Ask ten candidates what a cut-off mark is and you will get ten answers. One says it is the score JAMB fixes.
Another says it is the score the school wants. A third says it depends on the course and your state.
They are all partly right, because "cut-off mark" is used for three different things, and mixing them up is how people end up disappointed in October.
This guide separates them, shows you the 2026 numbers, and explains what to do when your score sits in the grey area between the national minimum and your school's real standard.
Table of Contents 9 sectionsShowHide
- The national minimum JAMB fixed in May
- Why meeting 150 does not mean you are in
- A real example: how UNILAG presents its merit scores
- Where to find the cut-off for your school and course
- Aggregate: the score that actually decides
- If your score is below your target cut-off
- Cut-off myths worth dropping
- Final word
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The national minimum JAMB fixed in May
At its 2026 policy meeting on admissions, held in Abuja on 11 May, JAMB and stakeholders kept the minimum UTME score for university admission at 150. Colleges of nursing also stay at 150, while polytechnics and monotechnics stay at 100.
Reports from the same meeting add that colleges of education no longer require UTME at all and ask for at least four O'Level credits instead.
This minimum is a floor. It tells a school the lowest score it is allowed to consider. It does not tell you how likely you are to be admitted, and it does not stop a school from setting a higher bar.
Why meeting 150 does not mean you are in
Schools are free to set departmental cut-offs above the national minimum, based on how many candidates choose a course and how many places the NUC allows.
A course like Medicine attracts far more applicants than Library Science, so the real standard is much higher.
Beyond that, universities that run post-UTME screening combine your UTME score with your screening result and sometimes with your O'Level grades to form an aggregate score, and that aggregate is what decides who gets in.
A real example: how UNILAG presents its merit scores
On 16 September 2026, the University of Lagos published its 2026/2027 merit cut-off marks on its official website, split into merit, catchment and ELDS categories. Look at how different the numbers are by course.
Medicine and Surgery sits at 83.425, Computer Science at 82.05, Nursing Sciences at 77.925, Law at 79.125, Mass Communication at 74.6 and Accounting at 73.0.
Notice the scale. These are decimals, not scores out of 400.
They come from the school's own scoring approach, so you cannot compare 83.425 directly with your raw UTME score. Read the school's explanation of how it converts and weights the scores before you decide whether you qualify.
Catchment cut-offs are generally lower than merit cut-offs for the states covered, which shows that where you come from can matter too.
Where to find the cut-off for your school and course
Do not rely on a screenshot from a WhatsApp group. Go to the source:
- The school's official website, usually in the admissions or news section, where many publish merit lists and screening notices.
- The school's post-UTME advert, which often states the minimum UTME score needed to apply.
- The JAMB brochure and your CAPS profile for course requirements and subject combinations.
- The school's admissions office, by phone or email, if the information is unclear.
Our cut-off mark checker can help you compare schools, and you should always confirm the final figure on the school's own site.
Aggregate: the score that actually decides
If your school screens candidates, your admission chance depends on the aggregate, not your UTME alone. Every school uses its own weighting between UTME and post-UTME, so there is no single formula to copy.
Use our JAMB aggregate calculator and JAMB score calculator to get a rough estimate, then check the school's official formula to be sure.
If your score is below your target cut-off
Being short is not the end of the story. You have a few sensible moves:
- Look at related courses in the same school that have lower cut-offs and still fit your goals.
- Consider another school with a lower departmental cut-off for the same course.
- Check polytechnics, where the national minimum is 100, and colleges of education, which no longer need UTME.
- Wait for supplementary lists, which some universities release after the main ones.
For what to do while you wait on an offer, read our guide for candidates who are not admitted as the deadlines approach. If you are also short on credits, our guide to admission without five credits covers the options.
Cut-off myths worth dropping
These beliefs cause a lot of wasted effort and bad decisions:
- "JAMB sets every school's cut-off." JAMB sets the floor. Schools set their own course standards above it.
- "Last year's cut-off is this year's cut-off." Cut-offs shift with demand and quotas. Always check the current session's list.
- "A blog article can tell me for sure." Blogs, including ours, can lag behind. The school's own notice is the final word.
- "A lower score can be fixed by paying someone." No one can change your score or your admission status for a fee.
Rumours spread fastest when people are anxious. Before you believe a number you saw on a group chat, check it against a JAMB notice or the school's own page.
If two sources disagree, trust the official one and ignore the rest. It saves you worry and money.
Final word
Treat 150 and 100 as the doorway, and your school's merit list as the real room you want to enter.
Find the current number from the right source, work out your aggregate honestly, and choose your next step before the deadlines close in. A clear picture beats wishful thinking every time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to common questions about this guide
1What is the JAMB cut-off mark for 2026?
At its 2026 policy meeting, JAMB kept the minimum at 150 for universities and colleges of nursing and 100 for polytechnics and monotechnics. Individual schools can and often do set higher departmental cut-offs.
2Is the JAMB cut-off the same as my school's cut-off?
No. The JAMB figure is the national minimum a school is allowed to consider. Each school sets its own departmental cut-off, and many also use an aggregate that combines UTME and post-UTME scores.
3Do colleges of education need UTME in 2026?
Reports from JAMB's 2026 policy meeting say UTME is no longer required for colleges of education, which ask for at least four credits in O'Level examinations instead. Confirm details with the specific college.
4Why are UNILAG's cut-off marks written as decimals like 83.425?
They are the school's merit scores, produced by its own scoring approach, so they are on a different scale from your raw UTME score out of 400. Read UNILAG's explanation of how the score is calculated before comparing.
5Can I get admission with a score below my school's cut-off?
Usually not through the merit category. You can consider a related course, another school with a lower cut-off, a polytechnic or college of education, or a supplementary list if one is released.
6Where do I find the official cut-off mark for my course?
On the school's official website or admission notices, in its post-UTME advert, or from the admissions office. Treat blogs and social media posts as pointers, not final answers.
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