Cross River State, in Nigeria’s South-South region, hosts one of the more established clusters of nursing training institutions outside Lagos and the core southeast. Candidates researching nursing education in the state need to know two things before applying: which institutions currently hold valid accreditation from the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN), and what each institution charges. This article answers both questions directly, listing every NMCN-approved nursing institution in Cross River State, the programmes each one runs, and the fee range a candidate should budget for the 2026/2027 academic session.
What “Approved” Means for a Nursing School in Nigeria
Before enrolling in any nursing programme, a candidate must confirm that the institution is approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria. NMCN approval is the regulatory requirement that allows a graduate to sit the council’s licensing examination and register as a nurse or midwife in Nigeria. Attending an unapproved institution, no matter how attractive its fees, results in a certificate that cannot be used for professional registration.
NMCN accreditation comes in three statuses that a candidate should pay attention to: full accreditation, which lasts five years and reflects that the institution meets all required standards; provisional accreditation, which lasts two years and applies to newer institutions still building up their facilities and staffing; and an embargo, which means the council has suspended new student intake at that institution until identified deficiencies are corrected. A programme under embargo cannot legally admit new students, even if the school continues to advertise forms.
List of Approved Nursing Institutions in Cross River State
Cross River State runs seven NMCN-approved nursing training institutions, spread across Calabar, Ogoja, Obudu, and Itigidi. The table below lists each institution, its accreditation status, the programmes it runs, and its ownership category.
| Institution | Location | Ownership | Accreditation Status | Programmes Offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Nursing Science, University of Calabar (UNICAL) | Calabar | Federal university | Full accreditation | Bachelor of Nursing Science (BNSc) |
| College of Nursing Sciences, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) | Calabar | Federal teaching hospital | Full accreditation | ND and HND Nursing, Midwifery |
| Cross River State College of Nursing Sciences, Calabar | Calabar | State-owned | Full accreditation | Nursing Programme |
| Cross River State College of Nursing Sciences, Ogoja | Ogoja | State-owned | Full accreditation | Nursing, Community Nursing, Midwifery, Community Midwifery |
| Cross River State College of Nursing Sciences, Obudu | Obudu | State-owned | Full accreditation (Midwifery); other tracks under review | Nursing, Midwifery, Community Midwifery |
| Cross River State College of Nursing and Midwifery Sciences (CONMSIT), Itigidi | Itigidi (Abi LGA) | State-owned | Full accreditation (ND/HND, NBTE and NMCN) | ND and HND Nursing |
| College of Nursing Sciences, Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Calabar | Calabar | Federal specialist hospital | Full accreditation | Mental Health/Psychiatric Nursing |
Two additional institutions run nursing-related programmes in the state under provisional or developing accreditation and are worth noting for candidates comparing all available options: the Department of Nursing, Arthur Jarvis University, located at Akwa Ikot Efanga, Calabar, which holds provisional NMCN accreditation, and the Department of Nursing Sciences, Havilla University, Nde-Ikom, which also carries provisional accreditation as a newer entrant. Provisional status means these programmes are approved to admit students but have not yet completed the full five-year accreditation cycle, so candidates should confirm the current status directly with NMCN or the institution before applying, since provisional accreditation is reviewed and can change from one cycle to the next.
School Fees for Nursing Programmes in Cross River State
Fees for nursing education in Cross River State vary significantly depending on whether the institution is a federal university, a federal teaching hospital college, or a state-owned college of nursing. State-owned colleges are generally the most affordable route into nursing in the state, while the federal university route through UNICAL costs more but leads directly to a full degree.
University of Calabar (UNICAL) – Bachelor of Nursing Science
UNICAL runs Nursing Science as a full undergraduate degree under the Department of Nursing Science. As a federal university, UNICAL does not charge tuition in the way a private university would; students instead pay a consolidated schedule of registration, laboratory, and departmental charges each session. For the current academic cycle, a Nursing Science student at UNICAL should budget within the range of ₦100,000 to ₦150,000 per session as a fresh student, since Nursing is classified among the university’s higher-charging science-based programmes due to its laboratory and clinical training components. Returning students typically pay less, since one-time admission-related charges apply only in the first year. UNICAL’s Nursing programme also carries one of the higher departmental UTME cut-off marks in the state, generally around 140 as the entry threshold for post-UTME screening, with successful candidates in recent cycles scoring considerably higher due to strong competition for available slots.
University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) College of Nursing Sciences
UCTH runs ND and HND Nursing Sciences programmes, along with a Midwifery track, through its College of Nursing Sciences. Candidates applying here pay a non-refundable application/screening fee of ₦20,000 through the Remita platform before proceeding to the admission process. This fee is separate from the main session fee, which is billed after admission is confirmed and covers tuition-equivalent charges, laboratory and clinical practical fees, and other institutional dues. UCTH requires a JAMB score of 180 and above for candidates who select the college as their first choice, making it one of the more competitive nursing routes in the state despite being a diploma-level (ND/HND) programme rather than a full degree.
Cross River State-Owned Colleges of Nursing (Calabar, Ogoja, Obudu, Itigidi)
The four state-owned colleges — in Calabar, Ogoja, Obudu, and Itigidi — represent the most affordable nursing training path in Cross River State. Fees at these colleges typically fall within the range of ₦80,000 to ₦280,000 per session, depending on the specific college, the programme track (Nursing, Midwifery, or Community Nursing/Midwifery), and the level of study. Recent fee notices from these colleges show that new students are required to complete a portal registration fee, generally around ₦15,000, before proceeding to pay the acceptance fee and the main session charges. Returning students settle any outstanding balance from the previous session before registering and paying for the new one.
Because these are state-run institutions, admission is often influenced by indigene status, with Cross River State indigenes sometimes benefiting from a lower fee bracket than candidates from other states, though this varies by college and by session. Candidates from outside Cross River State are still eligible to apply but should confirm whether a non-indigene fee applies before budgeting.
College of Nursing Sciences, Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Calabar
This is the only institution in Cross River State that offers a dedicated Mental Health/Psychiatric Nursing programme, and one of a small number nationwide with this specialisation. As a federal specialist institution, its fee structure follows a similar pattern to UCTH, combining a non-refundable application fee with a consolidated session charge covering tuition-equivalent costs, clinical placement in the psychiatric hospital setting, and other institutional dues. Candidates interested in mental health nursing as a specialisation should treat this as the primary route within the state, since general nursing programmes elsewhere do not provide the same depth of psychiatric clinical exposure.
Components That Make Up the Total Fee at Any Nursing Institution in the State
Regardless of which institution a candidate chooses, the total amount paid across a nursing programme in Cross River State is typically made up of the following components:
- Application/screening fee: A one-time, non-refundable charge paid before or during the admission process, covering form processing and, where applicable, an entrance screening exercise.
- Acceptance fee: Paid once admission is confirmed, to secure the candidate’s place in the programme.
- Portal/registration fee: A recurring charge, common at the state-owned colleges, that grants access to the institution’s online payment and registration system each session.
- Tuition-equivalent/session fee: The core charge covering academic instruction for the session; federal institutions call this a “school fee” rather than tuition, since tuition itself is largely subsidised.
- Laboratory and clinical practical fee: Covers skills laboratory use, simulation training, and supervised clinical placements in affiliated hospitals, which is central to any nursing programme.
- Hostel accommodation (optional): Charged separately from the main fee schedule for students who choose to live on campus or within institution-provided hostels.
Admission Requirements Common Across Cross River State Nursing Institutions
Candidates applying to any of the nursing institutions listed above generally need the following, though each institution may add specific requirements of its own:
- A minimum of five credit passes in English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, obtained at not more than two sittings in WASSCE, NECO, or NABTEB (NABTEB results must be presented alone if used, not combined with another examination body).
- A UTME score at or above the institution’s stated cut-off mark, which ranges from around 140 at UNICAL to 180 at UCTH and varies by college for the state-owned institutions.
- Selection of the target institution as first choice during JAMB registration, or a completed JAMB change-of-institution request for candidates who did not originally select it.
- Participation in the institution’s post-UTME screening or entrance examination, where applicable, since several of these colleges conduct their own selection tests in addition to the JAMB score.
- Original and photocopied academic credentials presented at the point of screening, since awaiting-result candidates are generally not accepted at the diploma-level colleges.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which nursing institution in Cross River State has the lowest fees?
The state-owned colleges in Ogoja, Obudu, Calabar, and Itigidi are generally the most affordable, with fees within the ₦80,000 to ₦280,000 range per session, compared with the federal university and teaching hospital routes.
Is UNICAL Nursing Science a degree or a diploma programme?
UNICAL runs Nursing Science as a full Bachelor of Nursing Science (BNSc) degree. UCTH and the four state-owned colleges run diploma-level ND/HND or certificate-based Nursing and Midwifery programmes instead.
Can a candidate outside Cross River State apply to the state-owned colleges of nursing?
Yes, candidates from other states can apply, but they should confirm whether a non-indigene fee bracket applies, since some state-owned colleges charge indigenes and non-indigenes differently.
Does Cross River State have an institution for psychiatric or mental health nursing?
Yes. The College of Nursing Sciences at the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Calabar, is the state’s dedicated institution for Mental Health/Psychiatric Nursing and one of the few in Nigeria offering this specialisation.
How can a candidate confirm an institution’s current accreditation status before applying?
The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria publishes an updated list of approved schools, colleges, and departments of nursing, showing accreditation status and admission quota by state. Candidates should check this list, or contact NMCN directly, before paying any fees to a nursing institution.