Nursing Schools Still Admitting With 140, 150 and 160 in JAMB

A JAMB score in the 140 to 160 range feels like a closed door for many nursing hopefuls, but it is not always the end of the road. Several colleges of nursing and health technology schools set their own cut off marks separate from the big universities, and understanding how that works can completely change your outlook.

Why cut off marks vary so widely

Each institution sets its own minimum score based on how competitive their programme is that year. A college of nursing in a less competitive location might accept a lower score than a well known school in a major city simply because fewer people apply there relative to the number of available slots.

JAMB only sets the general minimum for UTME, usually around 140 to 160 depending on the year, and each school can set its requirement at or above that baseline. This means the same score that gets you nowhere at one institution could be perfectly sufficient at another.

What actually matters beyond your score

Your score alone does not guarantee or deny you admission. Schools often combine your UTME score with post UTME or entrance exam performance, your O’level results, and sometimes an interview that assesses your suitability for the nursing profession beyond academics alone.

A strong post UTME or entrance exam score can sometimes make up for a lower UTME score, depending on how the school weighs each component in its final decision, so do not assume your UTME figure is the final word before you have sat for the school’s own test. Some schools place more weight on the entrance exam specifically because it is administered under their own conditions and reflects current preparation more directly. Your O’level results also matter here, particularly your grades in English, Mathematics, and the sciences, since a weak UTME score alongside strong O’level grades can still make a convincing case during the admission review.

How to find schools matching your score range

Avoid random lists circulating on social media that are often outdated and sometimes entirely fabricated. Instead, go through verified channels that actually reflect the current admission cycle.

• Check each school’s official admission notice for their stated minimum UTME requirement for the current session.
• Call the admission office directly if the website does not clearly state a cut off mark.
• Watch for JAMB’s own announcement of institution specific cut off marks after the main UTME results are released.

Joining active forums or groups made up of candidates who already went through the same admission process the previous year can also give you a more current picture, though you should still verify anything you hear against the school’s official notice.

Checking your actual UTME score and institution cut off officially

Your own JAMB result and any institution specific cut off information released for the session can be checked directly through portal.jamb.gov.ng, which remains the single authoritative source rather than any screenshot circulating on social media. JAMB also periodically publishes a general cut off mark for the entire admission exercise on www.jamb.gov.ng, which sets the absolute minimum floor that every institution must respect, though individual schools are free to set their own requirement above that baseline depending on how competitive their specific programme is that year.

Why applying to more than one school matters here

Candidates sitting right around the 140 to 160 range often improve their odds significantly simply by applying to several colleges of nursing rather than pinning all their hope on one institution. Each school evaluates applications slightly differently, weighing UTME score, entrance exam performance, and O’level results in its own particular combination, so a score that falls short at one school’s threshold might comfortably clear another’s. Spreading your applications, where your finances and the admission calendar allow it, is one of the most practical ways to improve your overall chances without needing to rewrite JAMB at all.

Conclusion

A score between 140 and 160 does not automatically shut you out of nursing training in Nigeria. Many colleges of nursing set their own cut off marks below what the big universities demand, and your final chance depends as much on your post UTME or entrance exam performance as it does on your UTME score alone. Apply widely and verify each school’s current requirement rather than ruling yourself out too early.