A “low” JAMB score is not a dead end: JAMB’s 2026 policy minimum for universities is 150, and many universities set their screening minimum at exactly 150 — but only for certain courses, and only if your O’Level results and screening performance are strong. The realistic path for a low score is not “any university will take me” but “the right institution, the right course, and a strong screening” — and the institutions below are the ones most consistently reported at the 150–160 end of the range.
Read this article with one warning attached: cut-off figures are institution-set minimums for screening consideration, not guarantees of admission, and they change between sessions. Every figure below is reported for the 2026/2027 cycle and must be confirmed on the institution’s official portal for the session you are applying to.
What “low” actually means
- 150 is the national floor for universities (2026 JAMB policy minimum). No university can set a screening minimum below it — so a score below 150 cannot be screened by any university, and the honest next step is a polytechnic or college of education (floor 100), a pre-degree or remedial programme, or a retake.
- 150–160 is the realistic low-score band for federal and state universities. At the top end, institutions like Pan-Atlantic University set 220, and several leading universities (UI, UNILAG, OAU, UNIBEN, UNN, Covenant) set 200 — those are not low-score options.
- Departmental cut-offs run higher than institutional minimums. A university with a 150 minimum may still require 200+ for Medicine, Law, Pharmacy, or Engineering. Low-score strategy means targeting less competitive courses (Education, Agriculture, Arts, and many Social Science and Management programmes) at institutions with low minimums.
Universities most consistently reported at 150–160 (2026/2027)
These are the institutions that appear across multiple 2026 guides at the low end. Treat each as a lead to verify, not as a confirmed offer:
Federal universities reported at 150: Federal University, Dutsin-Ma (FUDMA); Federal University, Kashere (FUKASHERE); Alex Ekwueme University, Ndufu-Alike (FUNAI); Federal University, Otuoke (FUOTUOKE); Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU); Federal University of Technology, Minna (FUTMINNA); Federal University, Wukari (FUWUKARI); Federal University, Gusau (FUGUS, reported 150–160).
Federal universities reported at 160: Federal University, Dutse (FUD); Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO, course-dependent — engineering and science programmes may require more).
State universities reported at 150–160: Abia State University (ABSU); Ambrose Alli University (AAU, Ekpoma); Cross River University of Technology (CRUTECH); Delta State University (DELSU); Imo State University (IMSU); Kebbi State University of Science and Technology (KSUSTA); Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT); Ekiti State University (EKSU); Nasarawa State University (NSUK); Kogi State University (KSU); Benue State University (BSU); Ebonyi State University (EBSU).
Other institutions reported at 150 (2026 policy list): Adamawa State University, Adeleke University, African School of Economics, and AbdulRasaq Abubakar Toyin University.
Private universities: private institutions vary widely — some are flexible, but others set high minimums (Covenant University is reported at 200 for 2026). “Private” does not automatically mean “low cut-off”. Check each private institution’s published minimum.
How to use a low score well
- Pick courses, not just institutions. A 150 score with strong O’Level grades in Education or Agriculture at a 150-minimum institution is a realistic application. The same score aimed at Medicine at a 200-minimum institution is not.
- Make your screening count. Where the institution runs an exam, your screening score can lift a low UTME aggregate. Where it runs screening only, your O’Level grades are the lift — distinctions in your five required subjects matter most.
- Apply as first choice to the institution you are targeting, and complete any change of institution before the screening window closes.
- Have a backup tier. Apply to a polytechnic or college of education as well (floor 100), or to a pre-degree programme, so a low UTME score does not cost you a whole year.
- Confirm before you pay. Check the institution’s official portal for its current minimum, its departmental cut-offs, and its screening format — for the session you are applying to, not last session’s blog list.
Related Guides & Next Steps
- How to Change Course on JAMB Portal
- Universities With High Admission Chances
- Universities With the Lowest Cut-Off Marks
- How University Admission Works in Nigeria
- 2026/2027 University Admission Guide for Nigerian Students
Frequently asked questions
Can I gain admission with 150 in JAMB? Yes, at institutions that set 150 as their screening minimum, for courses whose departmental cut-off you meet, with strong O’Level results and screening performance. It is not a guarantee.
What if my score is below 150? No university can screen you below the 150 floor. Consider a polytechnic or college of education (floor 100), a pre-degree or remedial programme, or retaking UTME.
Do low cut-off universities offer quality degrees? A degree from a federal or state university carries the same national recognition regardless of the institution’s cut-off. Cut-off reflects competition for places, not degree validity — though facilities, staffing, and course quality vary by institution and should be checked separately.
Is a private university easier with a low score? Not necessarily. Private institutions set their own minimums, and some (like Covenant, reported at 200 for 2026) are highly competitive. Check each institution’s published minimum.
Should I change my course to a less competitive one? If your score cannot meet your first-choice course’s departmental cut-off, a change of course (on JAMB, within the window) to a less competitive course at a low-minimum institution is a legitimate strategy — see the change-of-course guide. Do not change to a course you have no interest in without weighing the four-year cost of that choice.
Sources and last update
- 2026 policy-meeting minimums (150 floor for universities; 200 for UI/UNILAG/OAU/UNIBEN/UNN/Covenant/AFIT; 220 Pan-Atlantic; 160/170/180/195 bands) from JAMB’s 2026 policy figures as reported.
- Low-end institution lists (150–160 federal and state) from multiple 2026 guides, with cross-guide agreement treated as “reported”, not confirmed — and with the FUOTUOKE 140-vs-150 variation noted as a reason to confirm on the portal.
- Departmental-vs-institutional minimum distinction from JAMB’s own framing (figures are minimum thresholds for consideration; institutions may impose higher requirements for competitive courses).
Last updated: 24 October 2026. Guide — review every admission session and on every JAMB policy update. Institution figures must be re-verified for each new session.