Private Universities Still Admitting in Nigeria: What To Check Before You Pay

The public university lists are slow, 31 October is getting close, and you are starting to worry. Good news: private universities are still taking students, and JAMB's closing date for them is 30 November.

That gives you about two more months than the federal and state schools. Here is how to use that time wisely without falling into the traps that catch many parents and candidates.

Yes, private universities are still admitting

JAMB set different closing dates for different types of schools. Public universities close on 31 October, private universities on 30 November, and polytechnics and colleges of education on 31 December.

That is why you will see some private schools still advertising screening and admission while public ones are almost done.

The minimum JAMB score for universities this year is 150. Individual schools may ask for more, and courses like Medicine, Law and Nursing usually ask for much more. Check our JAMB cut-off mark guide for the official numbers.

The real question is fees, so look at it first

Private school fees in Nigeria are not one number. They depend on the school, the course and whether you live in the hostel.

As a rough guide, published 2025/2026 figures put Covenant University at about ₦1.71 million to ₦2.01 million, and Babcock at about ₦813,000 to ₦2 million, with feeding and accommodation charged separately.

Some smaller schools charge a few hundred thousand naira for certain courses, but those figures often cover only tuition and exclude other charges.

Please treat any figure you read online, including these, as a guide only. Ask the school for the current fee schedule for your own course, in writing, before you pay anything. Ask what is included, what is extra, and whether fees go up every year.

How to pick a private school without regret

Do not pick a school because it is close to your house or because a neighbour's child went there. Ask these questions first, and write down the answers.

• Is the school approved by the National Universities Commission, and is your course accredited? You can confirm this on the NUC website, nuc.edu.ng.
• What is the full cost for four years, not only the first session?
• Does the school offer fee instalments or a scholarship?
• Where will you live, and what does it cost?

The accreditation question matters more than most people think. A degree from a course that is not accredited can give you trouble at NYSC or when you try to work.

How the process works for a private school

Most private schools run their own screening, sometimes only an interview or a document check. The step that decides everything is still JAMB CAPS. The school must recommend you, and you must accept the offer.

1. Choose the school on your JAMB record. If it is not there yet, change it using our guide on how to change course or institution on JAMB.
2. Apply on the school's own website and pay only through its official payment page.
3. Upload your O'Level result on CAPS. Use our steps for NECO or WAEC.
4. When the offer shows on CAPS, accept it within four weeks. Our four-week guide explains why.

The order matters here. If you pay a school before you confirm your JAMB record, you can end up paying for a place you cannot take.

Follow the steps one by one, and keep a copy of each receipt and notice.

If your score is low, you may still have a chance

Some private schools take candidates whose scores are lower than what public schools ask for, as long as the JAMB minimum is met. Even so, do not choose a course you do not want just to get a place.

If you are short of credits, read what to do in admission without five credits.

Warning signs of a bad deal

A few signs should make you stop and ask questions. Each of them has hurt families before.

• The school promises "automatic admission" without a JAMB record.
• You are asked to pay into a personal account.
• Nobody can show you the school's NUC approval.
• The fee changes between the admission letter and the invoice.

Also see our wider guide on late admission options that still work if you want to compare private schools with Direct Entry, supplementary lists and polytechnics.

Do a four-year budget before you accept

The first-year bill is only part of the story. Before you accept a private school offer, sit down with your parents and work out the full cost of the programme.

Take the tuition and compulsory charges for your course, add accommodation and feeding for each year, then add books, transport and a small buffer.

Multiply by the number of years your course takes, which may be five or six for courses like Engineering or Medicine.

Then ask the school in writing whether fees change every year and by how much. A number you can afford in year one but not in year three is a trap, and families discover it when it is too late to move.

What to take away

Private universities are a real option while JAMB's 30 November deadline stays open, but they are not a shortcut and not a rescue.

Pick a school that is approved, confirm that your course is accredited, plan the money for the whole programme and complete your admission on CAPS.

If you are still comparing routes, our guide on polytechnic ND admission shows another path with a later deadline.