Every year, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) publishes cut-off marks for tertiary education programmes across Nigeria. These marks represent the minimum UTME scores candidates must attain to be eligible for admission into universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education. Understanding the cut-off mark for all courses is critical for aspirants preparing for the 2026/2027 academic session — especially if you aim to study competitive programmes like Medicine, Law, Pharmacy, Engineering or Computer Science.

This article explains everything you need to know about JAMB cut-off marks for all courses: what they mean, how they work, typical score expectations, and practical tips that can improve your admission chances.

What Is the JAMB Cut-Off Mark?

The JAMB cut-off mark is the minimum Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) score that candidates must achieve to be considered for admission into various tertiary institutions in Nigeria. This score is a baseline eligibility requirement — not a guaranteed admission score — and is set by JAMB in consultation with educational stakeholders.

Importantly, scoring the minimum cut-off only qualifies you for further screening (such as Post-UTME). Final admission decisions are usually based on aggregate performance, including UTME, Post-UTME, and O’Level results.

JAMB Registration Form

2026/2027 General JAMB Cut-Off Marks by Institution Type

For the 2026/2027 academic session, JAMB has defined minimum eligibility benchmarks for UTME candidates across Nigeria:

These are the baseline scores that allow you to participate in further admission processes. However, meeting these minimums does not automatically ensure admission — especially for competitive courses where institutions set their own higher departmental cut-offs.

JAMB Cut-Off Mark For Medicine 

Why JAMB Cut-Off Marks Matter

Cut-off marks serve several key purposes:

• Determine Eligibility: A candidate must hit the minimum UTME score before applying for Post-UTME.

• Manage Competition: Higher marks are often required for competitive programmes to screen out weaker applicants.

• Institutional Standards: Universities and other tertiary institutions may adopt higher departmental cut-offs to align with internal admission criteria.

JAMB Cut-Off Marks for All Courses (2026/2027)

While the national minimum may be 140 for universities, popular and highly competitive courses often require higher scores based on applicant performance, competition, and limited admission slots. Below is a breakdown of typical cut-off marks for major programmes:

JAMB Cut-Off Mark For Health & Medical Sciences

Medical and health programmes are widely regarded as highly competitive, with Medicine requiring among the highest UTME scores.

JAMB Cut-Off Mark For Engineering & Technology

Engineering courses often require strong performance in Mathematics and Physics, which drives their higher cut-off benchmarks.

JAMB Cut-Off Mark For Science, Technology & IT

Science and technology courses have cut-off marks aimed at testing analytical and logical reasoning skills.

JAMB Cut-Off Mark For Business, Management, & Social Sciences

Business and social science programmes vary from moderate to competitive, with accounting and communication often requiring higher scores.

JAMB Cut-Off Mark For Arts, Humanities & Education

Humanities programmes typically have moderate cut-off benchmarks, but competitive departments like Theatre Arts can be higher.

JAMB Departmental Cut-Off Mark for University and Polytechnics

The national cut-off mark (e.g., 140 for universities), while that of polytrechnics are lower than 140, indicates minimum eligibility. However:

• Departmental cut-offs are set by institutions themselves for specific courses. Many competitive programmes have higher thresholds than the national minimum.

• Some universities use aggregate scoring systems, combining UTME, Post-UTME, and O’Level results when ranking candidates.

This means two aspirants with the same UTME score might not both gain admission — one may be accepted where the departmental cut-off is lower, while the other may fall short where it’s higher.

JAMB Admission Requirements for Universities, Polytechnics, and Colleges

In order to be admitted into any university in Nigeria, Candidates must score a minimum of 140 in the JAMB UTME Exams. and have 5 credit passes in their O-level result including Mathematics and English Language.

The JAMB cut-off mark for all courses in the 2026/2027 academic session establishes the minimum eligibility for tertiary education in Nigeria. While the national benchmark for universities is 140, polytechnics and colleges of education require 100.

Competitive courses — especially Medicine, Law, Pharmacy, Engineering, and Computer Science — typically demand higher cut-off marks to reflect strong applicant performance and limited admission spaces.

Do Cut-Off Marks Change Yearly?

Yes. JAMB cut-off marks — especially departmental cut-off benchmarks for specific courses and institutions — can change each year based on:

• Candidate performance trends

• Demand for specific programmes

• Admissions policies and institutional capacity

Official cut-off figures are typically published after UTME results are released, and institutions announce their own minimums. Always verify with the JAMB official portal and your chosen school’s admission page.

How to Score Above 300 in JAMB

Understanding JAMB cut-off marks helps you:

1. Set Competitive Targets

Aim above the minimum — especially for professional or highly competitive programmes like Medicine, Engineering, and Law.

2. Choose Appropriate Institutions

If your UTME score is near the baseline, consider less competitive universities or programmes that still match your interests.

3. Prepare for Post-UTME

High UTME scores strengthen eligibility, but strong Post-UTME performance and good O’Level results are also critical for final admission decisions.

4. Practice Wth Past Questions

Get JAMB past questions and answers and practice before the exam date.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Do all courses have the same cut-off mark?
No — national minimums apply broadly, but each course and institution has specific benchmarks that often differ.

2. Can I get admission with the minimum score?
Meeting the minimum cut-off qualifies you for screening; however, admission is not guaranteed. Competitive programmes usually require higher scores.

3. Where can I check the official cut-off marks?
Official cut-offs are published on the JAMB official website and individual institutions’ admission portals.

4. Which university accepts low JAMB scores?
Some private universities admit candidates with low JAMB scores.

Conclusion

Understanding these benchmarks and aiming for competitive UTME scores — combined with strong performance in Post-UTME and O’Level exams — enhances your chances of gaining admission into your desired programme.

If you have questions to ask, please drop them in the comment box, and our team will respond to them immediately.