Enter your UTME score, date of birth and O’level credits, and the page checks them against the 2026/27 national minimums: 150 for universities and nursing colleges, 100 for polytechnics, age 16, and five credits including English and Mathematics. It lists what you meet, what you miss and how many days are left to the admission deadline.
Enter your details
Used to work out your age on 30 September 2026. It stays in your browser.
From your school’s admission notice.
JAMB says these no longer need UTME. Tick this only if your school confirms it for your course.
Your O’level results
Grades A1 to C6 are credits. Not sure? Use the O’level credits calculator.
Everything is worked out in your browser. Nothing you type is sent anywhere, and your date of birth stays on your device.
Your result
Your result shows up here once you fill in the form.
The 2026/2027 national minimums
These are the minimum UTME scores that JAMB and the Federal Ministry of Education set after the policy meeting on 11 May 2026. They are called the National Minimum Tolerable UTME Scores, and no school may admit below them.
| Institution | Minimum UTME score | Out of |
|---|---|---|
| University | 150 | 400 |
| College of nursing | 150 | 400 |
| Polytechnic | 100 | 400 |
| College of education or monotechnic | No figure in the sources I found | 400 |
These are floors, not the scores that win a place. Schools set their own cut-offs, often higher, and often different for each course. Enter your course’s cut-off in the form to compare.
The age rule
The minimum age for tertiary admission stays at 16. Schools count it on a set date, and UNILAG’s notice uses 30 September, so this page counts your age on 30 September 2026. The Education Minister said exceptionally gifted candidates are treated under strict guidelines. If you are under the age, ask JAMB and your school how a waiver works. Do not assume one will be granted.
O’level credits
Most schools ask for five credits, including English Language and Mathematics. Some courses ask for specific subjects among them, and schools differ on whether they accept two sittings. UNILAG, for example, asks for five credits at one sitting. The checker asks how many credits your school wants, so you can enter its number.
Education and Agriculture courses
A JAMB post reported after the policy meeting says candidates for Education programmes and non-engineering Agriculture courses are now exempt from UTME. News reports word the group slightly differently, some saying NCE programmes, so the form asks you to confirm with your school before you tick the box.
Admission deadlines
| Institution | Deadline |
|---|---|
| University | 31 October 2026 |
| Polytechnic | 30 November 2026 |
| College of education or monotechnic | 31 December 2026 |
These dates are for the whole session. Your own school may close its screening and admission lists earlier, so check its notice.
Two worked examples
A candidate who meets the minimums
A candidate born on 12 March 2009 scored 168 in UTME and has six credits including English Language and Mathematics. For a university, 168 is above the national minimum of 150, they will be 17 on 30 September 2026, and they meet a five-credit rule. The checker says Eligible. Whether 168 is enough for their course depends on that course’s own cut-off, which they can enter.
A candidate who does not
Another candidate, born on 20 November 2010, scored 142, has four credits and no credit in Mathematics. That fails three checks. The score is 8 below the minimum of 150, they will be 15 on 30 September 2026 so they are under the age rule, and they miss the credit rule. The checker says Not yet and lists all three.
What this checker cannot see
- Your school’s ranking. Schools admit the highest scorers first, so meeting a cut-off does not guarantee a place.
- Your subject combination. Each course needs particular UTME subjects, which this page does not check.
- Subjects your course asks for among your O’level credits.
- Post-UTME or screening results, where a school uses them.
- Anything that changed after 14 October 2026, the date these figures were last checked.
Mistakes that cost candidates admission
Treating the national minimum as the cut-off for your course
The minimum only lets a school consider you. The cut-off for your course is usually higher.
Counting credits without English and Mathematics
Most schools want both. Five credits in other subjects will not do.
Ignoring the age date
Age is counted on a set date, not on the day you apply. A candidate who turns 16 a few weeks after it can still be under the rule.
Taking a school’s admission outside CAPS
Admissions outside the JAMB Central Admissions Processing System are not recognised. Check that your admission appears on CAPS.
Questions students ask
What is the JAMB cut-off mark for 2026?
The 2026/27 national minimum UTME score is 150 for universities and colleges of nursing, and 100 out of 400 for polytechnics. These are floors. A school can set a higher cut-off, and many do, especially for competitive courses. Check your course’s own figure.
Can I be admitted below the national minimum?
No. JAMB calls these the National Minimum Tolerable UTME Scores, and no school may admit candidates below them.
What is the minimum age for admission?
JAMB kept 16 as the minimum age for the 2026/27 session. Schools count it on a set date. UNILAG’s notice uses 30 September, and this page uses the same date. The government says exceptionally gifted candidates are treated under strict guidelines, so ask JAMB and your school about a waiver.
Do I still need UTME for Education or Agriculture?
A JAMB post reported after the 2026 policy meeting says candidates for Education programmes and non-engineering Agriculture courses are now exempt from UTME. The reports word it slightly differently, so confirm with JAMB and your school that your course is covered before you rely on it.
Do I need to be admitted through CAPS?
Yes. The Federal Government says admissions made outside the JAMB Central Admissions Processing System are illegal and will not be recognised.
How many O’level credits do I need?
Most schools ask for five credits, including English Language and Mathematics, at one or two sittings. The exact number and the subjects depend on your school and course. The O’level credits calculator checks your grades sitting by sitting.
Does meeting the minimum mean I will get admission?
No. Meeting the minimum only means you are allowed to be considered. Schools admit by ranking, so your score against the cut-off for your course, your post-UTME or screening result where there is one, and the number of places all matter.
