Cheapest State Universities in Nigeria

No fee figure is asserted anywhere in this article, deliberately — so this guide cannot and does not rank state universities by price. What it can do honestly is explain the structure: state universities’ charges are set with state approval, so they vary more by state than federal charges do, and within that variation the full-session cost (school charges + living costs) is what actually determines which state university is cheapest for you. A state university in a cheap town can cost less overall than a state university with lower charges in an expensive city.

Why state university charges vary

State universities depend on state funding and state-approved charges, which vary by state and by administration. Some states fund generously and keep charges lower; others fund less and pass more cost to students. That variation is why no single ‘cheapest state university’ claim is made here — the answer changes by state, by course, and by session. The official fee schedule for the session governs.

State universities where the full-session total tends to run lower

• Delta State University (DELSU) — Abraka university-town living costs run lower than Lagos or Abuja.
• Ambrose Alli University (AAU) — Ekpoma university-town living costs run lower than Lagos or Abuja.
• Ekiti State University (EKSU) — Ado-Ekiti living costs run lower than Lagos or Abuja.
• Imo State University (IMSU) — Owerri living costs run lower than Lagos or Abuja.
• Benue State University (BSU) — Makurdi living costs run lower than Lagos or Abuja.
• Ebonyi State University (EBSU) — Abakaliki living costs run lower than Lagos or Abuja.
• Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK) — Keffi living costs run lower than Abuja itself, despite proximity.
• Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) — Enugu living costs run lower than Lagos or Abuja.
• Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) — Ago-Iwoye living costs run lower than Lagos.

These are grouped by location cost, NOT ranked by price — no figure supports a ranking, so none is given.

Where the full-session total tends to run higher

State universities in expensive cities — LASU (Lagos) most of all — carry higher accommodation, feeding, and transport costs. Lagos State’s cost base and Lagos living costs run higher than most states, so LASU’s full-session total can exceed a cheaper-town state university even where its school charges are comparable.

How to find your cheapest state option

1. Shortlist state universities offering your course (accredited, for the session).
2. Get each one’s official fee schedule for the session — exact course and level.
3. Add accommodation (hostel vs off-campus in that town), feeding, transport, and materials.
4. Check NELFUND portal coverage for the session — as public universities, state universities’ students may be covered.
5. Check the state’s funding stability too — a state university whose calendar is disrupted costs more overall, whatever its charges.

Related Guides & Next Steps

• Admission Requirements for Nigerian Universities
• How to Choose a University in Nigeria
• How University Admission Works in Nigeria
• University of Lagos (UNILAG) Courses, Requirements and School Fees
• Affordable Private Universities in Nigeria

Frequently asked questions

Which state university is cheapest in Nigeria? No figure is asserted here, so no ranking is given. State charges vary by state, course, and session — the cheapest for you depends on full-session cost (charges + living costs in that town). Compare official fee schedules plus town living costs.

Are state universities cheaper than federal universities? Generally no on school charges — federal universities are the lowest-charge tier. But a state university in a cheap town can cost less overall than a federal university in an expensive city. Compare full-session totals, not charges alone.

Do state universities accept NELFUND? As public universities, state universities’ students may be covered where the NELFUND portal lists the institution for the session — check the portal list. Institutional charges are paid directly to the institution; upkeep, where requested, goes to the student’s bank account.

Is a cheaper state university worse? Not automatically — judge the programme (accreditation, faculty, facilities, cut-off, full-session cost, calendar stability), not the price tag.

How do I compare state universities on cost? By full-session total: official school charges for your exact course and level, plus accommodation, feeding, transport, and materials in that town, minus any NELFUND coverage for the session.

Sources and last update

• Institution groupings from departmental-history, professional-school, and programme reporting, grouped by strength, NOT ranked. Accreditation (NUC) and professional-body recognition from programme guidance as reported, with per-session verification directed.
• Cut-off context from the cluster’s cut-off guides (Batches 11, 14, 20, and 21), summarised here — the cut-off guides govern where they differ in detail.
• No fee figure, no salary figure, and no placement or employment figure is asserted anywhere in this article, deliberately.

Last updated: 24 October 2026. Guide — review every 3–6 months and on every admission session.