Medicine and Surgery is one of the most competitive courses to gain admission into in Nigeria, and most universities set their cut-off marks well above JAMB’s general minimum requirement. However, not every institution offering the course demands an extremely high UTME score. This article lists the universities — federal, state, and private — that set comparatively lower cut-off marks for Medicine and Surgery, and explains what “low cut-off” actually means in practical terms for a candidate planning their admission strategy for the 2026/2027 session and beyond.
Understanding the JAMB Cut-Off Mark for Medicine and Surgery
The cut-off mark is the minimum UTME score a candidate must reach before their application for a specific course can even be considered. JAMB sets a general national minimum cut-off that applies broadly to university admission, but Medicine and Surgery, being one of the most sought-after and resource-intensive courses to run, almost always carries a much higher threshold than the general minimum. For the 2026/2027 admission cycle, the realistic range for Medicine and Surgery across Nigerian universities spans roughly 180 to 320, depending on the institution, with federal universities generally sitting at the top end of that range and select private and state universities occupying the lower end.
It is important to understand that a low cut-off mark does not mean a low admission standard. Reaching a university’s stated cut-off mark only qualifies a candidate to be considered; it does not guarantee admission. Universities still weigh Post-UTME performance, O’Level grades, and an internally computed aggregate score, and many candidates with scores comfortably above a school’s stated cut-off still miss out due to a lower overall aggregate compared to other applicants competing for the same limited slots.
Why Some Schools Set Lower Cut-Off Marks Than Others
Several factors explain why certain institutions set their Medicine and Surgery cut-off marks lower than others:
- Competition for slots — federal universities with a long-established reputation and strong teaching hospitals attract far more applicants than newer or lesser-known institutions, which pushes their cut-off marks higher, while institutions with fewer applicants can set a lower threshold.
- Institutional autonomy — Nigerian universities, particularly private ones, have the latitude to set their own admission benchmarks above JAMB’s general minimum, and many private medical schools choose to set theirs closer to that minimum to widen their applicant pool.
- Tuition structure — private universities that charge significantly higher fees for Medicine and Surgery often set a comparatively lower UTME cut-off, since tuition cost itself narrows the applicant pool without needing a high academic score to do so.
- Newer accreditation — some newer medical schools, both private and state-owned, set lower cut-off marks in their early admission cycles as they build up their applicant base and reputation.
Universities with Comparatively Lower Cut-Off Marks for Medicine and Surgery
The table below lists universities that have consistently set their Medicine and Surgery cut-off marks at or near the lower end of the national range. These figures represent the general threshold reported across recent admission cycles; every university reviews and can adjust its cut-off mark each session, so candidates should treat this as a guide and confirm the exact current figure on the institution’s admission portal or through JAMB CAPS before making a final choice.
| University | Ownership | Approximate Cut-Off Mark |
|---|---|---|
| Bingham University, Karu (Nasarawa State) | Private | 180 |
| Bowen University, Iwo (Osun State) | Private | 180 |
| Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo (Ogun State) | Private | 180 |
| Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (Ekiti State) | Private | 180 |
| Gregory University, Uturu (Abia State) | Private | 180 |
| Nile University of Nigeria, Abuja | Private | 180 |
| PAMO University of Medical Sciences, Port Harcourt | Private | 180 |
| Eko University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Lagos | Private | 180 |
| Novena University, Ogume (Delta State) | Private | 180 |
| Caritas University, Enugu | Private | 180 |
| Igbinedion University, Okada (Edo State) | Private | 180 – 200 |
| Achievers University, Owo (Ondo State) | Private | 200 |
| Madonna University, Elele (Rivers/Anambra) | Private | 200 |
| Rhema University, Aba (Abia State) | Private | 200 |
| University of Jos (UNIJOS) | Federal | 180 (based on recent admission exercise) |
| Ebonyi State University (EBSU) | State | 240 |
| Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma | State | 220 |
| Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) | State | 200 |
Federal universities not listed above, such as University of Lagos, University of Ibadan, and University of Nigeria, Nsukka, generally require considerably higher scores, often between 250 and 300, because of the sheer volume of applications they receive each year relative to available slots.
Private Universities and the Cut-Off Advantage
Private universities dominate the lower end of the cut-off range for Medicine and Surgery in Nigeria. Several private institutions accept scores as low as 180, which is significantly below what most federal universities require. This makes private medical schools an important consideration for candidates whose UTME score falls short of the federal-university range but who still meet the minimum O’Level and subject requirements for Medicine.
The trade-off, however, is cost. Private medical schools with lower cut-off marks generally charge tuition well into the millions of naira per session, in some cases running from roughly ₦1.5 million to over ₦4 million annually depending on the institution. A candidate weighing a private university option purely because of its lower cut-off mark should factor tuition affordability into the decision just as seriously as the academic requirement, since a lower entry score does not translate into a lower overall cost of training as a doctor.
State Universities Offering a Middle Ground
State universities generally sit between federal and private institutions in terms of both cut-off marks and tuition cost. Institutions such as Ebonyi State University, Ambrose Alli University, and Enugu State University of Science and Technology set their Medicine and Surgery cut-off marks in the 200 to 240 range, which is lower than most federal universities but still meaningfully above the lowest private-university thresholds. State universities also typically apply a lower cut-off and reduced tuition for indigenes of that state compared to non-indigenes, so candidates should check whether they qualify for the indigene rate before assuming a particular state university is the more affordable route.
What a Low Cut-Off Mark Does Not Guarantee
Meeting a university’s published cut-off mark is only the first stage of the admission process for Medicine and Surgery. Every institution still requires candidates to:
- Meet the compulsory O’Level subject requirement of five credit passes, including English Language, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, generally obtained in not more than one or two sittings depending on the university’s policy.
- Pass the university’s Post-UTME screening exercise, which most institutions weigh alongside the UTME score to compute a final aggregate.
- Score competitively on that aggregate relative to other applicants, since Medicine and Surgery admission slots remain limited even at universities with a lower stated cut-off mark.
This means a candidate who scores exactly at a university’s minimum cut-off mark is not automatically guaranteed a spot; they are only qualified to proceed to the next stage of screening, where the actual competition for the limited number of available seats takes place.
Alternatives for Candidates Who Fall Short of the Medicine Cut-Off
Candidates whose UTME score does not meet even the lower end of the Medicine and Surgery range still have legitimate paths toward a career in the medical field:
- Related science courses — Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, and Microbiology have lower cut-off marks and, at some universities, allow strong-performing students to apply for an internal transfer into Medicine and Surgery after excelling in their first year or two.
- Pre-degree and remedial programmes — several universities run pre-degree or remedial science programmes that, upon successful completion, can lead to direct entry consideration into Medicine and Surgery.
- Reapplying with an improved score — since UTME is offered annually, candidates can retake the examination and apply the following session with a stronger score and, ideally, a broader spread of institutions on their list.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which university has the lowest cut-off mark for Medicine and Surgery in Nigeria? Several private universities, including Bingham University, Bowen University, Babcock University, Afe Babalola University, Gregory University, Nile University, PAMO University of Medical Sciences, Eko University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Novena University, and Caritas University, have consistently set their cut-off mark at around 180, among the lowest reported for the course.
Does a low cut-off mark mean the university is less rigorous academically? No. A lower UTME cut-off reflects the institution’s admission threshold, not the standard of its medical training. All accredited medical schools in Nigeria follow curricula approved by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) and the National Universities Commission (NUC), and graduates from any accredited school sit the same licensing requirements to practise.
Is it easier to gain admission into Medicine at a university with a lower cut-off mark? It is more accessible in terms of the minimum UTME score required, but admission still depends on Post-UTME performance, O’Level results, and overall competition for the available slots, so a low cut-off does not mean the admission process itself is easy.
Are private universities with low cut-off marks for Medicine and Surgery expensive? Generally, yes. Private medical schools with lower cut-off marks tend to charge significantly higher tuition than federal or state universities, often running into millions of naira per session, so cost should be weighed alongside the cut-off mark when choosing an institution.
Conclusion
While Medicine and Surgery remains one of the most competitive courses in Nigeria, a number of private universities and select state institutions set comparatively lower cut-off marks, giving candidates with moderate UTME scores a realistic path into the profession. Private universities such as Bingham, Bowen, Babcock, Afe Babalola, Gregory University, Nile University, PAMO, Eko, Novena, and Caritas sit at the lower end of the national range, while state universities like Ebonyi State University and Ambrose Alli University offer a middle-ground option between federal-university competitiveness and private-university cost. Every cut-off mark listed here is subject to review each admission cycle, so candidates should always confirm the current figure directly with the institution or through the official JAMB portal before finalising their choice of school.