Gombe State hosts a small but well-defined set of institutions permitted to train nurses, ranging from a state-owned college of nursing science, a federal teaching hospital nursing college, a university degree programme, and a newer private nursing college. Each of these institutions carries a distinct accreditation status with the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN), which is the only body legally authorised to approve nursing training in the country. This article identifies the approved nursing schools in Gombe state and their school fees for the 2026/2027 academic session, explains how the fee structures differ between the state, federal, and university-based options, and answers the questions prospective nursing students in the state most commonly ask.
Why Accreditation Status Matters Before Checking Fees
Before comparing fees, it helps to understand what “approved” actually means in the context of nursing education in Nigeria. The NMCN approves every school of nursing, school of midwifery, post-basic nursing programme, and university department of nursing sciences in the country, and assigns each one an accreditation status: full accreditation (valid for five years), provisional accreditation (valid for two years), or an embargo on new intake where deficiencies have been identified and not yet corrected. A school without current NMCN approval cannot legally admit or graduate nurses whose qualifications will be recognised for professional licensing, regardless of how affordable its fees appear.
Candidates researching approved nursing schools in Gombe state should always confirm current accreditation status directly with the institution or through the NMCN before paying any fee, since accreditation periods expire and are renewed on a rolling basis.
The Main Approved Nursing Institutions in Gombe State
Gombe State currently has four principal channels through which a candidate can pursue an NMCN-recognised nursing qualification:
- Gombe State College of Nursing Sciences (also known as the College of Nursing and Midwifery, Gombe), a state government-owned institution offering ND/HND Nursing, Basic Midwifery, Post-Basic HND Nursing, and Post-Basic Public Health Nursing.
- College of Nursing Sciences, Institute of Health Sciences, Federal Teaching Hospital (FTH) Gombe, a federally owned nursing college attached to the teaching hospital, offering ND/HND General Nursing and Post-Basic Nursing specialisations.
- Department of Nursing Sciences, Gombe State University (GSU), which runs a full Bachelor of Nursing Science (B.NSc.) degree programme through the standard university admission route (UTME or Direct Entry).
- Adamu Fura College of Nursing Sciences (AFCONS), a private nursing college established in 2024 and located in Gombe town, offering a three-year nursing certificate programme.
Each of these operates independently, with its own admission process, cut-off mark, and fee schedule, even though all four sit under the same overarching NMCN regulatory framework.
School Fees at Gombe State University’s Nursing Science Department
Because Gombe State University is a full degree-awarding institution, its Nursing Science programme follows the university’s standard tuition structure, which distinguishes between indigenes of Gombe State and non-indigenes, and between fresh and returning students. Nursing is classified among the university’s higher-cost programmes, alongside Medicine and Pharmacy, reflecting the cost of clinical training and laboratory work.
| Student Category | Approximate School Fees (₦) |
|---|---|
| Fresh Student – Gombe State Indigene | 161,250 |
| Fresh Student – Non-Indigene | 285,000 |
| Returning Student – Gombe State Indigene | 148,750 |
| Returning Student – Non-Indigene | 272,500 |
These figures reflect the university’s most recently published nursing fee schedule and give a reliable picture of what to expect for the 2026/2027 session, though the university reviews its schedule from one session to the next, so confirming the exact current figure through the GSU bursary or admissions office remains necessary before payment. Indigeneship status has a substantial effect on the amount payable, with non-indigenes paying close to double what Gombe State indigenes pay for the same programme.
Admission into the Nursing Science degree at GSU follows the standard UTME route, with the university typically setting its general cut-off mark around 150 to 200 depending on the admission cycle, alongside a Post-UTME screening exercise and the standard five-credit O’Level requirement in English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics.
School Fees at Gombe State College of Nursing Sciences
The Gombe State College of Nursing Sciences, commonly referred to locally as the College of Nursing and Midwifery, runs the ND/HND Nursing programme (four years total) along with Post-Basic HND Nursing and Post-Basic Public Health Nursing programmes (two years each), and Basic Midwifery.
The college’s application form fees, which are separate from the actual school fees charged once admitted, are set at ₦5,000 for ND/HND Nursing applicants and ₦20,000 for Post-Basic HND Nursing and Post-Basic Public Health Nursing applicants. The full session school fees for admitted students, which cover tuition, practical training, and institutional charges, are published directly on the college’s own admission portal at the point of admission rather than as a single fixed public figure, since colleges of nursing under state ownership frequently adjust their internal charges from one intake to the next. Prospective students should treat the amount confirmed on the official college portal (portal.consgombe.edu.ng) as the only reliable figure, rather than any secondhand estimate.
Eligibility for the ND/HND Nursing programme at this college requires candidates to be between 16 and 35 years of age at the point of admission, physically fit, and to have scored a minimum UTME mark, generally set around 160, with the college listed as first choice. The same five-credit O’Level requirement (English, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics) applies here as it does across nursing training institutions nationwide. Post-Basic programme applicants must already hold a Registered Nurse (RN) or Registered Midwife (RM) licence with a current practising certificate.
School Fees at the College of Nursing Sciences, Federal Teaching Hospital Gombe
As a federally owned institution attached to a teaching hospital, the College of Nursing Sciences at FTH Gombe runs the ND/HND General Nursing programme and various Post-Basic Nursing specialisations. Admission requires a minimum UTME score, generally set around 150, in addition to the standard five-credit O’Level requirement, and candidates must be at least 16 years old at the point of application.
The college’s admission form costs ₦10,000, payable strictly through the Remita platform into the hospital’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) account. As with the state college, the actual session school fees for admitted ND/HND Nursing students are communicated directly to successful candidates through the institution’s official channels and the Registrar’s office rather than published as a single fixed figure ahead of admission, since teaching hospital-run nursing colleges typically issue their fee breakdown alongside the admission letter. Federal teaching hospital nursing colleges elsewhere in Nigeria with comparable programme structures generally charge in the range of ₦100,000 to ₦250,000 per session once tuition, clinical posting fees, and other compulsory charges are combined, and this range offers a reasonable planning guide for prospective FTH Gombe nursing students pending confirmation of the exact figure from the college.
School Fees at Adamu Fura College of Nursing Sciences (Private)
Adamu Fura College of Nursing Sciences (AFCONS) is a private institution established in 2024, offering a three-year nursing certificate programme. As a newer private entrant into nursing education in the state, its fee structure is set independently by the college’s management rather than tied to any government fee schedule, and private nursing colleges in Nigeria typically charge substantially more than state or federal institutions, often in the range of ₦300,000 to ₦600,000 or more per session, reflecting the absence of government subsidy. Candidates interested in AFCONS should confirm the current fee schedule directly with the college’s admissions office rather than relying on figures quoted for public institutions, since private college charges vary widely and are reviewed independently each session.
Comparing the Fee Structures Across Gombe State’s Nursing Institutions
The table below summarises how the four approved routes into nursing in Gombe State compare in terms of ownership, programme type, and general fee positioning.
| Institution | Ownership | Programme Type | General Fee Positioning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gombe State University (Dept. of Nursing Science) | State (University) | B.NSc. Degree | ₦148,750 – ₦285,000 per session (varies by indigene status) |
| Gombe State College of Nursing Sciences | State (College) | ND/HND, Post-Basic, Midwifery | Application fee ₦5,000–₦20,000; school fees confirmed on admission |
| College of Nursing Sciences, FTH Gombe | Federal | ND/HND General Nursing, Post-Basic | Application fee ₦10,000; school fees typically ₦100,000–₦250,000 (estimate) |
| Adamu Fura College of Nursing Sciences | Private | Nursing Certificate | Typically ₦300,000 and above per session (private-sector range) |
This comparison shows a clear pattern: state and federal institutions in Gombe remain considerably more affordable than the newer private college, which mirrors the fee gap seen between government-owned and privately owned nursing institutions across Nigeria generally.
General Admission Requirements Across Gombe State’s Nursing Institutions
While each institution sets its own cut-off mark and screening process, the following requirements are broadly consistent across all approved nursing schools in Gombe state:
- A minimum of five O’Level credits in English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, obtained at not more than two sittings in WAEC, NECO, or NABTEB.
- A UTME score that meets or exceeds the specific institution’s cut-off mark, generally falling between 150 and 200 depending on the school and programme.
- An age range typically set between 16 and 35 years at the point of admission for basic nursing programmes.
- Physical and medical fitness, confirmed through a medical examination during the screening or clearance process.
- For Post-Basic programmes specifically, an existing Registered Nurse (RN) or Registered Midwife (RM) licence with a current practising certificate, plus relevant post-qualification work experience in most cases.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which nursing institutions in Gombe State are officially approved by the NMCN?
The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria approves four main channels in Gombe State: the Department of Nursing Sciences at Gombe State University, the Gombe State College of Nursing Sciences (College of Nursing and Midwifery), the College of Nursing Sciences at Federal Teaching Hospital Gombe, and Adamu Fura College of Nursing Sciences, a newer private institution.
How much does the nursing programme at Gombe State University cost?
Gombe State indigenes pay approximately ₦161,250 as fresh students and ₦148,750 as returning students, while non-indigenes pay approximately ₦285,000 as fresh students and ₦272,500 as returning students, based on the university’s most recently published fee schedule.
Is the application form fee the same as the full school fees at Gombe’s nursing colleges?
No. Application or admission form fees, such as the ₦5,000 to ₦20,000 charged by the Gombe State College of Nursing Sciences or the ₦10,000 charged by FTH Gombe’s nursing college, only cover the cost of applying. The full session school fees are communicated separately once admission is confirmed.
Is the private nursing college in Gombe State more expensive than the government-owned options?
Yes. Adamu Fura College of Nursing Sciences, as a private institution, generally charges considerably more per session than the state or federal nursing colleges, consistent with the fee gap seen between private and government-owned nursing training institutions nationwide.
What subjects are required for admission into nursing schools in Gombe State?
All approved nursing institutions in the state require a minimum of five O’Level credits including English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, obtained at not more than two sittings.