Federal Universities Cut Off Mark for All Courses 2026/2027

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Getting into a federal university is not just about clearing the general JAMB minimum — your actual target depends heavily on the course you want to study. A score of 200 might comfortably secure you a spot in Sociology, but the same 200 could leave you stranded if you are chasing Medicine or Law. Below is a clear, course-by-course breakdown of what to expect across federal universities in Nigeria for the 2026/2027 admission session.

General Cut Off Mark by University Tier

Federal universities do not all set the same baseline. They generally fall into three tiers:

  • Top-tier, highly competitive federal universities (UNILAG, UI, OAU, UNIBEN, UNN, UNIUYO) — General minimum of 200
  • Mid-tier federal universities (ABU Zaria, UNN, some FUTAs) — General minimum around 180
  • Newer federal universities (FUOYE, FUD, FULAFIA, FUGUS, FUKASHERE, FUOTUOKE) — General minimum ranges from 150 to 160 for most programmes

This general score only gets your application looked at. Your actual admission depends on the departmental cut off for your specific course.

Course-by-Course Cut Off Marks (Typical Ranges)

Here is how cut off marks typically break down by course category across federal universities:

  • Medicine and Surgery — 250 to 290+. Top schools like UNILAG, UI, and OAU expect 280 and above
  • Law — 220 to 260. UNILAG and OAU sit around 260
  • Pharmacy — 220 to 260
  • Nursing Science — 200 to 240. Newer federal universities like FUOYE peg it at 240, while others start around 200 to 210
  • Dentistry and Dental Surgery — 250 to 280
  • Medical Laboratory Science — 210 to 230
  • Radiography — 200 to 220
  • Engineering (all disciplines) — 200 to 250. OAU averages around 250 for most engineering courses
  • Computer Science — 200 to 255. UNILAG and OAU set theirs between 250 and 255
  • Architecture — 200 to 240
  • Accounting, Banking and Finance, Business Administration — 180 to 220
  • Mass Communication — 190 to 220
  • Economics, Political Science, Sociology — 160 to 200
  • English Language, Linguistics, Theatre Arts — 150 to 190
  • Education (all combinations) — 150 to 180
  • Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry — 150 to 180
  • Environmental Sciences and Design — 150 to 200
  • Physical and Life Sciences (Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Microbiology) — 160 to 200

These ranges reflect current departmental patterns, but every school adjusts its figures slightly based on that year’s applicant pool. Always confirm with your specific institution’s admission portal once Post-UTME registration opens.

Examples From Specific Federal Universities

University of Lagos (UNILAG): General cut off is 200 across all faculties. Medicine sits around 280, Law around 260, and Computer Science around 250. Every department screens further after this stage.

Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU): General cut off is 200. Medicine and Surgery requires approximately 280, Law demands about 260, Computer Science is close to 255, and most Engineering courses hover around 250.

Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE): General minimum sits at 150 for most programmes, but Medicine and Surgery tops the list at 280. Nursing Science follows at 240, while Medical Laboratory Science and Pharmacy both require 230, and Radiography needs 220.

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Federal University Dutse (FUD): Runs a department-by-department system. Nursing Science requires 210, while Health Sciences, Human Anatomy, and Human Physiology sit at 160. Agricultural Science, Economics, and English Language are set at 150.

Federal University of Lafia (FULAFIA): Competitive courses such as Medicine, Nursing, and Pharmacy typically exceed 200, while Computer Science candidates should aim for 170 to 200.

Federal University Gusau (FUGUS): Sets a general benchmark of 160 for most programmes, with Medicine and Nursing carrying noticeably higher departmental requirements.

Why Course Cut Off Marks Differ So Much

A few factors explain why Medicine at 280 sits so far above Education at 150:

  • Demand versus available slots — Thousands of candidates chase a few hundred Medicine seats every year, which pushes the score up
  • Professional accreditation requirements — Courses like Medicine, Law, and Pharmacy answer to regulatory bodies that influence admission standards
  • National prestige of the course — Popular career-path courses naturally attract more competition
  • School reputation — A course at UNILAG or OAU draws far more applicants than the same course at a newer federal university

How to Check Your Course Cut Off Mark Accurately

  1. Visit your target university’s official admissions portal once Post-UTME registration opens
  2. Search specifically for your faculty and department, not just the general institutional score
  3. Cross-check with JAMB’s CAPS (Central Admissions Processing System) once results are released
  4. Avoid relying on unofficial lists circulating on social media — figures change yearly

Final Advice

Do not judge your admission chances using the general federal university cut off mark alone. Always research your exact course, since Medicine, Law, and Engineering routinely demand 40 to 100 points more than the general minimum. If your score falls short for a competitive course, changing to a related but less oversubscribed programme at the same school is often a smarter move than waiting an entire admission cycle.