JAMB Adjusts Admission Deadlines & Score Evaluation for 2025—Here’s What Changed!
The Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has made significant announcements for students, parents, and education stakeholders in Nigeria during its 2025 Policy Meeting.
The recent annual policy meeting resulted in various changes, including adjustments to admission deadlines and alterations in the evaluation of scores, among other updates. However, these developments have been met with some skepticism.
Ranking rather than performance
Ishaq Oloyede, the registrar and chief executive officer of JAMB, highlighted several policy adjustments during the meeting, particularly that the entrance examination for tertiary institutions organized by the board will now focus on ranking instead of just scores.
“Oloyede emphasized that JAMB is not designed as an achievement test but instead functions as a ranking exam.”
This indicates that a candidate’s likelihood of admission will not solely be based on their test score but on how that score measures up against the scores of other candidates.
The new regulations suggest that a candidate who applies for nursing at a specific university with a score of 278 may still be denied admission if an adequate number of other candidates score higher than that.
Result slip and national ranking
Another key change highlighted during the meeting is that every JAMB result slip will now feature candidates’ actual scores along with their national rankings.
For example, a candidate with a score of 370 may be ranked 16th, while another scoring 200 could find themselves in 533,005th place; similarly, a score of 140 could see a ranking of over 1.5 million.
This means that candidates will need to prioritize their rankings rather than just focusing on their scores.
Top-performing UTME candidates
JAMB also revealed the top 10 performers from the 2025 UTME, along with their chosen schools and fields of study.
The standout candidates include Nzekwe Chinedu Chielotan with a score of 379, attending the University of Lagos for mechanical engineering; Ayuba Simon-Peter John with 378, also at the University of Lagos for mechanical engineering; Jimoh Abdulmutalib Olayinka with 374, studying at the University of Lagos in the same field; and Roberts Daniels Ayiba with 373, also from the University of Lagos for mechanical engineering.
The list further includes Ononogbu Chigozirim Chibuozor at the University of Lagos for Electrical/Electronic Engineering with a score of 373; Olawoye Garrudee Tumise from the University of Lagos for Mechanical Engineering, scoring 371; Afiunu Ofeoritse Leslie with a score of 369 at Covenant University studying Computer Science; Azayiseme Samuel Chukwumeka with 369 also at Covenant University for Mechanical Engineering; Oyelude Oluwapemisi Emmanuel with 369 from Obafemi Awolowo University in Aerospace Engineering; and Omigie Osaiogho Cecil scoring 367 at the University of Ibadan for Mechanical Engineering.
Most popular universities for 2025
The universities that received the highest number of first-choice applications include the Lagos State University (LASU) with 79,000, the University of Lagos (UNILAG) with 58,645, the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) with 56,734, the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) with 52,103, and Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) with 51,467.
Additional institutions include the University of Ibadan (UI) with 48,291, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) with 46,542, the University of Benin (UNIBEN) with 45,686, and Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) with 43,777.
This indicates that applicants can expect increased competition in these universities, particularly for popular programs such as medicine, law, and engineering.
Cut-off scores
The approved cut-off scores for the 2025 admission cycle are as follows: Federal and state universities: 150; colleges of nursing: 140; polytechnics: 100; and colleges of agriculture/education: 100.
Admission schedules
The admission timelines for the 2025/2026 academic session indicate that public universities must finalize admissions by October 2025, while private institutions have a deadline extending from November to December 2025.
Expiration of admissions
Per the new JAMB policy, admission offers will now include expiration dates. If JAMB refers a candidate to an institution, that institution is obligated to either accept or reject the candidate within two weeks.
Furthermore, if an institution provides a candidate with an admission offer, that candidate has four weeks to either accept or decline the offer.
Admission regulations against “runs”
JAMB has tightened admission regulations concerning “runs,” requiring universities to admit at least 90 percent of students based on merit before considering “connections.” The policy of prioritizing merit is now mandatory and must be upheld.
The minimum age for admission remains 16
JAMB has confirmed that the minimum age for admission is still 16, meaning anyone younger than 16 cannot gain admission, irrespective of their UTME results.
Highly competitive programs
As per the JAMB report, medical programs continue to be the most competitive, with over 570,000 applicants and only about 115,000 spots available. This translates to less than one in five applicants being admitted, so candidates pursuing medical programs should have reliable backup options.
The altered landscape
Parents should remember that even if their child achieves a score of 300+, which is impressive, being ranked 200,000 significantly diminishes the value of that score.
Skepticism surrounds the development
Numerous Nigerian parents and students aiming for university admission in 2025 have voiced doubts regarding the sincerity of the initiative’s creators. There is a belief that it was designed to deprive deserving candidates of admission while unfairly benefiting those who are academically weaker.
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