JAMB sets a national minimum cut-off each year, but the score that actually matters is your university's departmental cut-off for your course. Here's how the JAMB cut-off system works and what to aim for.
Every year, JAMB convenes a policy meeting with vice-chancellors, rectors and provosts. They agree the minimum UTME score below which no candidate can be considered for admission to any institution in that category — university, polytechnic, or college of education.
General JAMB minimum cut-offs (recent cycles)
Universities: 140
Polytechnics: 100
Colleges of education: 100
Innovation enterprise institutions: 100
These are minimums. Each school sets a higher institutional cut-off, and each department sets its own departmental cut-off on top.
Typical departmental cut-offs for competitive courses
Medicine & Surgery: 250–280+ at top federal universities
Pharmacy: 230–260+
Law: 230–260+
Engineering: 200–250
Nursing: 200–240
Computer Science: 200–240
What to aim for
Don't aim for the cut-off — aim well above it. The cut-off is the floor; admission is competitive. If your course's cut-off is 200, target 240+. The extra 40 marks protects you when other candidates score high too.
Frequently asked questions
What is the current JAMB cut-off mark for universities?
JAMB announces the general minimum cut-off each year. In recent cycles it has been 140 for universities, 100 for polytechnics and 100 for colleges of education — but each school sets a higher cut-off and each department sets its own.
Is the JAMB cut-off mark the same for every university?
No. JAMB sets a national minimum. Federal universities and competitive courses (Medicine, Law, Pharmacy, Engineering) usually require 200+ before they even consider you for Post-UTME.
Does a high JAMB score guarantee admission?
No. Most universities now weight UTME 50% and Post-UTME (or O'Level grades) 50%. A high UTME helps, but Post-UTME and O'Level grades matter just as much.
How do I check the cut-off mark for my course?
Visit your university's website and look for the current 'Admission requirements' or 'Departmental cut-off marks' page. Cut-offs change every cycle.