Osun State is one of the strongest hubs for nursing education in southwestern Nigeria. Between state-owned nursing colleges, federal teaching hospital training programmes, and private university nursing departments, the state offers more than a dozen institutions recognized by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) for training Registered Nurses and Registered Midwives. Anyone planning to study nursing in Osun needs to know which schools carry valid approval, what programmes each one runs, and roughly how much each option costs, since the price difference between a state college and a private university in the same state can be substantial. This article lists the approved nursing institutions in Osun State along with their programmes, certificates awarded, and estimated fees.
What “Approved” Means for a Nursing School
Before choosing any institution, it helps to understand what approval actually covers. In Nigeria, nursing training falls under the regulation of three bodies working in different but overlapping capacities: the NMCN, which accredits nursing and midwifery programmes and licenses graduates to practice; the National Universities Commission (NUC), which approves university-level nursing degree programmes such as the Bachelor of Nursing Science (B.N.Sc.); and the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), which oversees National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) nursing programmes run by colleges of health technology. A school that lacks the relevant accreditation cannot register its graduates as licensed nurses, no matter how long the programme runs or how convincing its promotional material sounds. This is why every candidate should confirm current accreditation status directly with the institution or the NMCN before paying any fees, since accreditation can be reviewed, suspended, or renewed from one academic session to the next.
Nursing Colleges in Osun State
Nursing colleges in Osun State typically run a three-year Basic Nursing or Basic Midwifery programme leading to registration as a Nurse or Midwife, and several also offer Post-Basic programmes for nurses who already hold a licence and want to add a specialization.
College of Nursing Sciences, Osogbo
This is the flagship nursing training institution owned by the Osun State Ministry of Health. It runs ND and HND Nursing programmes, a Midwifery programme, and Post-Basic Nursing and Post-Basic Midwifery courses for already-licensed practitioners. Admission into the ND/HND track now requires a JAMB UTME score of at least 180. Annual fees for the standard nursing and midwifery tracks generally fall between ₦120,000 and ₦300,000, while the Post-Basic programmes, which involve more advanced clinical exposure, cost somewhat more, typically in the ₦180,000 to ₦350,000 range per session.
College of Nursing Sciences, OAUTHC, Wesley Guild Hospital, Ilesa
Operating under the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC), this college trains students at the Wesley Guild Hospital campus in Ilesa. It offers a Nursing programme and a Midwifery programme leading to RN and RM qualifications respectively. Because the college is attached to a federal teaching hospital, students benefit from clinical exposure in a large multi-specialty facility. Fee estimates for programmes here vary noticeably depending on the current session, and students should always confirm the exact figure directly with the college’s bursary, since federal teaching hospital colleges sometimes revise charges without wide public announcement.
College of Nursing Sciences, OAUTHC, Ile-Ife
The Ile-Ife campus of OAUTHC hosts a second nursing college under the same teaching hospital management. In addition to the standard Nursing programme, this college is notable for offering a Perioperative Nursing programme, a Post-Basic specialization focused on operating-theatre nursing care. This is one of the few places in southwestern Nigeria where a nurse can pursue this specific specialty, which makes it attractive to registered nurses looking to move into surgical or theatre nursing roles. As with the Ilesa campus, fees at this institution should be confirmed directly with the college, since teaching-hospital-run programmes are sometimes priced differently from the general estimates published elsewhere.
Seventh-Day Adventist College of Nursing Sciences, Lagare, Ile-Ife
This is a privately owned, mission-affiliated nursing college located in Lagare, Ile-Ife. It runs an NMCN-accredited Nursing programme leading to RN qualification and is managed under the Seventh-Day Adventist Church’s education structure. Being privately owned, its fees sit above what the state-run colleges charge, generally ranging from ₦350,000 to ₦500,000 per session, though exact figures depend on the specific intake and any additional accommodation or uniform charges added at registration.
College of Nursing Sciences, UNIOSUN Teaching Hospital, Osogbo
Located within the Osun State University Teaching Hospital complex at Idi-Seke, Osogbo, this college gives students clinical training inside a state university teaching hospital environment. It runs a Nursing programme leading to RN registration, with annual fees commonly estimated between ₦150,000 and ₦300,000.
Universities in Osun State With NMCN-Approved Nursing Departments
For candidates who prefer a full university degree rather than a college diploma, several universities in Osun State run a five-year Bachelor of Nursing Science (B.N.Sc.) programme approved by both the NUC and the NMCN. A university degree route takes two years longer than the college diploma route but leads to a bachelor’s degree alongside professional nursing registration.
Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife
OAU is a federal university and one of the most respected institutions for nursing education in Nigeria. Its Department of Nursing Science runs the five-year B.N.Sc. programme, with clinical training conducted at OAUTHC. As a federal university, tuition remains subsidized, and annual charges are commonly reported in the ₦80,000 to ₦200,000 range, making it one of the least expensive options for a nursing degree in the state despite its strong academic reputation.
Osun State University (UNIOSUN), Osogbo
UNIOSUN, the state-owned university, runs an NMCN-approved B.N.Sc. programme through its Department of Nursing Sciences, with clinical placements at the UNIOSUN Teaching Hospital. Annual fees typically fall between ₦150,000 and ₦350,000.
Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Osogbo
LAUTECH’s College of Health Sciences campus in Osogbo also runs a B.N.Sc. programme. As a university jointly owned by Osun and Oyo States, it offers a moderately priced nursing degree, with annual fees generally reported between ₦150,000 and ₦380,000.
Private Universities Offering Nursing in Osun State
Several private universities in Osun State run NMCN-approved nursing departments, and their fees are considerably higher than the public institutions above, reflecting the general fee structure of private university education in Nigeria.
| University | Location | Programme | Estimated Annual Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bowen University | Iwo | B.N.Sc. (5 years) | ₦500,000 – ₦850,000 |
| Adeleke University | Ede | B.N.Sc. (5 years) | ₦450,000 – ₦800,000 |
| Redeemer’s University | Ede | B.N.Sc. (5 years) | ₦500,000 – ₦900,000 |
| Fountain University | Osogbo | B.N.Sc. (5 years) | ₦400,000 – ₦700,000 |
A few newer private universities in the state, including institutions in Ilesa and Ipetumodu, also run nursing departments at various stages of accreditation. Fees at these newer schools tend to sit within the same general private-university range shown above, though a candidate should always verify current accreditation status before applying, since a newly established nursing department may still be operating under provisional rather than full NMCN approval.
Comparing the Cost of Studying Nursing in Osun State
The fee range across Osun State’s approved nursing institutions is wide, and the type of institution is the biggest single factor driving the difference. The table below summarizes the general cost bracket by institution type.
| Institution Type | Programme Duration | Approximate Annual Fee Range |
|---|---|---|
| State-owned nursing college (ND/HND, Nursing, Midwifery) | 3 years | ₦120,000 – ₦350,000 |
| Federal teaching hospital college (OAUTHC-affiliated) | 3 years | Varies by session; confirm with bursary |
| Post-Basic / specialty programmes (e.g., Perioperative Nursing) | 1–2 years | ₦180,000 – ₦400,000 |
| Private mission-owned college | 3 years | ₦350,000 – ₦500,000 |
| Federal university (B.N.Sc.) | 5 years | ₦80,000 – ₦200,000 |
| State university (B.N.Sc.) | 5 years | ₦150,000 – ₦380,000 |
| Private university (B.N.Sc.) | 5 years | ₦400,000 – ₦900,000 |
Federal and state universities offer the lowest tuition relative to the length of training, largely because public university education in Nigeria remains subsidized by government funding. Private universities and mission-run colleges charge more because they rely almost entirely on tuition and internally generated revenue to fund staffing, facilities, and clinical partnerships.
General Admission Requirements
Admission requirements are broadly similar across nursing institutions in Osun State, though specific cut-off marks differ by school.
- Five credit passes at O’Level (WAEC, NECO, or NABTEB) in English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, obtained in not more than two sittings.
- A JAMB UTME result, with subject combinations that typically include English Language, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. University degree programmes generally set a higher cut-off mark than college diploma programmes.
- A minimum age of 16 at the point of admission, in line with the general NMCN requirement for basic nursing and midwifery training.
- For Post-Basic programmes, candidates must already hold a valid NMCN practising licence as a Registered Nurse or Registered Midwife before applying.
- A medical fitness certificate, usually obtained after admission, confirming the candidate is fit to undertake clinical training.
How to Choose Between the Available Options
The right choice depends on a candidate’s budget, timeline, and career goal. Someone who wants to enter the nursing workforce as quickly as possible and at the lowest cost may lean toward a state-owned nursing college, since the diploma route takes three years and costs less annually than a university degree. Someone who wants a full bachelor’s degree alongside professional registration, and who qualifies academically, gets the best value from a federal or state university nursing department, since these combine a five-year B.N.Sc. with tuition far below what private universities charge. Candidates drawn to a specific specialty, such as Perioperative Nursing, need to check which institution actually runs that programme, since not every approved nursing school in the state offers every specialty. Finally, anyone considering a private university or mission college should factor in the higher tuition against benefits such as smaller class sizes, newer facilities, or a specific institutional character that may matter to them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the cheapest approved nursing school in Osun State?
Obafemi Awolowo University offers the lowest annual fee for a full nursing degree, generally between ₦80,000 and ₦200,000, since it is a federally subsidized university.
Is a college of nursing diploma equivalent to a university nursing degree?
Both routes lead to professional registration as a Nurse or Midwife, but a college programme awards an ND or HND over three years, while a university programme awards a Bachelor of Nursing Science degree over five years. Career paths requiring a first degree, such as postgraduate nursing study, generally require the university route.
Can I study a nursing specialty like Perioperative Nursing in Osun State?
Yes. The College of Nursing Sciences at OAUTHC, Ile-Ife runs a Perioperative Nursing programme for already-registered nurses seeking to specialize in operating-theatre care.
Do all nursing schools in Osun State require JAMB?
Most do, including university B.N.Sc. programmes and the ND/HND track at the College of Nursing Sciences, Osogbo. Post-Basic programmes for already-licensed nurses typically do not require a fresh JAMB result, since admission is based on existing professional registration.
Where can a candidate confirm the exact current fee for a specific school?
Fee figures change from session to session and can also vary based on whether a student is an indigene of the state. The only reliable way to get the exact current amount is to contact the admissions or bursary office of the specific institution directly, or check the institution’s own official notice for the current academic session before making any payment.