Prince Abubakar Audu University (PAAU), Anyigba, formerly Kogi State University, runs one of the more accessible Nursing Science programmes among Nigerian state universities, though the course still requires a noticeably higher score than the university’s general entry benchmark. This article explains the current cut-off mark for Nursing Science at PAAU, how the university calculates its admission aggregate, what separates the official baseline from the practical score candidates should aim for, and what happens after a candidate meets the requirement.
PAAU’s General Cut-Off Mark for 2026/2027
PAAU sets a general JAMB cut-off mark that determines who qualifies to participate in Post-UTME screening across the university. For the 2026/2027 admission cycle, the university’s official student portal lists a minimum UTME score of 150 for most programmes as the baseline eligibility requirement, though some earlier and alternative admission guides have referenced slightly different baseline figures for the same institution across recent sessions. Regardless of the exact baseline in a given year, meeting this general score only qualifies a candidate to proceed to the next stage of the admission process; it does not by itself secure a place in Nursing Science, since Nursing sits among the university’s more competitive departments and is evaluated against its own higher benchmark.
PAAU Departmental Cut-Off Mark for Nursing Science
Nursing Science at PAAU carries one of the higher departmental cut-off marks at the university, alongside Medicine and Surgery and Law. Based on the university’s most recently released departmental benchmarks, Nursing Science has an aggregate cut-off of 62.0 points, placing it firmly among PAAU’s top competitive programmes, behind only Law (66.5) and Medicine and Surgery (65.5) in terms of how demanding the benchmark is.
Because this aggregate figure is not a raw UTME score, but a combined score calculated from both UTME performance and O’Level results, candidates should not confuse the 62.0 aggregate benchmark with a UTME cut-off. In terms of a practical raw UTME target, several admission trackers advise candidates aiming for Nursing Science and other medical-related courses at PAAU to score at least 220 in UTME to stand a strong chance during the ranking process, given how competitive the pool of applicants for these departments tends to be.
How PAAU Calculates the Admission Aggregate
PAAU does not admit students into Nursing Science based on the UTME score alone. The university combines two components into a weighted aggregate score used to rank and select candidates:
| Component | Weight in Final Aggregate |
|---|---|
| UTME (JAMB) score | 70% |
| O’Level result | 30% |
This weighting means that while UTME performance carries the larger share of the final aggregate, a candidate’s O’Level grades in the required science subjects still meaningfully influence the outcome. Two candidates with the same UTME score can end up with different final aggregates and different admission outcomes purely based on how strong their O’Level results are in the subjects relevant to Nursing Science.
Cut-Off Mark Comparison: Nursing vs. Other PAAU Programmes
The table below places the Nursing Science aggregate cut-off alongside a few other programmes at PAAU, to show where Nursing sits relative to the rest of the university’s course offerings.
| Programme | Aggregate Cut-Off (Approx.) | Competitiveness Level |
|---|---|---|
| General PAAU eligibility (most courses) | 150 (raw UTME, to qualify for screening) | Minimum entry threshold |
| Arabic Language, Islamic Studies, some Education courses | Around 31.2 | Low |
| Computer Science | 56.4 | Moderate-high |
| Microbiology / Pharmacology | 55.5 | Moderate-high |
| Mass Communication | 58.5 | High |
| Nursing Science | 62.0 | High |
| Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) | 65.5 | Very high |
| Law | 66.5 | Very high |
This comparison shows Nursing Science sitting close to the top of PAAU’s competitiveness scale, well above general science and social science departments, though slightly below Medicine and Surgery and Law.
Why Nursing Science Has a Higher Cut-Off Than Average
A handful of factors explain why Nursing Science consistently sits above PAAU’s general admission threshold:
- Limited admission slots. PAAU’s College of Health Sciences admits a restricted number of students into Nursing Science each session, keeping the pool of available places small relative to the volume of applications.
- Sustained national demand for nursing. Nursing remains one of the most consistently sought-after courses among Nigerian science students, both for local healthcare employment and international nursing opportunities, which pushes competition and effective cut-off marks upward.
- Clinical training capacity. Because Nursing Science depends on supervised clinical placements and hospital-based practical training, the department cannot expand its intake without straining its clinical training partnerships, which keeps admission numbers, and therefore the competitive bar, relatively fixed.
- Comparatively affordable positioning. PAAU is often cited among the more accessible options for Nursing Science compared to some other Nigerian universities, which increases the volume of applications the department receives each session and, in turn, raises the practical score needed to secure a place.
UTME Subject Combination for Nursing Science at PAAU
Candidates applying for Nursing Science at PAAU must register the following subjects for UTME:
- English Language
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Physics
All four subjects need to be registered correctly on the JAMB portal, and PAAU must be selected as the first-choice institution, since Post-UTME screening at most Nigerian universities, including PAAU, is generally restricted to candidates who chose that university first.
O’Level Requirements for Nursing Science
Beyond UTME, candidates need a minimum of five credit passes at SSCE level, obtained in not more than two sittings, in the following subjects:
- English Language
- Mathematics
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Physics
These credits must come from a recognised examination body, such as WAEC, NECO, or NABTEB. Since O’Level results feed directly into 30% of PAAU’s final admission aggregate, candidates should aim for strong grades in these subjects rather than the bare minimum credit pass, as stronger O’Level performance can meaningfully improve a borderline UTME candidate’s final ranking.
Steps to Take After Meeting the Cut-Off Mark
Once a candidate’s UTME score meets the general PAAU threshold and they intend to pursue Nursing Science specifically, the admission process follows this sequence:
- Confirm eligibility on the JAMB portal, checking that the UTME score meets PAAU’s general baseline for the current session.
- Select PAAU as first choice, since the university’s screening process is generally limited to first-choice candidates.
- Register for online screening on the official PAAU admissions portal within the stated registration window, and pay the applicable screening fee.
- Upload O’Level results, ensuring all five required credits are correctly captured, since these results feed directly into the final aggregate calculation.
- Await the release of departmental cut-off marks and aggregate rankings, which PAAU publishes after the screening period closes.
- Monitor the admission list through the JAMB Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) and the PAAU admissions portal, where successful candidates accept their offer.
Tips to Improve Chances of Admission into Nursing Science at PAAU
- Aim for a UTME score well above the general baseline, ideally in the region of 220 or higher, given how competitive Nursing Science admission tends to be in practice.
- Treat O’Level performance as seriously as UTME performance, since it carries real weight (30%) in PAAU’s final aggregate calculation.
- Register the correct UTME subject combination from the outset, since errors here can disqualify an otherwise strong application.
- Apply and complete screening registration early once the admission window opens, rather than waiting until close to the deadline.
- Keep a close eye on official PAAU communication channels for updates, since departmental cut-off marks and screening procedures can shift slightly from one session to the next.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cut-off mark for Nursing Science at PAAU?
Nursing Science at PAAU carries an aggregate cut-off of around 62.0 points, based on the university’s combined UTME and O’Level scoring system, making it one of the more competitive departments at the institution.
Is PAAU’s general cut-off mark the same as the Nursing cut-off mark?
No. The general baseline of around 150 in UTME only qualifies a candidate for Post-UTME screening. Nursing Science, as a competitive clinical programme, applies a separate and higher aggregate benchmark on top of that general threshold.
How does PAAU calculate the final admission aggregate?
PAAU combines UTME performance, weighted at 70%, with O’Level results, weighted at 30%, into a single aggregate score used to rank candidates against each department’s cut-off.
Can a candidate with a UTME score close to 150 still get into Nursing Science at PAAU?
It is unlikely on its own, since Nursing Science consistently requires a much higher aggregate than the general baseline. Candidates scoring closer to 220 in UTME, combined with strong O’Level grades, stand a considerably better chance.
Does PAAU accept second-choice candidates for Nursing Science?
PAAU’s screening process is generally restricted to candidates who selected the university as their first choice on the JAMB portal, so candidates genuinely interested in Nursing Science at PAAU should list it as their first choice.