Nasarawa State hosts a mix of federal, state, and private institutions offering approved nursing and midwifery training. As with all nursing education in Nigeria, any programme a candidate considers must carry accreditation from the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN), the regulatory body responsible for approving and monitoring nursing training nationwide. This article lists the approved nursing training options in Nasarawa State, explains the pathways available, and breaks down what each option costs for the 2026/2027 academic session.
What “Approved” Means for Nursing Training in Nasarawa
Before enrolling in any nursing programme, a prospective student needs to confirm the institution’s current accreditation status with the NMCN, since this accreditation determines whether a graduate is eligible to sit for the professional licensing examination required to practice as a Registered Nurse (RN) in Nigeria. The NMCN issues two categories of accreditation: full accreditation, which lasts five years, and provisional accreditation, which lasts two years and requires the institution to demonstrate further improvement before an upgrade. Where a school fails to meet the council’s standards, the NMCN can place an indefinite embargo on new student intake until the identified deficiencies are corrected and a fresh verification visit confirms compliance.
Nigeria currently has close to 290 nursing training institutions recognised by the NMCN nationwide, and Nasarawa State hosts a smaller but genuine cluster of these across public and private ownership. Before committing to any programme, applicants should verify a school’s current status directly against the NMCN’s published list of approved schools, since accreditation status is reviewed periodically and can change between cycles.
Two Main Pathways Into Nursing in Nasarawa State
Nursing training in Nasarawa generally follows one of two structural pathways, and understanding the difference helps applicants plan both their timeline and their budget.
The first pathway is the National Diploma (ND) Nursing route, offered through state-run colleges of nursing sciences and health technology schools. This route trains candidates directly from secondary school and produces a diploma-level qualification that, depending on the specific programme, can lead toward Registered Nurse (RN) status or serve as a stepping stone into a degree-level programme later.
The second pathway is the university Bachelor of Nursing Science (BNSc) route, offered through university faculties or colleges of health sciences. This produces a full university degree in Nursing Sciences alongside RN and, in many cases, Registered Midwife (RM) qualifications, and generally takes longer and costs more than the diploma route because it combines standard university tuition with laboratory, clinical, and departmental levies across multiple academic levels.
List of Approved Nursing Training Institutions in Nasarawa State
The table below summarises the leading nursing training providers currently operating in Nasarawa State, along with their ownership type and general pathway.
| Institution | Ownership | Pathway | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nasarawa State College of Nursing Sciences | State-owned | ND Nursing, Midwifery (where available) | Shendam Road, Lafia |
| Nasarawa State School of Health Technology, Alushi | State-owned | Community Health, Public Health Technology, Pharmacy Technician, Medical Laboratory Technician, Nursing-related tracks | Akwanga/Keffi area |
| Federal University of Lafia | Federal university | BNSc route (session-dependent admission) | Gandu, Lafia |
| Bingham University | Private university | BNSc (Nursing Sciences) | Karu, along Abuja-Keffi Expressway |
| Ave Maria University | Private university | Department of Nursing Sciences | Piyanko/Nasarawa area |
Candidates targeting the fastest and most budget-friendly entry into nursing practice generally look toward the state-owned ND Nursing route, while those seeking a full university degree consider the Federal University of Lafia’s BNSc programme (where it is actively admitting for that session) or one of the private university options.
School Fees for the ND Nursing Route (State-Owned Colleges)
The Nasarawa State College of Nursing Sciences in Lafia represents the primary state-run option for candidates pursuing the National Diploma pathway. This route is generally the most affordable in the state, since it concentrates costs on core tuition, uniforms, and clinical training consumables rather than the broader tuition and faculty levy structure that comes with full university enrolment.
The Nasarawa State School of Health Technology, located in the Akwanga/Keffi corridor, similarly offers a lower-cost public pathway, though it is primarily known for Community Health, Public Health Technology, Pharmacy Technician, and Medical Laboratory Technician programmes alongside its nursing-related tracks. Application form costs for these state institutions have historically sat in a modest range, with figures for similar public health-training institutions in the state typically falling around ₦20,000 to ₦25,000 for the admission form itself, separate from the main tuition invoice paid after admission is confirmed.
School Fees for University BNSc Programmes in Nasarawa State
Nursing Science delivered through a full university degree costs considerably more overall than the ND route, since it combines standard university tuition with laboratory, clinical, and departmental charges spread across multiple years of study.
At the Federal University of Lafia, Nursing Sciences is available through the university’s teaching and clinical training structure when admission for the programme is active for a given session. As a federal university, tuition here sits below what private universities in the state charge, though health science and clinical programmes typically attract higher charges than the university’s general arts and social science courses due to laboratory and clinical training levies.
At Bingham University, a private institution in Karu along the Abuja-Keffi Expressway, Nursing Sciences is one of several professional programmes offered alongside Medicine and Surgery, Law, and Computer Science. Because Bingham is a private university with specialised laboratories and a stricter clinical training structure, its Nursing Sciences tuition sits at the higher end of the range for the state, commonly cited among the more expensive nursing options in Nasarawa given the university’s private ownership and Abuja-adjacent operational costs.
Ave Maria University, also a private institution, runs a Department of Nursing Sciences and similarly falls into a higher-cost category compared to the public providers in the state, though its exact fee structure depends on the specific session’s fee policy set by the university.
Comparing Overall Cost Across the Pathways
| Pathway | Typical Institution Type | Relative Cost Level | Duration to RN/Degree |
|---|---|---|---|
| ND Nursing (State-owned College) | Nasarawa State College of Nursing Sciences, School of Health Technology | Lowest cost in the state | 3 years to diploma-level qualification |
| Federal University BNSc | Federal University of Lafia | Moderate cost, below private options | 5 years to degree |
| Private University BNSc | Bingham University | Higher cost, among the most expensive in the state | 5 years to degree |
| Private University BNSc | Ave Maria University | Higher cost, comparable to Bingham | 5 years to degree |
As the comparison shows, candidates prioritising the lowest overall cost of entry into nursing practice in Nasarawa should look toward the state-owned ND Nursing route, while those seeking a full university degree should budget considerably more, particularly at Bingham University or Ave Maria University.
General Admission Requirements Across Nasarawa Nursing Institutions
Regardless of the specific pathway chosen, most approved nursing training providers in Nasarawa State apply a broadly similar set of entry requirements:
- A minimum of five O’Level credit passes in WASSCE, NECO, or GCE, including English Language, Mathematics, Biology, and Chemistry, obtained in not more than two sittings.
- Physics is frequently required or strongly recommended, particularly for BNSc programmes given their clinical and laboratory-intensive curriculum.
- For university BNSc routes, a competitive UTME score is required, with the general cut off mark for private universities in the state such as Bingham commonly sitting around 150, though Nursing Sciences and other professional courses often require scores above this general benchmark.
- For the ND Nursing route at state-owned colleges, candidates typically go through the institution’s own screening process, which may include document verification and, in some cases, a computer-based test.
Candidates applying to university-based BNSc programmes should expect a generally higher competitive threshold than the ND route, since university nursing degree slots are limited and demand across the North-Central region remains strong.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper: ND Nursing or a university BNSc degree in Nasarawa State?
The ND Nursing route through state-owned institutions like the Nasarawa State College of Nursing Sciences is generally cheaper overall than a university Bachelor of Nursing Science degree, since it avoids the broader tuition and faculty levy structure attached to full university enrolment.
Is Bingham University’s Nursing Sciences programme accredited?
Bingham University runs its Nursing Sciences programme as part of its NUC-recognised academic structure, and prospective students should confirm current NMCN accreditation status for the specific programme before applying, as with any nursing institution.
Can I become a Registered Nurse without attending a university in Nasarawa State?
Yes. The ND Nursing pathway through state-owned colleges provides a route into nursing training without requiring full university enrolment, though candidates should confirm the specific certification and licensing pathway each institution offers for a given session.
Why is Bingham University considered one of the more expensive nursing options in Nasarawa?
As a private university located close to Abuja, Bingham carries higher operational costs, specialised laboratory facilities, and a more structured clinical training system, all of which contribute to its Nursing Sciences tuition sitting at the higher end compared to public providers in the state.
How do I confirm a nursing school in Nasarawa State is currently accredited?
Accreditation status should be verified directly against the NMCN’s current published list of approved schools, since both full and provisional accreditation statuses are subject to periodic review, and admission quotas can change between sessions.