Sciences (Kafanchan, Pambeguwa, Kaduna)

• Edo State College of Nursing Sciences, Benin City

• Ondo State College of Nursing Sciences, Akure

• Kogi State College of Nursing Sciences, Obangede

• Anambra State College of Nursing Sciences, Nkpor

• Abia State College of Nursing Sciences (Aba, Amachara)

• Cross River State College of Nursing Sciences (Itigidi)

• Kebbi State College of Nursing Sciences, Birnin Kebbi

• Sokoto State College of Nursing Sciences

• Adamawa State College of Nursing and Midwifery, Yola

4. Private Universities (BNSc Degree – 5 Years)

These institutions require JAMB registration but often have more flexible admission slots than public schools.

• Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State

• Afe Babalola University (ABUAD), Ado-Ekiti

• Bowen University, Iwo, Osun State

• Bingham University, Karu, Nasarawa State

• Lead City University, Ibadan, Oyo State

• Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State

• Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State

• Madonna University, Elele, Rivers State

• PAMO University of Medical Sciences, Port Harcourt

• Pan-Atlantic University, Lagos

• Chrisland University, Abeokuta

• McPherson University, Ogun State

• Gregory University, Uturu, Abia State

• Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo

5. Private College of Nursing Science (ND/HND – 4 Years)

These are private nursing schools but have upgraded to a college of Nursing and now require JAMB for admission.

• Jafad College of Nursing Science, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State

• Bowen University Teaching Hospital (BUTH) College of Nursing, Ogbomoso

• Achievers College of Nursing Sciences, Akure, Ondo State

• Mercy Medical College of Nursing Sciences, Iwo, Osun State

• Standard College of Nursing Sciences, Minna

• Royal College of Nursing Sciences, Ogun State

• Iyi-Enu Mission Hospital College of Nursing, Ogidi

• Lily College of Nursing Sciences, Warri, Delta State

• St. Camillus College of Nursing Sciences, Uromi, Edo State

• St. Philomena College of Nursing Sciences, Benin City

• Sancta Maria Catholic College of Nursing Sciences, Uzairue, Edo State

• Archbishop Charles Heerey College of Nursing Sciences, Aba, Abia State

• St. Anthony College of Nursing Sciences, Aba

• Millennium College of Nursing Sciences, Awka, Anambra State

• Our Lady of Lourdes College of Nursing Sciences, Ihiala, Anambra State

• College of Nursing Sciences, Adazi-Nnukwu, Anambra State

• Diocese of the Niger College of Nursing Sciences, Alor, Anambra State

• Bishop Shanahan College of Nursing Sciences, Nsukka, Enugu State

• Mater Misericordiae College of Nursing Sciences, Afikpo, Ebonyi State

• Holy Rosary College of Nursing Sciences, Emekuku, Imo State

• NKST College of Nursing Sciences, Mkar, Benue State

• Sudawa College of Nursing Sciences, Kano State

• Iqra College of Nursing Sciences, Dutse, Jigawa State

• Zenith College of Nursing Sciences, Maiduguri, Borno State

• Grimard College of Nursing Sciences, Anyigba, Kogi State

• UEC College of Nursing Sciences, Ochadamu, Kogi State

• Florence Nightingale College of Nursing Sciences, Jos, Plateau State

• Adamu Adamu College of Nursing Sciences, Azare, Bauchi State

• New Gate College of Nursing Sciences, Minna, Niger State

If you did not write the 2026 JAMB UTME, your only remaining options are Private Colleges of Nursing that offer “Certificate” programs (though these do not lead to an HND or NYSC) or waiting for the 2027 cycle. Always verify a school’s status on the NMCN official website before paying for any “No JAMB” form.

Universities that Accept Direct Entry for Nursing

2026 JAMB Requirements for Nursing

To be successful in your application, you must meet these three technical requirements:

1. JAMB Subject Combination: You must sit for English Language, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. Any other combination (e.g., replacing Physics with Mathematics or Biology with Agriculture) will lead to automatic disqualification.

2. Minimum Cut-off Mark: While some colleges accept 160, competitive federal universities like UNILAG or UI often require a minimum of 250 for Nursing. Some state universities with less competition can accept students with 230 in UTME, but they consider indigene more than non-indigene.

3. Choice of Institution: Before you can be considered for admission, you must make the College of Nursing or the University offering Nursing your first choice of institution in JAMB before you can be allowed to purchase the Post-UTME form and be eligible for admission into the school.

Conclusion

Schools of Nursing in Nigeria are now requiring students to write JAMB before they can be offered admission to the school.  You are expected to score above the minimum cutoff mark before you can be admitted. Most school nursing cut-off marks are around 160, while top and competitive schools of Nursing have a cut-off mark of 250 and above.