Benue State, located in the north-central part of Nigeria, hosts a solid cluster of nursing training institutions that combine government-run colleges, mission-based schools, private colleges, and university nursing departments. For candidates researching where to study nursing in the state for the 2026/2027 academic session, this article lists the approved institutions, explains what each one offers, and breaks down the fees a prospective student should budget for.
Regulatory Bodies Governing Nursing Education In Benue State
Every nursing institution operating in Benue State falls under the oversight of one or more regulatory bodies, depending on the type of programme offered. The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) accredits and regulates nursing and midwifery training across the country, and any institution claiming to train nurses must hold current NMCN accreditation for its specific programme. University-based nursing departments additionally fall under the supervision of the National Universities Commission (NUC), while diploma-level colleges affiliated with polytechnic-style training answer to the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) in certain aspects of their operations. Before applying to any nursing institution, a candidate should confirm that the specific programme they intend to study currently carries valid accreditation, since accreditation status can change between admission cycles and directly affects a graduate’s eligibility to sit the NMCN licensing examination.
List Of Approved Nursing Institutions In Benue State
Benue State currently hosts six recognized nursing training institutions, spread mainly across Makurdi, the state capital, and Mkar in Gboko Local Government Area. These institutions fall into three categories: state-government-owned colleges and universities, mission-affiliated colleges and universities, and privately owned colleges.
Benue State College of Nursing Sciences, Makurdi
This is the principal state-government-owned nursing training institution in Benue. Situated in Makurdi, the college runs a three-year General Nursing Science programme and a separate Midwifery programme, both accredited by the NMCN. Admission into the college follows an aptitude test and interview process coordinated by the Benue State Ministry of Health and Human Services rather than the standard JAMB UTME route used for university-based nursing degrees. Graduates earn the Registered Nurse (RN) or Registered Midwife (RM) qualification upon passing the NMCN licensing examination.
NKST College of Nursing Sciences, Mkar
Located in Mkar, within Gboko Local Government Area, this institution operates under the Nongo u Kristu u ken Sudan hen Tiv (NKST) Church and stands out as the institution with the widest range of nursing-related programmes in the state. It offers Nursing (at ND and HND levels), Midwifery, Community Nursing, Community Midwifery, and Post-Basic Nursing specialty programmes, all under NMCN accreditation. Its Community Nursing Programme carries a specific eligibility requirement: applicants must be indigenes of Benue State and at least 17 years old at the point of application.
Makurdi College of Nursing Sciences (MCONS)
MCONS is a privately owned nursing college situated along the Makurdi-Gboko Road. It runs Nursing and Midwifery programmes under NMCN accreditation and positions itself around modern teaching methods, including ICT-integrated instruction and a functional e-library stocked with current nursing literature. As a private institution, MCONS charges higher fees than the state-owned college but offers smaller class sizes and more modern facilities in some respects.
Department of Nursing Science, Benue State University, Makurdi (BSU)
Benue State University runs a five-year Bachelor of Nursing Science (B.N.Sc.) degree through its Department of Nursing Science, domiciled within the College of Health Sciences. As a state-owned university, BSU admits nursing candidates through the standard JAMB UTME route, followed by the university’s post-UTME screening exercise. Graduates receive a full university degree rather than a diploma, and the programme prepares candidates for the NMCN professional licensing examination. Tuition is notably lower for candidates who hold Benue State indigene status compared to non-indigene applicants.
Department of Nursing Sciences, Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi (FUAM)
FUAM offers a B.N.Sc. Nursing Science degree programme and, as a federal institution, generally charges the lowest tuition among the university-level nursing options in Benue State. The department holds NMCN approval, and the university’s close working relationship with the Federal Medical Centre, Makurdi, gives nursing students consistent access to clinical training placements throughout the programme.
Department of Nursing Sciences, University of Mkar (UMK)
University of Mkar is a private Christian university affiliated with the NKST Church, located in Mkar, Gboko. Its Department of Nursing Sciences runs the B.N.Sc. degree programme, blending academic training with the university’s faith-based moral formation approach. Admission follows the same JAMB UTME plus post-UTME screening pattern used by other university nursing programmes in the state.
Approved Nursing Schools In Benue State And Their School Fees 2026/2027
The table below summarizes the estimated annual tuition range for each approved nursing institution in Benue State for the 2026/2027 session. These figures represent tuition estimates only and do not include acceptance fees, hostel accommodation, uniforms, clinical practicum charges, or other incidental costs that most institutions bill separately.
| Institution | Ownership Type | Programme Offered | Estimated Annual Fee (₦) | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benue State College of Nursing Sciences, Makurdi | State-owned | Nursing (ND), Midwifery | 120,000 – 300,000 | Makurdi |
| NKST College of Nursing Sciences, Mkar | Mission-owned | Nursing, Midwifery, Community Nursing, Community Midwifery, Post-Basic Nursing | 80,000 – 300,000 | Mkar, Gboko LGA |
| Makurdi College of Nursing Sciences (MCONS) | Private | Nursing, Midwifery | 280,000 – 500,000 | Makurdi |
| Benue State University (BSU) | State-owned university | B.N.Sc. (5 years) | 100,000 – 400,000 | Makurdi |
| Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi (FUAM) | Federal university | B.N.Sc. (5 years) | 80,000 – 180,000 | Makurdi |
| University of Mkar (UMK) | Private university | B.N.Sc. (5 years) | 350,000 – 600,000 | Mkar, Gboko LGA |
As the table shows, FUAM offers the most affordable route into a full university nursing degree, while University of Mkar sits at the higher end of the fee scale among the six institutions. Among the diploma-level colleges, NKST College of Nursing Sciences Mkar offers the lowest entry point on its Community Nursing and Community Midwifery tracks, while MCONS, as the only fully private diploma college in the state, charges the highest fees within that category.
Why Fees Differ So Widely Across These Institutions
The fee gap between these six institutions comes down mainly to ownership structure and funding source. Federal and state government-owned institutions, such as FUAM and BSU, receive subventions from government, which allows them to charge students considerably less than privately funded institutions that depend almost entirely on tuition revenue to sustain their operations. Mission-owned institutions like NKST College of Nursing Sciences Mkar and University of Mkar occupy a middle position in some cases and a higher one in others, since they often receive support from their affiliated church body but still need to generate substantial revenue through tuition to maintain facilities, staff, and clinical training infrastructure.
Private, independently owned institutions such as MCONS carry the least external funding support, which explains why their fees trend higher than the state-owned college offering a comparable diploma-level programme.
Indigene status also plays a significant role in the fee a candidate ultimately pays, particularly at BSU and the state-owned College of Nursing Sciences, Makurdi. Both institutions charge Benue State indigenes considerably less than candidates from other states, reflecting the state government’s investment in training healthcare workers who are more likely to remain and serve within Benue State after graduation.
General Admission Requirements Across These Institutions
While each institution sets its own specific admission process, a common set of baseline requirements applies across nearly all approved nursing schools in Benue State.
Candidates need a minimum of five credit passes in the Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE), obtained from the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), the National Examinations Council (NECO), or the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB). These five credits must include English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, and must be obtained in not more than two sittings.
For the university-based B.N.Sc. programmes at BSU, FUAM, and University of Mkar, candidates must register for the JAMB UTME with English Language, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics as their subject combination, and a competitive score, generally 180 and above, improves a candidate’s chances at the post-UTME screening stage. For the diploma-level colleges, most institutions conduct their own entrance examination and interview process rather than relying solely on JAMB, though a growing number, such as NKST College of Nursing Sciences Mkar, now incorporate JAMB into their ND/HND admission cycle. Candidates should confirm the current admission route for their specific programme of interest, since some specialty tracks, such as Community Nursing and Basic Midwifery at certain colleges, still admit through internal assessment alone.
A minimum age requirement of 15 to 17 years also applies, depending on the institution and programme, along with a medical fitness certificate from a recognized health facility, which most colleges require before a candidate’s admission is finalized.
How To Choose Among These Institutions
Prospective nursing students in Benue State should weigh a few key factors before settling on an institution. Candidates who want a full university degree rather than a diploma should focus on BSU, FUAM, or University of Mkar, since these are the three institutions offering the five-year B.N.Sc. programme. Candidates seeking a faster route into the nursing profession through a diploma pathway should consider the College of Nursing Sciences Makurdi, NKST College of Nursing Sciences Mkar, or MCONS.
Budget-conscious candidates aiming for a university degree will find FUAM the most economical option, while those open to a diploma route and working with a tighter budget will find NKST College of Nursing Sciences Mkar offers the widest range of affordable specialty programmes. Candidates who place high value on a faith-based, disciplined academic environment should consider NKST College of Nursing Sciences Mkar or University of Mkar, both of which operate under the NKST Church’s guiding philosophy. Finally, location matters for many applicants: four of the six institutions sit within Makurdi, while the remaining two are based in Mkar, Gboko LGA, so candidates should factor in proximity to home and cost of living when making a final decision.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many approved nursing schools are there in Benue State?
Benue State has six recognized nursing training institutions: Benue State College of Nursing Sciences Makurdi, NKST College of Nursing Sciences Mkar, Makurdi College of Nursing Sciences (MCONS), Benue State University, Federal University of Agriculture Makurdi, and University of Mkar.
Which is the cheapest nursing school in Benue State?
Among university-level programmes, the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi (FUAM) offers the lowest tuition, generally between ₦80,000 and ₦180,000 annually. Among diploma-level colleges, NKST College of Nursing Sciences Mkar offers the most affordable entry point on several of its programmes.
Do all these institutions require JAMB for admission?
No. The three university-based B.N.Sc. programmes (BSU, FUAM, University of Mkar) require JAMB UTME and post-UTME screening. Most diploma-level colleges conduct their own entrance examination, though some, including NKST College of Nursing Sciences Mkar, now incorporate JAMB for their ND/HND cycle.
Is there a difference in fees for indigenes and non-indigenes?
Yes, particularly at the state-owned institutions. Benue State University and the Benue State College of Nursing Sciences both charge lower fees to Benue State indigenes compared to candidates from other states.
Which institution offers Community Nursing in Benue State?
NKST College of Nursing Sciences Mkar is the primary institution offering both Community Nursing and Community Midwifery programmes in the state, with eligibility restricted to Benue State indigenes aged 17 and above.